What is the full dialing sequence to call the US from China?

Dial 00 + 1 + the 3-digit US area code + the 7-digit local number. For example, to call a New York number: 00-1-212-555-1234. From a mobile phone, you can dial +1-212-555-1234 instead.

What is the country code for the United States?

The US country code is +1. This code is shared with Canada and several Caribbean nations under the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).

How much does it cost to call the US from China with Sayfone?

Sayfone charges $0.08 per minute for calls from China to the United States. There are no connection fees or hidden charges. You call directly from your browser — no app download needed.

What is the best time to call the US from China?

For personal calls, try calling between 7–10 AM China time, which is 6–10 PM the previous day on the US East Coast. For business calls, 9–11 PM China time aligns with 9–11 AM US Eastern. Remember that the time difference ranges from 12 to 16 hours depending on the US time zone and whether daylight saving time is in effect.

Is the exit code from China 00 or 011?

China's international exit code is 00. The code 011 is the US exit code and should not be used when dialing from China. On a Chinese mobile phone, you can use the + symbol instead of 00.

Do I dial the same format for US mobile and landline numbers?

Yes. Unlike many countries, the US uses the same 10-digit format for both mobile and landline numbers: +1 + 3-digit area code + 7-digit local number. You don't need to know whether the number is a mobile or a landline.

Can I use WhatsApp or Skype to call US numbers from China?

Some VoIP services experience intermittent connectivity within China's network. Sayfone is designed to work reliably from a web browser in China, connecting you to real US phone numbers (mobile and landline) at $0.08/min without requiring a VPN.

What are common US area codes I should know?

Some of the most common US area codes include: 212 (New York City), 310 (Los Angeles), 312 (Chicago), 415 (San Francisco), 202 (Washington DC), 713 (Houston), 617 (Boston), and 305 (Miami). The US has hundreds of area codes, and large cities often have multiple codes.

Quick Answer

How to Call the United States from China

From China, dial 00-1-[area code]-[local number] to reach any US phone. On a mobile, simply dial +1 followed by the 10-digit US number. Sayfone lets you call the United States for $0.08/min from your browser — no VPN or special software needed.

Call the US Now

Cost tools

🇨🇳From China

To United States🇺🇸

$0.08

Per minute

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

Whether you're checking in on family, calling your child at a US university, or reaching a business partner, Sayfone offers a reliable connection from China to the United States with transparent per-minute pricing.

Steps at a glance

Dial 00 (China's international exit code)
Dial 1 (US country code)
Dial the 3-digit US area code (e.g. 212 for New York)
Dial the 7-digit local number
Full example: 00-1-212-555-1234

Sources

1
Beijing Municipal Government – International Dialing from China
Confirms China's international prefix is 00
2
ITU E.164 – International Numbering Plan
Authoritative source for country code +1 (US) and +86 (China)

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

How to Dial a US Number from China

Follow these steps to connect your call from any phone in China to a landline or mobile number in the United States.

1
Dial China's Exit Code: 00
Start by dialing 00, which is China's international access code. This tells your carrier you are placing an international call. On a mobile phone, you can press and hold the 0 key to produce the + symbol, which replaces the exit code automatically.
```
00 or +
```
2
Dial the US Country Code: 1
Immediately after the exit code, dial 1. This is the country code for the United States (and Canada). It routes your call to the US telephone network.
```
00-1 or +1
```
3
Dial the 3-Digit Area Code
Next, dial the area code of the US city or region you are calling. Every US phone number begins with a 3-digit area code. Common examples include 212 (New York City), 310 (Los Angeles), 312 (Chicago), 415 (San Francisco), and 202 (Washington DC).
```
00-1-212
```
4
Dial the 7-Digit Local Number
Finally, enter the remaining 7 digits of the recipient's phone number. The complete dialing sequence from China is: 00 + 1 + area code + local number. The format is the same for both US mobile phones and landlines.
```
00-1-212-555-1234
```

Dialing format reference

Use these patterns when entering a full international number to +1.

Mobile

+1 (XXX) XXX-XXXX

Landline

+1 (XXX) XXX-XXXX

00-1-212-555-0100 (New York landline)
00-1-310-555-0199 (Los Angeles mobile)
00-1-312-555-0150 (Chicago)

Major city area codes

New York City212

Los Angeles310

Chicago312

San Francisco415

Washington DC202

Houston713

Boston617

Miami305

Sources

1
Beijing Municipal Government – International Dialing Instructions
Official source for China exit code 00 and dialing procedure
2
Revolut – United States Country Code Guide
Confirms US landline and mobile formats are identical
3
NANPA – North American Numbering Plan Administration
Authoritative source for US area code assignments

IMPORTANT RULES

Dialing Rules for Calling the US from China

Keep these rules in mind to make sure your call connects on the first attempt.

