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International dialing

How to call United Kingdom from United States

  • Exit code 011
  • Country code +44
  • Drop the leading 0

Reviewed by Sujan ThapaliyaLast updated

Calling United Kingdom from United States

Dial 011 (the United States exit code), then 44 (United Kingdom’s country code), then the local number with its leading 0 removed. So +44 20 7946 0123 is dialled as 011 44 20 7946 0123. From a mobile you can dial +44 directly instead of 011.
Dialling United Kingdom from United States: start with 011, the exit code for United States, then 44 for United Kingdom, then the local number with its leading 0 dropped. 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
United Kingdom country code
+44
Trunk prefix to remove
0
Domestic numbers start with 0; drop it from abroad.
Full sequence
011 + 44 + local number (drop the leading 0)
Time in United Kingdom
GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1)
United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4).

Step by step

Dialing United Kingdom 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 44: the country code for United Kingdom

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

    Drop the leading 0 from the local number

    Numbers written for domestic use in United Kingdom begin with 0. That digit is a national trunk prefix and is not part of the number. Remove it: +44 20 7946 0123 is dialled as 20 7946 0123 after the country code.
  4. 4

    Check the local time before you dial

    United Kingdom is on GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) 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

Ofcom reserves 020 7946 0XXX and 07700 900XXX for drama and documentation, so these examples cannot ring a real person.

Written in United KingdomDialed from United States
Landline020 7946 0123011 44 20 7946 0123
Mobile+44 7XXX XXXXXX011 44 7700 900123
From a mobile (+)n/a+44 7700 900123

One thing about United Kingdom

The leading 0 in 020 or 07911 is a domestic trunk prefix. Drop it when dialling from abroad: +44 20…, never +44 020…

Frequently asked questions

How do I call the United Kingdom from the United States?
Dial 011, then 44, then the local number with its leading 0 removed. For example, +44 20 7946 0123 is dialled as 011 44 20 7946 0123.
What is the country code for United Kingdom?
+44. From United States you reach it by dialling 011 first, or by dialling + directly from a mobile.
Do I include the 0 when calling United Kingdom?
No. The leading 0 is only used inside United Kingdom. Including it from abroad is the most common reason the call fails to connect.
How do I call a United Kingdom mobile from United States?
Exactly the same way as a landline: 011 + 44 + the mobile number without its leading 0. A United Kingdom mobile in international format looks like +44 7700 900123.
What is the time difference between United States and United Kingdom?
United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4) and United Kingdom is on GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1). 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 United Kingdom 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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