What is the country code for calling the United States from Switzerland?

The US country code is +1. From Switzerland, dial 00 1 (or +1 from a mobile) followed by the 10-digit US phone number (area code + local number).

What is Switzerland's exit code for international calls?

Switzerland uses 00 as its international exit code. On a mobile phone, you can use the + symbol instead, which automatically replaces 00.

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

Sayfone charges $0.08 per minute to call the United States from Switzerland. There are no connection fees or hidden charges — you pay only for the minutes you use.

Do I need to dial differently for US mobile vs. landline numbers?

No. In the United States, both mobile and landline numbers use the same 10-digit format (area code + 7-digit number). The dialing sequence from Switzerland is identical for both.

Can I call US toll-free numbers (800, 888, etc.) from Switzerland?

Generally, no. US toll-free numbers are typically not reachable from international numbers. Contact the business or organization for an alternative direct-dial number you can use from abroad.

What time should I call the US from Switzerland?

Switzerland is 6–9 hours ahead of the continental US depending on the time zone. For US East Coast business hours, call between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM Swiss time. For the West Coast, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM Swiss time works best.

Do I need to install an app to use Sayfone?

No. Sayfone works directly in your browser — no app download required. Just open Sayfone in any modern web browser on your phone, tablet, or computer and start calling.

Why does my call to the US keep failing?

The most common causes are: forgetting the exit code (00 or +), dialing a toll-free number that doesn't accept international calls, or using an incorrect area code. Double-check your dialing format: 00 1 [area code] [7-digit number].

Quick Answer

How to Call the United States from Switzerland

To call the United States from Switzerland, dial 00 (Switzerland's exit code), then 1 (US country code), then the 3-digit area code followed by the 7-digit local number. On a mobile phone, use +1 instead of 00 1.

Call the US Now for $0.08/min

Cost tools

🇨🇭From Switzerland

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 a Swiss professional coordinating with US partners or staying in touch with family across the Atlantic, calling the United States is straightforward once you know the correct dialing sequence.

Steps at a glance

Dial 00 (or press + on a mobile)
Dial 1 (US country code)
Dial the 3-digit US area code
Dial the 7-digit local number

Sources

1
ITU-T E.164 Country Code +1 – United States
Authoritative source for US country code +1
2
Swiss Federal Office of Communications – Numbering Plan
Authoritative source for Switzerland exit code 00

DIALING GUIDE

Step-by-Step: Dial the US from Switzerland

Follow these steps to reach any landline or mobile number in the United States from a Swiss phone.

1
Dial Switzerland's Exit Code
From a landline, dial 00. From a mobile phone, you can press and hold 0 to get the + symbol, which replaces 00.
```
00 or +
```
2
Dial the US Country Code
Enter 1 — the country code for the United States (and the broader North American Numbering Plan).
```
00 1 or +1
```
3
Dial the US Area Code
Enter the 3-digit area code for the region you're calling. For example, 212 for New York City, 415 for San Francisco, or 312 for Chicago.
```
00 1 212
```
4
Dial the Local Number
Enter the remaining 7-digit local number. The full sequence from Switzerland looks like: 00 1 XXX XXX XXXX (or +1 XXX XXX XXXX from a mobile).
```
00 1 212 555 0123
```

Dialing format reference

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

Mobile

+1 (area code) XXX-XXXX

Landline

+1 (area code) XXX-XXXX

00 1 212 555 0123 (New York landline)
00 1 415 555 0199 (San Francisco mobile)
+1 312 555 0147 (Chicago, from mobile)

Major city area codes

New York City212

Los Angeles213

Chicago312

San Francisco415

Houston713

Washington, D.C.202

Miami305

Boston617

Sources

1
Wikipedia – North American Numbering Plan
Reference for US 10-digit numbering format and country code +1
2
Wikipedia – Telephone numbers in Switzerland
Reference for Switzerland exit code 00 and trunk prefix 0

DIALING RULES

Important Dialing Rules for Switzerland → US Calls

A few formatting details can make the difference between a connected call and a failed one. Keep these rules in mind when dialing the United States from Switzerland.

Always include the exit code

Switzerland's international exit code is 00. On mobile phones, you can substitute this with the + symbol. Without the exit code, your call will not leave the Swiss telephone network.

