What is the country code for Brazil?

Brazil's country code is +55, assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). You dial it immediately after the US exit code (011 or +).

How much does it cost to call Brazil with Sayfone?

Sayfone offers calls to Brazil at $0.12 per minute with transparent per-minute pricing. You call directly from your browser with no app download required.

How do I tell if a Brazilian number is mobile or landline?

After the 2-digit area code, mobile numbers in Brazil have 9 digits and always start with 9. Landline numbers have 8 digits and start with 2, 3, 4, or 5.

What time zone is Brazil in relative to the US?

Most of Brazil (about 90% of the population) is on Brasília Time (BRT), which is UTC−3 year-round. Since the US observes DST but Brazil does not, the gap shifts: BRT is 2 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time but only 1 hour ahead during US Eastern Daylight Time.

Do I need to dial the area code for calls to Brazil?

Yes. You must always include the 2-digit area code when calling Brazil from abroad. Common area codes include 11 (São Paulo), 21 (Rio de Janeiro), 31 (Belo Horizonte), and 61 (Brasília).

Can I call Brazilian toll-free numbers from the US?

Generally no. Brazilian toll-free numbers (0800 numbers) and short-code service numbers are intended for domestic use and are typically not reachable from outside Brazil. Contact the business for their direct landline or mobile number instead.

Why isn't my call to a Brazilian mobile number going through?

The most common cause is an incorrect number of digits. All Brazilian mobile numbers now have 9 digits (starting with 9) after the area code. If you have an older 8-digit mobile number, prepend a 9 to it. Also verify you have the correct 2-digit area code and have omitted any leading 0 or domestic carrier code.

Quick Answer

How to Call Brazil from the United States

From the US, dial 011 + 55 + 2-digit area code + local number. Brazilian mobile numbers have 9 digits (starting with 9); landlines have 8 digits. With Sayfone, calls to Brazil cost $0.12/min from your browser.

Call Brazil Now

Cost tools

🇺🇸From United States

To Brazil🇧🇷

$0.12

Per minute

+55

Country code

Call quality

Landline rate

$0.12/min

Mobile rate

$0.12/min

Same per-minute Sayfone rate for landline and mobile.

Average call quality

Whether you're connecting with family, coordinating business, or reaching contacts across Brazil's major cities, Sayfone lets you place the call directly from your browser at $0.12/min with transparent per-minute pricing.

Steps at a glance

Dial 011 (US international exit code) or press + on a mobile phone
Dial 55 (Brazil's country code)
Dial the 2-digit area code (e.g., 11 for São Paulo, 21 for Rio de Janeiro)
Dial the local number: 9 digits for mobile, 8 digits for landline

Sources

1
FCC – International Calling Tip Sheet
Confirms US exit code 011 and Brazil country code 55
2
ITU – Brazil Country Code +55 Numbering Plan
Official ITU numbering plan for Brazil

STEP-BY-STEP

How to Dial a Brazilian Number from the US

Follow these steps to reach any landline or mobile number in Brazil. The format differs slightly between landlines and mobiles because Brazilian mobile numbers have an extra digit.

1
Dial the US exit code
From a US landline, dial 011. From a US mobile phone, you can press and hold 0 to get the + symbol, which replaces 011.
```
011 or +
```
2
Dial Brazil's country code
Enter 55, which is Brazil's country code assigned by the ITU.
```
011 55 or +55
```
3
Dial the 2-digit Brazilian area code
Brazil uses 2-digit area codes (DDD codes) for every region. Common examples include 11 for São Paulo, 21 for Rio de Janeiro, 31 for Belo Horizonte, and 61 for Brasília. Do not include the leading 0 that Brazilians use for domestic long-distance calls.
```
011 55 21 (for Rio de Janeiro)
```
4
Dial the local number
For landlines, dial the 8-digit number (starting with digits 2–5). For mobile phones, dial the 9-digit number (always starts with 9). All Brazilian mobile numbers now begin with 9 after a nationwide update completed in 2016.
```
Landline: 011 55 21 3333-4444 | Mobile: 011 55 21 91234-5678
```
Place the call
With Sayfone, enter the full number in your browser and place the call at $0.12/min. No app download is required.

Dialing format reference

+55

Use these patterns when entering a full international number to +55.

Mobile

+55 AA 9XXXX-XXXX (11 digits after country code)

Landline

+55 AA XXXX-XXXX (10 digits after country code)

+55 11 91234-5678 (São Paulo mobile)
+55 21 3333-4444 (Rio de Janeiro landline)
+55 61 3456-7890 (Brasília landline)
+55 31 97654-3210 (Belo Horizonte mobile)

Major city area codes

São Paulo11

Rio de Janeiro21

Belo Horizonte31

Brasília61

Salvador71

Curitiba41

Recife81

Fortaleza85

Porto Alegre51

Manaus92

Sources

1
FCC – International Calling Tip Sheet (Brazil example)
Provides the 011 + 55 + area code + number format for US callers to Brazil
2
Wikipedia – Telephone Numbers in Brazil
Details on landline (8-digit) and mobile (9-digit) formats, area codes, and ANATEL numbering plan
3
Wikipedia – List of Dialling Codes in Brazil
Area code list and international dialing examples

DIALING RULES

Key Dialing Rules for Calling Brazil from the US

Brazilian phone numbers follow specific formatting rules set by ANATEL, Brazil's national telecom regulator. Understanding these rules helps avoid failed calls.

