Dialling a US number from the UK is not complicated. The code is straightforward, and if you’re calling from a mobile, you barely have to think about it. What catches most people off guard is the cost. UK carrier rates for international calls to the US are high, and they’re not always easy to find until the bill arrives. This guide covers how to dial, what you’ll pay on different options, and which approach makes sense for your situation.
The short answer
On a mobile, dial +1 followed by the 10-digit US number.
On a UK landline, dial 001 followed by the 10-digit US number.
US numbers are always 10 digits (no leading zero). So to call a number listed as (212) 555 0100, you would dial:
- Mobile: +1 212 555 0100
- Landline: 001 212 555 0100
That’s it for the dial sequence. The rest of this guide is about what it costs.
A quick note on +1
+1 is the country code for the US, but Canada and a handful of Caribbean territories (including Jamaica, Trinidad, and Puerto Rico) use it too. In practice this rarely causes confusion, as you’ll almost always know whether you’re calling the US or Canada, but +1 is not exclusively American.
US number format
US numbers are always 10 digits: a 3-digit area code followed by a 7-digit local number. You might see the same number written in different ways: (212) 555-0100, 2125550100, +1 212 555 0100. They’re all the same number. Unlike UK numbers, there’s no leading zero to drop before you dial.
Your options for calling the US from the UK
| Option | Best for | What you need | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK carrier | Anyone who has no other option | Your existing phone | £1.50–£4.64/min |
| ZippCall | Most people (PAYG, no contract) | Browser or app + Wi-Fi/data | $0.02/min |
| WhatsApp or FaceTime | Personal calls where both parties have the app | App on both phones | Free |
| Calling card | Largely obsolete | Access number + PIN | Varies |
Option 1: Your UK carrier
When you call the US through your regular mobile or landline, your carrier applies international calling rates. Here is what the main UK providers charge as of May 2026:
| Carrier | Standard rate to US | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EE | £4.64/min | Same rate for mobiles and landlines |
| Vodafone | £3.00/min | Standard rate; check Vodafone’s call checker for your plan |
| Sky Mobile | £3.50/min | Check Sky’s tariff guide for your plan |
| Three | £3.00/min | Pay Monthly; add-ons from £7/month for 100 minutes |
| O2 | £1.50–£4.10/min | £4.10/min Pay Monthly, £1.50/min Pay As You Go |
Rates correct as of May 2026. Carriers change these; check your provider’s international rates page before you call.
Some carriers offer international calling add-ons that bring these rates down significantly. EE’s International Pass, for example, drops the rate to 3p/min for calls to the US. But these are monthly subscriptions: you pay whether you make calls that month or not. Unless you’re calling the US regularly every month, a subscription add-on is unlikely to be worth it.
No UK carrier includes US calls in a standard unlimited plan. For a full breakdown of how EE’s plans and add-ons work, see our EE international calls guide.
Option 2: ZippCall
ZippCall is a pay-as-you-go calling service that works from any browser or app. You buy credit when you need it, calls to the US cost $0.02 per minute, and the credit never expires. The person you call receives a normal phone call on whatever phone they have. They don’t need to download anything or know you’re using ZippCall.
The rate gap compared to carrier pricing is significant. At $0.02/min, a 30-minute call to a US number costs around 40 cents. At EE’s standard rate, the same call would cost over £139.
One ZippCall customer, Minnie Roh, who lives overseas but has US bank accounts and health insurance, described the cost difference clearly:
“It’s always an international call, even to an 800 number. Previously we would just suck it up and call as needed, but 800 number agents are not the best at speedy resolutions and we racked up a hefty phone bill. I stumbled upon ZippCall while browsing for ‘cheap ways to call internationally’ and deposited $5 as a test. It was the best $5 I have ever spent. With most calls at 2 cents a minute I could call for an hour and spend just over a dollar.”
Kevin, a digital nomad who regularly calls the US, puts it simply:
“I found ZippCall because I need to make calls to the United States — mostly to my bank and things like that but occasionally I need to make some calls to a landline. The price is extremely competitive and low and it is very easy to add credits.”
ZippCall works over any Wi-Fi or mobile data connection. You can use it from a laptop, tablet, or phone (browser or app). See current rates at zippcall.com/countries.
Option 3: WhatsApp or FaceTime
If you’re making personal calls and the person you’re calling uses WhatsApp or FaceTime, this is free and the right answer. Call quality is generally good over a decent connection, and there’s nothing to set up if you’re already on each other’s contact list.
The catch: it only works if both parties have the app and are reachable on it. You cannot call a US business number, a landline, or anyone who doesn’t have the app installed. For most business calls, it is not an option. For a broader comparison of calling apps, see our guide to free international calling apps.
Calling cards
Calling cards have largely died out. Between PAYG apps with low per-minute rates and free options like WhatsApp, there’s rarely a reason to go through the process of buying a card, finding an access number, and dialling a PIN. Mentioned here for completeness.
Things to watch out for
US toll-free numbers (1-800, 1-888, etc.) are not free from the UK
US toll-free numbers are only free to call from within the United States. From the UK, international rates apply at the same rate as any other US call. If you’re calling US customer service and the only number you have is an 800 number, you will be charged at your normal international rate.
There is an extra complication: some US toll-free numbers are configured to reject international calls entirely. You will either get a message saying the number cannot be reached, or the call simply will not connect. Many US businesses that deal with international customers know this and provide a direct international number. Look for it on the company’s contact page before you call.
Check your time zone before you dial
The US spans multiple time zones. A call at 5pm UK time is perfectly reasonable for a contact in New York, but it is 9am in Los Angeles (early but workable). Get it wrong the other way and you’re calling someone at 6am.
| US time zone | Offset from UK (GMT/BST) | Major cities |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | -5 hours | New York, Boston, Miami, Atlanta |
| Central (CT) | -6 hours | Chicago, Dallas, Houston |
| Mountain (MT) | -7 hours | Denver, Phoenix |
| Pacific (PT) | -8 hours | Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle |
If you do not know which time zone your contact is in, 2pm–5pm UK time is a reasonable default. That window catches East Coast business hours in the morning, and works for Central time too.
Note that the US and UK do not change their clocks on the same date, so the offset shifts briefly in spring and autumn. If timing is critical, check the current difference before calling.
Quick tip for iPhone or Android users
On an iPhone, hold down the 0 key on the dialler and it automatically types +. This means you can save any US contact as +1 followed by their 10-digit number, and the call will route correctly from anywhere, with no need to remember whether to use 00 or + when you dial.
Frequently asked questions
Is it +1 or 001 for the US from the UK?
Both work and reach the same number. On a mobile, use +1: the + is a universal shorthand for the international dialling prefix, and your phone fills in the rest. On a UK landline, dial 001. +1 is the simpler format to remember and works everywhere.
Is +1 always the US?
No. +1 is the country code for the North American Numbering Plan, which covers the US, Canada, and more than 20 Caribbean territories including Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad. In most cases you will know who you are calling, but the +1 alone does not confirm it is a US number.
What is 011 and do I need it?
011 is the international dialling prefix used inside the United States, the American equivalent of the UK’s 00. If you are in the UK and calling the US, you do not use 011. That is a number for people in the US calling abroad.
Can I call US 800 numbers from the UK?
You can dial them, but they will not be free. US toll-free numbers are only free to call from within the United States. From the UK, your standard international rate applies. Some 800 numbers also block international callers entirely. If the call does not connect, look for a direct international number on the company’s website.
What is the cheapest way to call the US from the UK?
If the person you’re calling uses WhatsApp or FaceTime, that’s free. If they don’t, or you’re calling a business or landline, a PAYG calling app is the cheapest option. ZippCall charges $0.02 per minute to the US with no monthly commitment and no connection fee. UK carrier rates start at £1.50/min and go up to £4.64/min on standard plans.
Can I use WhatsApp to call the US for free?
Yes, if the person you’re calling has WhatsApp installed and is connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data. WhatsApp calls are free between app users. The limitation is that you cannot call a US number that does not have WhatsApp. Businesses, landlines, and people who simply don’t use it are all out of reach.
What time should I call the US from the UK?
It depends on where your contact is based. New York is 5 hours behind the UK, Los Angeles is 8 hours behind. If you are not sure, 2pm–5pm UK time is a safe window: that is morning on the US East Coast and still reasonable for Central time. The gap shifts by an hour briefly in spring and autumn when the UK and US change their clocks on different dates.
The bottom line
The dial sequence is the easy part: put +1 before the US number on a mobile and you’re done.
The part that matters is cost. UK carrier rates for calls to the US range from £1.50 to £4.64 per minute on standard plans, and no UK carrier includes US calls in a standard unlimited package. If you’re making calls to the US more than occasionally, a PAYG calling app will save you a significant amount. ZippCall charges $0.02 per minute: that is a 10-minute call for about 20 cents.
If you’re making personal calls and the person on the other end uses WhatsApp or FaceTime, that’s free and perfectly good. If you’re calling a US business, a landline, or anyone who doesn’t use those apps, use a calling service with a flat per-minute rate and no monthly commitment. For a broader look at how to make international calls from the UK to other countries, that guide covers the full picture.
Entrepreneur and founder of ZippCall. After years living abroad, Josh built ZippCall to make international calling simple, affordable, and reliable.
Ready to Try ZippCall?
Make affordable international calls on web, iPhone, and Android devices. Crystal-clear quality with competitive rates.
1 minute setup. No subscription required.