When you want to call a U.S. phone number from another country, it’s important to use the correct international dialing format. This ensures your call is routed properly through international telephone networks and connects without errors. The formatting differs from how you would dial within the U.S. or locally.
Understanding U.S. Phone Numbers
A standard U.S. phone number usually looks like this:
(XXX) XXX-XXXX
Where:
The first three digits (XXX) represent the area code (e.g., 212 for New York City).
The next three digits (XXX) are the central office (exchange) code.
The last four digits (XXXX) are the subscriber number.
Example: (212) 555-1234
Step 1: Remove Domestic Prefixes
When calling a U.S. number within the U.S., you might dial:
Just the 7-digit number if you are in the same area code (e.g., 555-1234), or
The full 10-digit number including area code (e.g., 212-555-1234), or
Sometimes, you start with a “1” before the area code for long-distance calls (e.g., 1-212-555-1234).
However, when dialing from outside the U.S., you do NOT dial the leading "1". That “1” is a domestic long-distance prefix, not part of the international format.
Step 2: Add the U.S. Country Code (+1)
For international dialing, you need to start with the country code for the U.S., which is +1.
The “+” symbol represents the international access code, which varies depending on the country you are calling from.
For example, if you are calling from Europe, the international access code is often 00. From Australia, it’s 0011.
Using the “+” makes it universal and easier to understand.
Step 3: Dial the Area Code and Subscriber Number
After the country code (+1), dial the 3-digit area code and the 7-digit phone number.
For example, if the U.S. number is (212) 555-1234, the international format becomes:
+1 212 555 1234
Step 4: Dialing Procedure by Country
When calling from your phone, you might need to replace the “+” with the international access code used in your country. Here are some examples:
Calling From International Access Code Example Dialed Number
United Kingdom 00 00 1 212 555 1234
Germany 00 00 1 212 555 1234
Australia 0011 0011 1 212 555 1234
Japan 010 010 1 212 555 1234
Using “+” is convenient on mobile phones: just hold down recent mobile phone number data the zero key or the plus key until “+” appears.
Important Notes
No parentheses or dashes: When dialing internationally, omit parentheses and dashes; they are for readability only.
No leading zeros: U.S. numbers don’t start with zero, but in some countries, local numbers may. Never add extra zeros when dialing the U.S. internationally.
Check local carrier rates: International calls to the U.S. may incur higher charges, so verify your calling plan.
Example: Calling a U.S. Number from the UK
You want to call (212) 555-1234 from the UK.
Dial: 00 (international access code from UK)
Then: 1 (U.S. country code)
Then: 212 555 1234 (area code + subscriber number)
Full number dialed: 00 1 212 555 1234
Summary
To format a U.S. phone number for international dialing:
Start with the international access code or “+”
Add the U.S. country code: 1
Dial the 3-digit area code
Dial the 7-digit subscriber number
Example: +1 212 555 1234
This format ensures your call reaches the U.S. phone correctly, no matter where you are in the world.