Last reviewed: 2025-01-07 · Reading time: 5 minutes
How do you dial United States from Spain?
- Country code
+1- All numbers numbers
-
Example:
+1 212 123 4567All US numbers are 10 digits: 3-digit area code + 7-digit local number. Mobile and landline use the same format.
- Toll free numbers
-
Example:
+1 800 123 4567Toll-free numbers (800, 888, 877, etc.) often don't work from abroad or charge international rates. Find the company's international number instead.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Calling US toll-free numbers expecting them to work internationally
- Forgetting the 10-digit requirement—always include the area code
- Miscalculating the time gap (6-9 hours is bigger than it feels)
When is the best time to call United States?
Timezone: 4 continental time zones: Eastern (UTC-5), Central (UTC-6), Mountain (UTC-7), Pacific (UTC-8)
East coast
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Eastern (3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Spanish time your time)
New York, Miami, Washington DC. Your afternoon catches their morning. Good for business calls.
West coast
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Spanish time your time)
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle. Your evening catches their morning. Late dinner might have to wait.
What should you know about calling United States?
The US has excellent mobile coverage in populated areas. Major carriers
are Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Rural areas and national parks may
have limited service. Both mobile and landline connections are reliable.
Call quality to US cities is excellent. VoIP connections are clear
across the Atlantic. If you're calling someone in a rural area, they
may have weaker cell signal on their end.
Cultural tips
Americans are generally flexible about call timing but respect meal
times (lunch 12-1 PM, dinner 6-8 PM local). Business calls work best
9 AM - 5 PM their time. Americans often prefer a text or email before
calling. Voicemail is widely used—leave a message if they don't answer.
Holidays to know
Hard to reach people during Thanksgiving (4th Thursday of November—
biggest travel holiday), Christmas/New Year week, July 4th weekend,
and Memorial Day/Labor Day weekends (late May/early September).
These are major family gathering and travel periods.
Alternatives to phone calls
WhatsApp is increasingly popular in the US, especially for international
calls. iMessage works well between Apple users. For business, email
and scheduled video calls (Zoom, Google Meet) are standard. Younger
Americans also use Instagram and Snapchat messaging.
Frequently asked questions
What's the time difference between Spain and the US?
Spain (CET/CEST) compared to US time zones:
- Eastern (NYC, Miami): 6 hours behind Spain
- Central (Chicago, Houston): 7 hours behind Spain
- Mountain (Denver, Phoenix): 8 hours behind Spain
- Pacific (LA, San Francisco): 9 hours behind Spain
Both countries use DST but may switch on different dates, briefly
changing the gap by 1 hour in spring and fall.
What are the area codes for major US cities?
East Coast:
New York City: 212, 646, 917, 718, 347 · Miami: 305, 786 · Boston: 617, 857 · Washington DC: 202 · Philadelphia: 215, 267 · Atlanta: 404, 470
Central:
Chicago: 312, 773 · Houston: 713, 832 · Dallas: 214, 469 · San Antonio: 210 · Austin: 512 · New Orleans: 504
West Coast:
Los Angeles: 213, 310, 323, 818 · San Francisco: 415, 628 · San Diego: 619, 858 · Seattle: 206 · Phoenix: 602, 480 · Las Vegas: 702 · Denver: 303, 720
Why do American cities have multiple area codes?
As cities grew and mobile phones became common, original area codes
ran out of available numbers. New codes were added as "overlays"
covering the same area. New York City has 5+ area codes, Los Angeles
has 4+. All codes for a city work the same—no difference in cost
or service between them.
Can I call US toll-free numbers from Spain?
Usually not effectively. Numbers starting with 800, 888, 877, 866,
855, 844, or 833 may not connect from international locations, or
may charge you international rates (not free at all). Look for the
company's international contact number, often listed on their website
under "Contact Us" or "International."
When is the best time to call the US from Spain?
For East Coast (NYC, Miami): Call 3-6 PM Spanish time (9 AM-12 PM there)
For West Coast (LA, SF): Call 6-9 PM Spanish time (9 AM-12 PM there)
Weekends give more flexibility for personal calls. For business,
their morning (your afternoon/evening) works best. Avoid calling
after 10 PM their local time.
Current rates
$0.04-$0.14/min
Rates vary by mobile vs landline. Billed per minute, rounded up.
View all rates →