How to Call the US from the UK: Step-by-Step Guide & Tips

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In-depth guide for calling the US from the UK
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Whether you're an American traveling abroad or a United Kingdom resident trying to call people in the US, you need to know the options and procedures in place to successfully make a call from one country to the other. Learn how to make calls from anywhere within the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) to anywhere within the United States. You can call from a landline, US cell phone, UK mobile phone, or online service.

How to Call the US from the UK

Dial the UK exit code, which is 00, then dial the US country code, which is 1. Then dial the three-digit area code and the seven-digit phone number: 00 1 ### ### ####. If you see a US number with a +1 before the area code, you can omit one of the 1s.

Section 1 of 3:

Making a Mobile or Landline Call

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  1. Dial the UK's exit code into your phone, which is 00. This will signal that the phone number you are about to dial is out of the country.
    • If you're calling from a mobile phone, you can dial + instead of 00. [1] To do this, simply long press on the "0" until the + shows up.
  2. After you dial 00, press 1 on your phone's keypad. This is the country code for the United States, and it lets the phone know you are dialing a number from the US.
    • If the phone number you wish to dial already has a +1 before the area code and next seven digits, you don't need to dial the "1" more than once. For example, you would dial 00 1 (###) ### ####, not 00 1 1 (###) ### ####.
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  3. After inputting the international calling code (00) and the country code (1), dial the area code of the region of the United States you are trying to reach. [2]
    • A US area code is always a three-digit number, and is often listed in parentheses before the following seven digits of the phone number, like so: (###)-###-####.
    • A US toll-free number replaces the area code with one of the following codes: 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, or 844. [3] However, toll-free numbers will not be free when calling from outside the US, and in fact may not work at all when dialed. Instead, call the company's standard phone number. [4]
    • Note that a person's area code may not be the same as their physical location in the United States if they've moved but kept the same phone number, or bought a phone in a different area than the one they live in. If the person you need to contact did not provide an area code, you'll need to confirm with them which area code is used for their phone number.
      • Some cities or regions may be covered by multiple area codes, depending on their size.
  4. Follow the international calling code (00), the country code (1), and the three-digit area code with the remaining seven digits of the US phone number. US phone numbers are commonly structured in one group of three and one group of four (###-####). After all numbers are entered, press the call button to place the call.
    • Example: If you're calling someone from Washington, DC with the phone number 555-1234, you would dial 00 1 202 555 1234 .
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Section 2 of 3:

Using an Online Calling Service or App

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  1. Try out the popular Skype service to make video or audio calls to anyone in the world who has Skype on their phone or computer. You can also call any regular phone number for a small fee, whether or not there is an associated Skype account.
    • Download Skype for free on a smartphone, tablet, or computer to immediately begin calling other Skype accounts for free. If you want to use Skype to call a regular US phone number, add Skype Credit to your account to pay as you go, or select a monthly subscription to save on frequent calls. [5]
    • Make sure you are connected to a computer or phone with high-speed internet when you make calls from Skype, as the audio and video quality will be better and more reliable with a good connection.
    • Note that if you use a mobile app for Skype on a phone or tablet that is not connected to WiFi, you will incur data charges. Check with your phone or SIM card provider on these charges, or purchase a plan with unlimited or a large amount of data if you plan to use phone apps frequently without an internet connection.
  2. Use another service with audio and/or video calls available, such as Google Hangouts, Viber, or WhatsApp. Like Skype, calls through these services are free to any other service members, and there is a small fee for calling regular landlines and cell phones.
    • Use these services on a computer or through free apps for your mobile phone or tablet. Remember that if your phone is not connected to the internet, you will incur data charges for the calls you make on the network.
    • Try out different services to see which one you like the best, as they all have slightly different features. Or, you might choose an app based on whether your US contacts also have it or can get it, because then your calls to them are free.
  3. Load contacts, phone numbers, or credit (if applicable) for calls on an internet phone service or app before you use it to call the US from the UK. Familiarize yourself with the process of making a call, the quality of the audio or video, and any other features so that you are ready to use it without any problems.
    • If you can, test out the app before you are abroad in the UK to get familiar with it. Make sure you have a good internet connection and, if possible, use the same device you'll use to connect while abroad.
    • You might want to be prepared with a reliable microphone and pair of headphones for making your calls from the UK, particularly if you are using an older computer that doesn't have a microphone or speakers built in, or you want to be able to make hands-free mobile calls.
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Section 3 of 3:

