How to call the US from the UK

Calling the US from the UK follows the same basic format wherever in the country you're calling: an exit code, the US country code, then the local number. Here's exactly how it works — and, if you call the US often, how to stop per-minute charges eating into your budget.

1. Exit code: dial 00 from a UK landline, or + from a mobile (press and hold 0 to get the + symbol on most phones)
2. Country code: dial 1 for the US
3. Area code: dial the 3-digit local area code (for example, 212 for New York City)
4. Phone number: dial the remaining 7-digit local number

Example: to call a New York number, dial 00 1 212 555 1234 from a landline, or +1 212 555 1234 from a mobile.

• New York City: 212, 646, 917
• Los Angeles: 213, 310, 323
• Chicago: 312, 773
• Houston: 281, 713, 832
• San Francisco: 415, 650
• Seattle: 206
• Dallas: 214, 469, 972
• Denver: 303, 720
• Phoenix: 602, 480
• Philadelphia: 215, 267

The US spans six time zones, so the difference depends on where you're calling. As a rough guide:

• Eastern Time (New York, Miami): 5 hours behind the UK
• Central Time (Chicago, Dallas): 6 hours behind the UK
• Mountain Time (Denver, Phoenix): 7 hours behind the UK
• Pacific Time (Los Angeles, Seattle): 8 hours behind the UK

If it's early afternoon in the UK, it's still morning on the US west coast, so it's worth checking the local time before calling, especially outside standard business hours.

Standard network rates for calling the US can be high, often £1 to £3.50 per minute if you're not on a plan that includes it. If you only call the States now and then, a few work-arounds can bring that down:

• Check for an international add-on: several major UK mobile providers offer an add-on that drops the per-minute rate to a few pence, rather than paying the standard rate.
• Try a budget provider: pay-as-you-go networks sometimes include lower international rates by default.
• Use an internet calling app: apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype let you call over WiFi at no extra cost, provided the other person also has the app.
• Compare before a big call: rates vary a lot between providers, so it's worth checking if you know you've got a long or important call coming up.

Those work-arounds are fine for the occasional call, but they get old fast if the US is a regular fixture — suppliers, clients or partners. Juggling add-ons, chasing the cheapest app, watching the per-minute meter: it's a lot of effort to avoid a bill.

With Rinkel, you don't have to. The US is one of the 50+ destinations included in your plan, so you call it at your standard rate: £0.05 per minute on Essential, and included in unlimited calling on Professional and Expert. One predictable plan, no tracking charges call by call — and you make and take those calls on the business number you already use, from your mobile or your laptop.

So whether you're calling New York first thing or taking a call from a client in LA at the end of the day, the cost stays the same, and you stay reachable on one professional number.