How to Call Germany From US: Mobile, Landline, & More

PDF download Download Article
A tutorial on the different ways to call Germany from the US
PDF download Download Article

To place a call to Germany from the United States, you just need to dial the U.S. exit code, Germany’s country code, and the number in Germany you wish to call. If you’re calling from a landline or cell phone, you’ll need to pay international calling rates. You can also make a call using a VoIP service like Skype or Google Voice, which may be significantly cheaper than using your regular phone service.

Quick Steps

  1. Dial 011, which is the US exit code.
  2. Dial 49, which is the country code for Germany.
  3. Dial the area code if you're calling a landline; leave it out for mobile numbers.
  4. Dial the phone number, which could be anywhere from 3 to 13 digits (including area code).
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Calling from a Landline or Cell Phone

PDF download Download Article
  1. To place any international call from a U.S. landline, start by dialing this number combination. 011 is the “exit number” for phone calls from North America. [1]
    • This is also the first step to dialing any international number (outside of North America) from Canada.
    • If you are calling from a cell phone, you can press the 0 key to use a "+" instead of the exit code.
  2. This is the country code for Germany. You will need to dial it after the exit number and before the actual phone number. [2]
    • The country code is necessary for making the call go through correctly, so don’t leave it out!
    Advertisement
  3. If you’re dialing a landline, you’ll need to enter an area code after the country code and before the main number. The area code may be anywhere from 2 to 5 digits long. [3]
    • If you see a leading 0 on the area code, leave it off—the 0 is only used when making calls within Germany.
    • Don’t enter an area code if you are calling a cell phone number.
  4. After dialing the area code (if applicable), you can enter the main phone number. German landline numbers can be anywhere from 3 to 13 digits long, including the area code. German cell phone numbers are 10 or 11 digits long. [4]
    • If you’re calling a landline, you might dial something like 011-49-480-123456789.
    • For a cell phone, you might dial something like 011-49-12345678910.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using VoIP Software

PDF download Download Article
  1. VoIP services such as Skype, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger allow you to make free online calls to other users anywhere in the world over the internet.
    • Simply select the name of the person you would like to call from your list of contacts (or send a request to connect if they are not already in your contacts) and select the voice or video call option to connect.
    • Make sure the person you are trying to call has the same software downloaded and set up so that the call will be free for both of you.
    • Some services (like Skype) also allow you to make video calls.
    EXPERT TIP

    Luigi Oppido

    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist

    Get better video call quality using a wired internet connection. If you're making a video call on your computer, opt for ethernet over Wi-Fi, as ethernet is faster. If only Wi-Fi is available, place your video call at a time when other people in your home aren't streaming video or using up your bandwidth.

  2. to call a German landline or cell phone. If the person you are trying to call doesn’t have Skype or an equivalent VoIP service, you can call their phone directly over Skype . To do this, you'll need to download Skype on your phone or computer, sign up for a free account or log in, then dial the number just like you would on a regular phone. [5]
    • Skype has a number of plans that allow you to call Germany. Their recommended plan gives you 400 minutes to call German landlines and mobile phones for $8.38 per month. [6]
  3. Try using Google Voice . If you have a Google Voice account , you can use it to call German numbers from your phone or computer. You will need to add some money to your Google Voice account before you call, which you can do by navigating to “Payments” in the dropdown menu at voice.google.com or in your Google Voice app. To place the call: [7]
    • If you’re using a phone or other mobile device, open your Google Voice app and click the “Calls” button at the bottom. Open the keypad and dial “+49” followed by the number you wish to call, then hit the call button.
    • To call from your computer, go to voice.google.com. Open the “Calls” tab and select “Make a Call.” Enter “+49” followed by the number you wish to call, then hit the “call” button.
    • Once you initiate the call, you’ll hear or see a message confirming that your call is being routed through Google Voice and telling you how much the call will cost. You can view rates for calling Germany here: https://www.google.com/voice/rates .
    4. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do you call German emergency ambulance or fire from the US?
    Community Answer
    For security reasons you cannot call any emergency service outside of Germany but even if you could, the fees would be really expensiv,e so it wouldn't worth it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 1
  • Question
    How do you check if the number is spam?
    Anurag Pant
    Community Answer
    You can use Truecaller, if it's available in your country and if your smartphone operating system version supports it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • If your phone service plan does not include international calling, you can use a prepaid calling card . Check the details when you buy your card so that you know if you can place international calls with it and, if so, how much the call will cost per minute.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
      • Make sure to check the time in Germany before placing a call so that you don’t call at an awkward time. If you don’t want to calculate the time difference, you can check online .
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Placing international calls can get expensive. Check with your landline or cell phone provider about international rates on your plan so you don’t get stuck with an unexpected bill.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Call Germany
      How to
      Call France from the US + Calling Card & VoIP Guide
      How to
      Call Ireland From the US via Phone or App + Helpful Tips
      How to
      Call Spain
      How to
      Call Greece
      How to
      Call Austria
      Easy Ways to Call Italy from the U.S.A.
      How to
      Call Switzerland from the USA (or Anywhere)
      How to
      Call Spain from the UK
      Calling the Netherlands From Anywhere: Landline, Cell, or Internet
      A Guide on How to Make International Calls to Poland
      A Complete Guide to Calling Sweden from the United States
      How to
      Call Ireland from Canada
      How to
      Call Europe
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.howtocallabroad.com/germany/
      2. ↑ https://www.howtocallabroad.com/germany/
      3. ↑ https://www.howtocallabroad.com/germany/
      4. ↑ https://www.howtocallabroad.com/germany/
      5. ↑ https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA10938/how-do-i-dial-an-international-number-from-skype-on-desktop
      6. ↑ https://www.skype.com/en/international-calls/Germany
      7. ↑ https://support.google.com/voice/answer/3379129?co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&hl=en&oco=0

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To call Germany from the U.S., first dial 011 to initiate an international call. After 011, dial 49, which is the country code for Germany. Once you’ve typed in both of those, put in the area code and phone number of the German number you want to call. If you are calling a German cell phone number, you don’t need to put in an area code. Alternatively, if you want to make a free international call to Germany, you can use Skype, Google Hangouts, or Facebook Messenger. When using one of these free online voice and video call options, just make sure that the person you want to call has the same software so the call will be free for both of you. For more tips, including how to use Skype credit to call a German landline or cell phone, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 161,409 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement