International dialing
How to call United States from Hong Kong
- Exit code 001 (or another carrier prefix)
- Country code +1
- No trunk prefix to drop
Reviewed by Sujan ThapaliyaLast updated
Calling United States from Hong Kong
Dial 001 (or another carrier prefix) (the Hong Kong exit code), then 1 (United States’s country code), then the local number exactly as written. So +1 (415) 555-0123 is dialled as 001 (or another carrier prefix) 1 (415) 555-0123. From a mobile you can dial +1 directly instead of 001 (or another carrier prefix).
The dialing sequence
- Exit code from Hong Kong
- 001 (or another carrier prefix)
- United States country code
- +1
- Trunk prefix to remove
- None
- Dial the local number exactly as written.
- Full sequence
- 001 (or another carrier prefix) + 1 + local number (the national number as-is; there is no trunk prefix to drop)
- Time in United States
- ET (UTC−5/−4)
- Hong Kong is on HKT (UTC+8, no DST).
Step by step
Dialing United States from Hong Kong
Four steps, and the third one is where almost every failed call goes wrong.
- 1
Dial 001 (or another carrier prefix): the exit code for Hong Kong
001 (or another carrier prefix) tells the Hong Kong 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
Dial 1: the country code for United States
1 is United States's country calling code. It never changes and is the same no matter where you are calling from. - 3
Dial the local number exactly as written
United States 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
Check the local time before you dial
United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4) and Hong Kong is on HKT (UTC+8, no DST). 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
555-0100 through 555-0199 are reserved for fictional use, so these examples never reach a real subscriber.
| Written in United States | Dialed from Hong Kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Landline | (415) 555-0123 | 001 (or another carrier prefix) 1 (415) 555-0123 |
| Mobile | +1 (NPA) NXX-XXXX (same format as landline) | 001 (or another carrier prefix) 1 (212) 555-0187 |
| From a mobile (+) | n/a | +1 (212) 555-0187 |
One thing about United States
US mobile and landline numbers are indistinguishable by prefix; you cannot tell them apart without a carrier lookup.
Frequently asked questions
How do I call the United States from Hong Kong?
Dial 001 (or another carrier prefix), then 1, then the local number. For example, +1 (415) 555-0123 is dialled as 001 (or another carrier prefix) 1 (415) 555-0123.
What is the country code for United States?
+1. From Hong Kong you reach it by dialling 001 (or another carrier prefix) first, or by dialling + directly from a mobile.
How do I call a United States mobile from Hong Kong?
Exactly the same way as a landline: 001 (or another carrier prefix) + 1 + the mobile number. A United States mobile in international format looks like +1 (212) 555-0187.
What is the time difference between Hong Kong and United States?
Hong Kong is on HKT (UTC+8, no DST) and United States 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 United States 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
- 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.
- 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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