Always Include the Area Code

US phone numbers require a 3-digit area code even for local calls. Never omit it — your call will not connect without the area code.

China's Exit Code Is 00 (Not 011)

From a landline in China, always dial 00 first to reach any international number. The code 011 is the US exit code and does not work from Chinese phones. On mobiles, use the + symbol instead.

US Mobile and Landline Format Is Identical

Unlike many countries, the United States uses the same 10-digit format (+1 + area code + 7-digit number) for both mobile and landline numbers. You do not need to know whether the number is a mobile or landline.

IP Dialing Prefixes Can Save Money on Traditional Lines

If you're using a Chinese carrier (China Mobile, China Telecom, or China Unicom), you can dial an IP prefix before the international sequence to get reduced rates. Common IP prefixes include 17951 (China Mobile) and 17900 (China Telecom). The full sequence is: IP prefix + 00 + 1 + US number.

Use Sayfone to Avoid Carrier Complexity

Instead of dealing with exit codes and IP prefixes, Sayfone lets you call US numbers directly from your browser at $0.08/min. Just enter the US number, and Sayfone handles the routing for you — no VPN required.

TIMING & TIPS

Best Times to Call the US from China

China is 12–16 hours ahead of the United States depending on the US time zone and daylight saving time. Planning your call around time zones helps you reach people when they're available.

🇺🇸

China uses a single time zone (UTC+8) year-round and does not observe daylight saving time. The US spans four main time zones and shifts clocks forward by one hour from March to November.

Time & windows

Morning in China → Evening in US East Coast

8:00 AM CST → 8:00 PM EST (previous day)

Great for personal calls — most people are home in the evening.

Evening in China → Morning in US East Coast

9:00 PM CST → 9:00 AM EST

Ideal for business calls during US office hours.

Late Night in China → US West Coast Morning

12:00 AM CST → 9:00 AM PST

Best window for reaching people in California, Oregon, or Washington.

🇨🇳US Eastern Time (New York, Washington DC, Miami)

12–13 hours behind China12 hours during US DST (Mar–Nov); 13 hours during US standard time (Nov–Mar)

🇨🇳US Central Time (Chicago, Houston, Dallas)

13–14 hours behind China13 hours during DST; 14 hours during standard time

🇨🇳US Pacific Time (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle)

15–16 hours behind China15 hours during DST; 16 hours during standard time

🇨🇳US Hawaii Time (Honolulu)

18 hours behind ChinaHawaii does not observe daylight saving time

Calling tips

For personal calls to family or students, the China morning window (7–10 AM CST) aligns with US evening hours (6–10 PM previous day, Eastern), when most people are available at home.
For business calls, the late-evening China window (9–11 PM CST) corresponds to US morning office hours (9–11 AM Eastern).
Use Sayfone's browser-based calling to avoid potential VoIP app restrictions within China's network.
Save frequently called US numbers in +1 format for quick dialing: +1 (area code) XXX-XXXX.

Business etiquette

US business hours are typically 9 AM–5 PM local time, Monday through Friday.
When calling a US office, expect a receptionist or automated menu. Press 0 to speak with an operator if needed.
Americans generally answer calls with a greeting and their name. State your name and purpose concisely.
Avoid calling US numbers on major holidays: New Year's Day, Independence Day (July 4), Thanksgiving (late November), and Christmas (December 25).

Sources

1
ChinaDiscovery – Time Difference Between China and Other Countries
Detailed breakdown of Beijing-to-US-city time offsets
2
TimeAndDate – Beijing to New York Time Converter
Live time zone comparison

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues When Calling the US from China

If your call isn't connecting, review these common issues and solutions specific to the China–US calling corridor.

Using the Wrong Exit Code

China's international exit code is 00. If you dial 011 (the US exit code) from a Chinese phone, the call will fail. On mobile phones, use the + symbol instead of 00 for a universal solution.

Missing or Incorrect Area Code

Every US number requires a 3-digit area code. If you dial only 7 digits after +1, the call will not go through. Double-check the full 10-digit US number before dialing.

VoIP Apps May Be Unreliable in China

Some popular VoIP and messaging apps experience intermittent connectivity within China due to network restrictions. Sayfone works through your web browser and is designed to provide a reliable connection without requiring a VPN.

Call Connects but No Audio

This can happen due to network routing issues. Try the call again after a few minutes, or switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data (or vice versa). Using Sayfone's browser-based calling can help bypass local carrier routing issues.

Unexpected Charges on Your Chinese Carrier

International calls through Chinese mobile carriers (China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom) can be expensive. Check your plan's international rates before calling. Sayfone offers a transparent rate of $0.08/min to the US — no hidden fees.

Sources

1
Xe – Common International Calling Issues
Covers common dialing errors and troubleshooting

Savings

See what you could save

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

Sayfone uses your live rate for calls to United States — 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.