What is the country code for the United Kingdom?

The UK country code is +44, assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It covers England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

How do I call a UK mobile number from the US?

Dial 011 44 (or +44 on a smartphone) followed by the 10-digit mobile number without the leading 0. For example, 07700 900123 becomes +44 7700 900123.

Do I need to remove the 0 from UK numbers when calling from abroad?

Yes. The leading 0 is a domestic trunk prefix and must be dropped when dialing internationally. After +44, go directly to the area code or mobile prefix.

What is the time difference between the US and the UK?

The UK is 5 hours ahead of US Eastern Time during most of the year. However, because the US and UK change clocks on different dates in spring and autumn, the difference temporarily shifts to 4 or 6 hours during transition weeks. The US spans multiple time zones (ET, CT, MT, PT), so the offset ranges from 5 to 8 hours depending on your location.

How much does Sayfone charge to call the UK from the US?

Sayfone offers calls to the United Kingdom at $0.08/min with transparent per-minute pricing. You can call directly from your browser with no app download required.

Can I call UK freephone (0800) numbers from the US?

Some UK special numbers, including 0800 and 0808 freephone numbers, may not be reachable from international lines or may incur charges. If you need to reach a UK business, ask for their standard geographic or mobile number instead.

What are the main UK area codes I should know?

Key UK area codes include: London (20), Birmingham (121), Manchester (161), Edinburgh (131), Glasgow (141), Liverpool (151), Leeds (113), and Bristol (117). Remember to drop the leading 0 when dialing from abroad.

Can I text a UK number from the US using the same format?

Yes, international SMS uses the same +44 format. Save UK numbers in your phone as +44 followed by the number without the leading 0 for both calls and texts.

Quick Answer

How to Call the United Kingdom from the United States

To call the UK from the US, dial 011 + 44 + the local number (drop the leading 0). On a smartphone, dial +44 followed by the number. Sayfone offers this route at $0.08/min from your browser.

Start calling

Cost tools

🇺🇸From United States

To United Kingdom🇬🇧

$0.08

Per minute

+44

Country code

Call quality

Landline rate

$0.08/min

Mobile rate

$0.08/min

Same per-minute Sayfone rate for landline and mobile.

Average call quality

This corridor is a key business route connecting two of the world's largest economies. Whether you're reaching a London office, a mobile contact in Manchester, or a supplier in Birmingham, the dialing format is the same.

Steps at a glance

Dial 011 (US exit code) or use + on a smartphone
Dial 44 (UK country code)
Drop the leading 0 from the UK number and dial the rest
Example: London number 020 7946 0958 becomes 011 44 20 7946 0958

Sources

1
FCC – International Long Distance Calling Tip Sheet
US exit code (011) and international dialing procedure
2
ITU – UK Numbering Plan (country code +44)
UK country code +44 and mobile number format

STEP-BY-STEP

How to Dial a UK Number from the United States

Follow these steps to connect to any UK landline or mobile number. The format applies whether you're calling London, Edinburgh, Manchester, or a UK mobile.

1
Dial the US exit code
From a US landline, dial 011. On a smartphone, you can press and hold 0 to get the + symbol, which replaces 011.
```
011 or +
```
2
Enter the UK country code
Dial 44, which is the country code assigned to the United Kingdom by the ITU. This covers England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
```
011 44 or +44
```
3
Drop the leading 0 and dial the local number
UK numbers start with 0 when dialed domestically (e.g., 020 for London, 0161 for Manchester, 07 for mobiles). When calling internationally, remove that leading 0 and dial the remaining digits.
```
London 020 7946 0958 → dial 011 44 20 7946 0958
```
4
Calling a UK mobile number
UK mobile numbers begin with 07 domestically. Drop the 0 and dial +44 7 followed by the remaining 9 digits. UK mobile numbers are 10 digits long after the country code.
```
07700 900123 → dial 011 44 7700 900123
```
Place the call
With Sayfone, enter the full number in international format and call from your browser at $0.08/min. No app download required.

Dialing format reference

+44

Use these patterns when entering a full international number to +44.

Mobile

+44 7XXX XXXXXX (10 digits after country code)

Landline

+44 [area code] [local number] (9–10 digits after country code)

+44 20 7946 0958 (London landline)
+44 161 496 0123 (Manchester landline)
+44 7700 900123 (UK mobile)

Major city area codes

London20

Birmingham121

Manchester161

Edinburgh131

Glasgow141

Liverpool151

Leeds113

Bristol117

Sources

1
FCC – International Calling Tip Sheet
US exit code 011 and dialing procedure
2
ITU – UK Country Code +44 Numbering Plan
UK mobile number length and format confirmation
3
Ofcom – UK Numbering Plan
UK area codes and number allocation authority

DIALING RULES

UK Dialing Rules You Should Know

Understanding these rules helps avoid failed connections when calling the United Kingdom from the US.

Always drop the leading 0

UK numbers displayed domestically start with 0 (e.g., 020 for London, 07 for mobiles). When dialing from the US, remove the 0 after entering +44. Dialing +44 0… will result in a failed call.

UK mobile numbers are 10 digits after +44

All UK mobile numbers start with 7 after the country code and are exactly 10 digits long (e.g., +44 7XXX XXXXXX). This is consistent across all UK mobile operators.

UK area codes vary in length

UK geographic area codes range from 2 to 5 digits (after dropping the 0). London uses the 2-digit code 20, while cities like Manchester (161) and Birmingham (121) use 3 digits. Smaller towns may have 4- or 5-digit codes. The total number (area code + subscriber number) is typically 10 digits after +44.

Use 011 from US landlines, + from smartphones

The US international exit code is 011. On most smartphones, you can use the + symbol (long-press 0) as a universal replacement for the exit code. Both methods route the call identically.

Special numbers may not work internationally

Some UK special numbers (such as freephone 0800/0808 or premium-rate 09XX numbers) may not be reachable from international lines, or may incur different charges. If you need to reach a UK business, ask for their geographic or mobile number instead.

TIMING TIPS

Best Times to Call the UK from the US

The UK is 5 hours ahead of US Eastern Time for most of the year. Because the US and UK switch to daylight saving on different dates, the offset briefly shifts to 4 or 6 hours during transition weeks in March and November.

🇬🇧

For business calls, aim for UK morning hours (9 AM–12 PM GMT/BST), which correspond to early morning US Eastern time. This is a well-established transatlantic calling corridor, so scheduling overlap is straightforward.

Time & windows

UK Business Hours

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM GMT/BST

Standard UK office hours (Mon–Fri)

US Eastern Equivalent

4:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET

When UK offices are open, in US Eastern Time

Best Overlap Window

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM UK time — ideal for business calls

🇺🇸UK morning (9 AM–12 PM)

4:00 AM – 7:00 AM ETEarly for US callers; good for reaching UK contacts first thing

🇺🇸UK afternoon (12 PM–5 PM)

7:00 AM – 12:00 PM ETPeak overlap — ideal window for US-to-UK business calls

🇺🇸UK evening (6 PM–9 PM)

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM ETBetter for personal calls; UK businesses are typically closed

Calling tips

The UK observes British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. The US switches to EDT on the second Sunday in March. During the gap weeks, the offset drops to 4 hours.
For recurring meetings, set calendar events in both time zones to catch DST transitions automatically.
Avoid calling UK mobiles during commute times (7:30–9:00 AM and 5:00–6:30 PM UK time) if you want the recipient to pick up.
UK bank holidays differ from US holidays. Check the UK government website for the current year's schedule before scheduling important calls.

Business etiquette

UK business culture values punctuality. Join calls on time and keep to the agreed duration.
Opening small talk is common but brief. Move to the agenda within a few minutes.
Voicemail is widely used in the UK. Leave a clear message with your name, number, and reason for calling.
If calling a switchboard, have the extension or department name ready to avoid delays.

Sources

1
timeanddate.com – UK Time Zones
UK time zone and DST schedule
2
Wikipedia – British Summer Time
BST start/end dates and UTC offset

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues When Calling the UK from the US

If your call to the UK isn't connecting, check these common causes before redialing.

Call fails immediately after dialing

The most common cause is including the leading 0 from the UK domestic number. After dialing +44 (or 011 44), skip the 0 and dial the rest of the number. For example, 020 7946 0958 becomes +44 20 7946 0958.

Wrong number of digits

UK landline numbers vary in total length depending on the area code. A London number after +44 is 10 digits (20 + 8-digit subscriber). A mobile number after +44 is always 10 digits (7XXX XXXXXX). Double-check the full number before dialing.

Carrier blocks international calls

Some US carriers disable international dialing by default. Contact your carrier to confirm international calling is enabled on your plan, or use a browser-based service like Sayfone that works over your internet connection.

Call connects but no audio

If using a browser-based calling service, check your microphone permissions and internet connection. A stable broadband or Wi-Fi connection is recommended for consistent call quality.

Reached the wrong person or business

UK area codes do not always correspond to city boundaries. Confirm the area code and full subscriber number with your contact. Save UK numbers in +44 international format to avoid confusion.

Sources

1
FCC – International Calling Tip Sheet
General international dialing guidance

Savings

See what you could save

Adjust the tools below to compare Sayfone with typical retail pricing for calls to United Kingdom. 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 United Kingdom — 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.