Quick Answer
To call the United States from Canada, dial 1 + the 3-digit US area code + the 7-digit local number. Both countries share country code +1 under the North American Numbering Plan, so no international exit code is needed. Sayfone offers calls to the US at $0.08/min with clear, reliable connections from your browser.
$0.08
Per minute
+1
Country code
HD
Call quality
Landline rate
$0.08/min
Mobile rate
$0.08/min
Same per-minute Sayfone rate for landline and mobile.
Average call quality
Whether you're coordinating cross-border business, catching up with family, or managing student life across the border, reaching a US number from Canada takes seconds.
Steps at a glance
Sources
Supports the NANP shared country code +1 claim.
Confirms NANP structure and dialing conventions for Canada.
DIALING GUIDE
Calling a US number from Canada is straightforward because both countries are part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). You won't need a separate international exit code — just the shared country code 1 followed by the full 10-digit US number.
Start by dialing 1. Since Canada and the US share country code +1 under the NANP, this is the same prefix used for Canadian long-distance calls. On a mobile phone, you can also dial +1.
1 ...
Next, dial the 3-digit area code for the US city or region you're calling. Major US cities have well-known area codes — for example, 212 for New York City, 312 for Chicago, 213 for Los Angeles, and 202 for Washington, D.C.
1-212-...
Complete the call by entering the 7-digit local phone number. US phone numbers always follow a 10-digit format: 3-digit area code + 7-digit subscriber number.
1-212-555-0199
Press call on your phone, or open Sayfone in your browser for clear connections at $0.08/min. No app download is needed — just enter the number and connect.
Dialing format reference
+1
Use these patterns when entering a full international number to +1.
Mobile
+1 (NPA) NXX-XXXX
Landline
+1 (NPA) NXX-XXXX
Major city area codes
Sources
Authoritative source for NANP area code assignments and numbering conventions.
Confirms shared +1 country code for US and Canada.
US regulatory authority for NANP numbering.
IMPORTANT DETAILS
While calling the US from Canada is simpler than most international calls thanks to the shared NANP, there are a few rules and nuances to keep in mind for a successful connection.
Because Canada and the US are both part of the North American Numbering Plan, you do not need to dial an international exit code (such as 011) when calling US numbers. Simply dial 1 + 10-digit US number. The 011 exit code is only needed when calling countries outside the NANP.
In the US, mobile and landline numbers follow the identical 10-digit format (area code + 7-digit number). There is no separate prefix to distinguish mobile from landline, so you dial them the same way.
Even if you're calling a US number geographically close to the Canadian border, always include the 3-digit area code. Ten-digit dialing is mandatory across most of the United States, and omitting the area code will cause the call to fail.
Some US toll-free numbers (1-800, 1-888, etc.) are not reachable from Canadian phone plans, or may incur charges despite being free within the US. Check with your carrier or use Sayfone for reliable connections at transparent per-minute rates.
Even though the US and Canada share a country code, most Canadian carriers treat calls to US numbers as long-distance or international, which may incur higher per-minute rates. Verify your plan's coverage for US calling, or use Sayfone at $0.08/min.
TIMING TIPS
Canada and the US share nearly identical time zones along the border, making cross-border calling convenient. However, the US spans four mainland time zones (Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific) and both countries observe daylight saving time — so the specific overlap depends on where you and your contact are located.
Toronto → New York
Same time zone (ET)
No offset — call anytime during normal hours.
Vancouver → Los Angeles
Same time zone (PT)
No offset — west coast to west coast is seamless.
Toronto → Los Angeles
3 hours ahead
A morning call in Toronto catches them at breakfast in LA.
Sources
Canadian time zone reference.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Calls between Canada and the US usually connect without problems, but occasionally things go wrong. Here are the most common issues and how to fix them.
Make sure you're dialing 1 + the full 10-digit US number (area code + local number). Omitting the leading 1 or the area code is the most common reason calls fail between Canada and the US.
US area codes change over time as regions grow. If you're using a saved number you haven't dialed in a while, verify the area code is still correct. Some US cities now have multiple overlapping area codes.
Many Canadian mobile and landline plans treat US calls as long-distance, often at $1–$3/min. Check your plan's US calling rate, or switch to Sayfone at $0.08/min with no contract or plan change required.
Not all US 1-800/1-888 toll-free numbers accept calls from Canadian numbers. If a toll-free number doesn't connect, try the organization's direct local number instead.
If you're calling over a standard phone line and experiencing echo or drops, it may be a carrier routing issue. Browser-based calling services like Sayfone use internet-based connections that can offer more consistent quality, especially over Wi-Fi.
Sources
Troubleshooting tips for international calls to the US.
Savings
Adjust the tools below to compare Sayfone with typical retail pricing for calls to United States. Start with one call, then layer on monthly volume to see the bigger picture.
How to use these tools
Set duration and country. See Sayfone vs. an illustrative retail rate for the same call.
I'm calling…
Enable enterprise discount
Save additional 40% (enterprise)
Your call
Your call will cost
$0.96
$0.080 per minute
That's 60% less than competitors
Set monthly minutes and call type. Bars compare Sayfone to common retail benchmarks for the same volume.
Drag slider to adjust
220
min / month
~$3.92/min
~$2.96/min
~$1.76/min
~$0.40/min
$0.080/min
Annual saving vs. AT&T
Based on 220 min/month
Before you go
Open the full Canada to United States guide, check rates, or browse other how-to guides from Canada.
Canada to United States calling guide
Per-minute rates, savings calculator, and what to expect on this route.
What it costs to call United States
See Sayfone’s per-minute rate for United States and how it compares before you dial.
Route guides from Canada
FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about dialing US numbers from Canada, including format, costs, and best practices.
Still have questions? Our support team is here to help.
Contact SupportEXPLORE MORE
Explore calling guides for other popular destinations from Canada.
Ready to Call?
Open Sayfone in your browser and connect to any US number in seconds. No app, no contract, no hidden fees — just clear, affordable calls across the border.
The modern Skype alternative. No downloads, no contracts, just crystal-clear calls from any device, anywhere.