US numbers have no leading zero to drop

Unlike many European countries, US phone numbers do not start with a trunk prefix 0. Dial all 10 digits of the US number exactly as given (area code + local number) after +1.

Mobile and landline numbers use the same format

In the United States, both mobile and landline numbers follow an identical 10-digit format: 3-digit area code followed by a 7-digit subscriber number. There is no separate mobile prefix.

Some US cities have multiple area codes

Major US cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago have several area codes. Always confirm the correct area code for the specific number you're calling — using the wrong area code will route to a different subscriber or fail entirely.

Toll-free US numbers may not be reachable internationally

US toll-free numbers (starting with 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, or 833) often cannot be dialed from outside the United States. If you need to reach a US business, ask for their direct international number instead.

TIMING & TIPS

Best Times to Call the US from Switzerland

Switzerland is 6 to 9 hours ahead of the US (depending on the US time zone), so planning your call timing matters — especially for business calls.

🇺🇸

The continental US spans four time zones: Eastern (ET), Central (CT), Mountain (MT), and Pacific (PT). Switzerland operates on Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) or Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2). This means a 6-hour gap to the US East Coast and up to 9 hours to the West Coast.

Time & windows

Best for US East Coast

3:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Swiss time)

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time — ideal for business calls

Best for US West Coast

6:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Swiss time)

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Pacific Time — catches the start of the West Coast business day

Best for Personal/Evening Calls

8:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Swiss time)

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM PT — after-work hours for US recipients

🇨🇭Switzerland → US East Coast (ET)

CET/CEST is 6 hours ahead of ET/EDTWhen it's noon in Zurich, it's 6:00 AM in New York

🇨🇭Switzerland → US Central (CT)

CET/CEST is 7 hours ahead of CT/CDTWhen it's noon in Zurich, it's 5:00 AM in Chicago

🇨🇭Switzerland → US Mountain (MT)

CET/CEST is 8 hours ahead of MT/MDTWhen it's noon in Zurich, it's 4:00 AM in Denver

🇨🇭Switzerland → US Pacific (PT)

CET/CEST is 9 hours ahead of PT/PDTWhen it's noon in Zurich, it's 3:00 AM in San Francisco

Calling tips

Schedule recurring US calls for the Swiss late afternoon (3–6 PM) to overlap with US East Coast morning business hours.
For West Coast contacts, early Swiss evening (6–8 PM) lines up well with their morning.
Weekend calls for family/personal use work best in the Swiss evening, when it's afternoon in the US.
Be mindful of daylight saving time transitions — Switzerland and the US switch dates don't always align, creating a 1-hour shift for a few weeks in spring and autumn.
Use a browser-based calling service like Sayfone for quick calls without worrying about your Swiss carrier's international rates.

Business etiquette

American business culture tends to be direct and time-conscious — be punctual for scheduled calls.
Introduce yourself with your full name and company if it's a first-time business call.
Americans typically prefer a brief greeting before diving into business topics.
Follow up important phone calls with an email summarizing key points and next steps.
If calling a US mobile, be aware the recipient may incur charges depending on their plan — texting first to confirm availability is considerate.

Sources

1
timeanddate.com – Time Zone Converter
Reference for time zone offsets between Switzerland and the US

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues When Calling the US from Switzerland

If your call to the United States isn't connecting, check these common issues before trying again.

Missing or Incorrect Exit Code

If you're dialing from a Swiss landline, you must dial 00 before 1 and the US number. Forgetting the exit code is the most common reason calls fail. On mobile, use + instead of 00.

Dialing a US Toll-Free Number

US toll-free numbers (800, 888, 877, etc.) generally cannot be reached from outside the US. Ask the business for an alternative international or direct-dial number.

Wrong Area Code

US area codes change over time as new codes are introduced. If your call reaches the wrong party or doesn't connect, verify the current area code for the region you're trying to reach.

Carrier International Calling Restrictions

Some Swiss mobile plans may not include international calling by default, or may charge premium rates. Check with your carrier (Swisscom, Sunrise, Salt, etc.) to confirm international calling is enabled on your plan, or use a browser-based service like Sayfone to bypass carrier restrictions.

Call Connects But No Audio

If the call connects but you hear silence, it may be a network routing issue. Hang up and try again. If using a VoIP or browser-based service, check your internet connection and microphone permissions.

Sources

1
Xe – Troubleshooting international calls to the US
General troubleshooting reference for international dialing to the US

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.