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International dialing

How to call Canada from United States

  • Exit code 011
  • Country code +1
  • No trunk prefix to drop

Reviewed by Sujan ThapaliyaLast updated

Calling Canada from United States

Dial 011 (the United States exit code), then 1 (Canada’s country code), then the local number exactly as written. So +1 (416) 555-0142 is dialled as 011 1 (416) 555-0142. From a mobile you can dial +1 directly instead of 011.
Dialling Canada from United States: start with 011, the exit code for United States, then 1 for Canada, then the local number. The diagram shows those three blocks and the leading-zero rule that catches most people out.
The + shortcut on a mobile replaces the exit code entirely, which is why it works on any SIM in any country.

The dialing sequence

Exit code from United States
011
Canada country code
+1
Trunk prefix to remove
None
Dial the local number exactly as written.
Full sequence
011 + 1 + local number (the national number as-is; there is no trunk prefix to drop)
Time in Canada
ET (UTC−5/−4)
United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4).

Canada and United States share +1

Both countries sit inside the same numbering plan, so the call is dialled like a domestic long-distance call, but it is still an international call and is billed as one. Check your rate before a long conversation.

Step by step

Dialing Canada from United States

Four steps, and the third one is where almost every failed call goes wrong.

  1. 1

    Dial 011: the exit code for United States

    011 tells the United States network that the call is leaving the country. On a mobile you can press and hold 0 to type a + instead, which works from any country and any SIM; it is the more reliable option when you travel.
  2. 2

    Dial 1: the country code for Canada

    1 is Canada's country calling code. It never changes and is the same no matter where you are calling from.
  3. 3

    Dial the local number exactly as written

    Canada has no national trunk prefix, so there is nothing to remove. The number you would dial locally is the number you dial after 1.
  4. 4

    Check the local time before you dial

    Canada is on ET (UTC−5/−4) and United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4). Work out the overlap before calling; the most common cause of an unanswered international business call is simply the hour.

Worked examples

What the number looks like at each stage

555-01XX is reserved across the whole North American Numbering Plan.

Written in CanadaDialed from United States
Landline(416) 555-0142011 1 (416) 555-0142
Mobile+1 (NPA) NXX-XXXX011 1 (604) 555-0119
From a mobile (+)n/a+1 (604) 555-0119

One thing about Canada

Canada shares +1 with the US, so calls between the two are dialled like domestic long distance, but they are not free unless your plan says so.

Frequently asked questions

How do I call Canada from the United States?
Dial 011, then 1, then the local number. For example, +1 (416) 555-0142 is dialled as 011 1 (416) 555-0142.
What is the country code for Canada?
+1. From United States you reach it by dialling 011 first, or by dialling + directly from a mobile.
How do I call a Canada mobile from United States?
Exactly the same way as a landline: 011 + 1 + the mobile number. A Canada mobile in international format looks like +1 (604) 555-0119.
What is the time difference between United States and Canada?
United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4) and Canada is on ET (UTC−5/−4). Because several of these zones observe daylight saving on different dates, check the current offset rather than assuming a fixed gap.
Is it cheaper to call Canada over the internet?
Usually, yes. Carrier international rates are typically far above VoIP per-minute rates, and calling from an owned local number also means the person you are calling sees a number they can ring back.

Sources

  1. ITU-T Recommendation E.164 — The international public telecommunication numbering plan — International Telecommunication UnionThe international number format, the 15-digit maximum, and how country codes and national numbers compose.
  2. ITU-T International Numbering Resources — International Telecommunication UnionThe assignment of country calling codes and the published national numbering plans they belong to.

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