Choosing How to Call

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  1. If you are from the United States and traveling in the United Kingdom, bring along an unlocked phone that allows SIM cards to be inputted from other providers. A SIM card is a small information chip that you can purchase from a mobile provider while abroad.
    • Ensure that the cell phone you want to bring to the UK is a GSM phone (global cellular technology used by most of the world) and it's unlocked, meaning that it doesn't have a restriction on being used with other providers. AT&T and T-Mobile carry GSM phones which are typically unlocked. [6]
    • Look for a UK mobile provider that carries a SIM card that will fit in your phone. Most mobile phones have a standard SIM card size, but iPhones and other newer smartphones use special micro or nano SIM card sizes. [7]
    • You can set up an international calling plan through your current US phone carrier, but note that these plans are typically very expensive.
    • Whether you choose an international call plan or the SIM card route, make sure to call your US provider to change or suspend your service and ask any questions you may have before traveling to the UK.
  2. Choose to buy a mobile phone in the UK if you can't or want to avoid bringing your own from the US, as it is frequently simpler and cheaper. Buy an inexpensive phone for a short stay in the UK, and purchase a pay-as-you-go SIM card plan to make international calls. [8]
    • Check the plan's pricing to ensure you know the rates for international calls. Check the data usage rates on a smartphone if you plan to use it for internet calling apps.
    • Most pay-as-you-go SIM card plans for mobile phones in the UK come with a small amount of prepaid minutes for calls, and then you can "top up" with more minutes over the phone or at a kiosk for the network provider.
    • The major mobile phone networks in the UK are Vodafone, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile, O2, and Orange. Shops like Car Phone Warehouse and Phones4U sell inexpensive phones from several different networks.
  3. Call the US from a UK landline phone if you wish. Check with the landline service provider to find out the rates for international calls, or purchase a calling card to lower the rates for calls to the US
    • Purchase an international calling card from grocery stores, post offices, or phone shops in the UK to reduce the cost of frequent international calls. Generic international calling cards can usually be used with either landlines or mobile phones. [9]
    • To use an international calling card, you typically will dial an access number found on the back of the card, then a unique PIN, and finally the phone number you wish to dial.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I send a text message to the U.S. from a UK phone?
    Community Answer
    You'll use the same procedures above to text a U.S. phone number from the UK. Input the international dialing code (00), country code (1), and U.S. phone number including area code when you send the text message.
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  • Question
    How can I call the United Kingdom from the United States?
    Community Answer
    To call a phone number in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Wales from the United States (the reverse of this article), check out our wikiHow articles on calling the UK from the U.S. and calling the UK in general.
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  • Question
    What if I'm located in the U.S. but dialing a U.S. number from a UK mobile phone?
    Community Answer
    You will follow the instructions above for dialing a U.S. number from a UK phone, no matter where you are. However, it's likely that a UK mobile phone will not be active in the U.S. unless you have an international mobile plan set up, or you get a local U.S. SIM card plan for the phone. If you are using a U.S. SIM service, you'll dial another U.S. number normally, without the "00" and "1" required for making an international call.
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      Tips

      • Remember when you are placing a call that the US is divided into six different time zones. In the UK, the time difference could be as large as 11 hours calling Hawaii, or as small as 5 hours for New York. Check the time difference so that you're making a call at a reasonable time for the recipient, or within business hours if it's a business call.
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      • In some cases, an international text message may be a more affordable or convenient option for communication that isn't essential to do by voice.
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      Warnings

      • Avoid placing international calls from a hotel, as they often add surcharges to your calling rate, even if the call would be free from another phone. Check with the hotel first about their rates if you plan to call from their phones.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.countrycallingcodes.com/mobile/mobile-codes.php?callfrom=United%20Kingdom&callto=United%20States
      2. ↑ https://www.allareacodes.com/
      3. ↑ https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/what-toll-free-number-and-how-does-it-work
      4. ↑ https://www.howtocallabroad.com/qa/toll-free.html
      5. ↑ https://secure.skype.com/en/calling-rates?wt.mc_id=legacy
      6. ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/news/cdma-vs-gsm-whats-the-difference
      7. ↑ https://kenstechtips.com/index.php/smartphone-type-standard-sim-micro-sim-or-nano-sim
      8. ↑ https://www.justlanded.com/english/United-Kingdom/UK-Guide/Telephone-Internet/Mobile-phones
      9. ↑ https://www.tescointernationalcalling.com/calling-card/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Before you make a call to the United States from the United Kingdom, check with your phone carrier to ensure you have an international service plan. Once you have verified this, dial “00,” which is the UK's international calling code, and then press "1," the code for the United States. After 00-1, enter the area code and 7 digit phone number to place your call. The digits all together might look something like 00-1-303-555-1234. You can also make international video calls using apps like WhatsApp and Skype. To learn how to use online calling services, scroll down!

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