Drop the leading 0 from Brazilian numbers

When calling internationally, omit the leading 0 that Brazilians dial for domestic long-distance calls. Also omit any carrier selection code (e.g., 021 or 041) that may appear in a locally formatted number. International callers use only the exit code + 55 + area code + local number.

Mobile numbers are 9 digits; landlines are 8 digits

After the 2-digit area code, Brazilian mobile numbers have 9 digits and always start with the digit 9. Landline numbers have 8 digits and start with digits 2 through 5. This means a full international mobile number is 13 digits (+55 + 2-digit area code + 9-digit number) and a landline is 12 digits.

Area codes are always 2 digits

Every region and city in Brazil is assigned a 2-digit area code (known as DDD). You must always include the area code when calling from abroad, even for calls within the same city. For example, São Paulo uses 11 and Rio de Janeiro uses 21.

Use + or 011 from the US

The US international access code is 011 when dialing from a landline. From a US mobile phone, you can use the + prefix instead. Both reach the same international network.

Some special numbers may not work internationally

Toll-free numbers (e.g., 0800), emergency numbers, and short-code service numbers in Brazil are generally not reachable from outside the country. If you need to reach a Brazilian business, look for their direct landline or mobile number instead.

TIMING TIPS

Best Times to Call Brazil from the US

Brazil spans four time zones, but roughly 90% of the population lives in Brasília Time (BRT), which is UTC−3 year-round. Since Brazil no longer observes daylight saving time (since 2019), the offset from US time zones shifts when the US enters or exits DST.

Time & windows

São Paulo / Rio

BRT (UTC−3)

Main business zone — ~90% of population

Manaus

AMT (UTC−4)

Amazon region

US Eastern

ET (UTC−5 / UTC−4 DST)

New York, Miami, Boston

🇺🇸US Eastern → Brazil BRT (Nov–Mar, US EST)

BRT is 2 hours ahead of EST9 AM ET = 11 AM BRT

🇺🇸US Eastern → Brazil BRT (Mar–Nov, US EDT)

BRT is 1 hour ahead of EDT9 AM ET = 10 AM BRT

🇺🇸US Pacific → Brazil BRT (Nov–Mar, US PST)

BRT is 5 hours ahead of PST9 AM PT = 2 PM BRT

🇺🇸US Pacific → Brazil BRT (Mar–Nov, US PDT)

BRT is 4 hours ahead of PDT9 AM PT = 1 PM BRT

Calling tips

For business calls to São Paulo or Rio, aim for 9 AM–5 PM BRT on weekdays. From the US East Coast, this overlaps with morning through early afternoon.
Personal calls are often best in the Brazilian evening (after 7 PM BRT), which is late afternoon on the US East Coast.
Avoid calling during major Brazilian holidays such as Carnival (typically February/March) and Brazilian Independence Day (September 7) when offices are closed.
Brazil does not observe daylight saving time, so check the current offset when the US clocks change in March and November.

Business etiquette

Brazilian business culture values personal relationships. A brief personal greeting before getting to business is appreciated.
Meetings in Brazil may not start exactly on time—allow flexibility in scheduling.
If calling a Brazilian mobile number, be aware that the recipient may be charged for receiving the call if they are on certain domestic plans. Confirm in advance if this is a concern.

Sources

1
Time and Date – Time Zones in Brazil
Documents Brazil's four time zones and BRT as the primary zone
2
24timezones – Brasilia Time Zone
Confirms Brazil stopped DST changes in February 2019

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues When Calling Brazil from the US

If your call isn't connecting, these are the most common causes and how to fix them.

Call not connecting at all

Verify you dialed 011 (or +) before 55. If you copied a Brazilian domestic number, remove the leading 0 and any carrier-selection code (e.g., 021). The full international format is 011 55 [area code] [local number].

Wrong number or number not in service

Check that you have the correct 2-digit area code. Also confirm whether you're calling a mobile or landline—mobile numbers are 9 digits starting with 9, while landlines are 8 digits. Using the wrong digit count will route the call incorrectly.

Old 8-digit mobile number doesn't work

Brazil completed its migration to 9-digit mobile numbers in November 2016. If you have an older 8-digit mobile number, add a 9 at the beginning. For example, if the old number was 8765-4321, it is now 9 8765-4321.

Audio quality issues or dropped calls

Check your internet connection if calling via a browser-based service. A stable broadband or Wi-Fi connection typically provides the best experience. If issues persist, try again during off-peak hours.

Sources

1
Wikipedia – Telephone Numbers in Brazil
Reference for number format changes and 9-digit mobile migration

Savings

See what you could save

Adjust the tools below to compare Sayfone with typical retail pricing for calls to Brazil. Start with one call, then layer on monthly volume to see the bigger picture.

How to use these tools

Sayfone uses your live rate for calls to Brazil — the same basis as the rest of this page.
First, estimate savings on a single call length. Then, model a full month of minutes versus typical retail benchmarks.
Retail competitor rows are illustrative — not a quote from any carrier.