Last reviewed: 2025-01-07 · Reading time: 5 minutes
How do you dial United States from India?
- Country code
+1- All numbers numbers
-
Example:
+1 212 555 1234All US numbers are 10 digits: 3-digit area code + 7-digit local number. Mobile and landline look identical.
- Toll free numbers
-
Example:
+1 800 555 1234US toll-free numbers (800, 888, etc.) often don't work from India or charge international rates. Find the company's regular number instead.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Dialing 00 1 instead of +1 (both work from most phones)
- Not including the area code—always dial all 10 digits after +1
- Calling during US sleeping hours (your afternoon = their night)
When is the best time to call United States?
Timezone: 4 US time zones: Eastern (UTC-5), Central (UTC-6), Mountain (UTC-7), Pacific (UTC-8)
Morning from india
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM US Eastern (6:30 AM - 9:30 AM IST (next day) your time)
Your early morning catches their evening. Good for family calls after their workday.
Evening from india
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM US Eastern (6:30 PM - 9:30 PM IST your time)
Your evening catches their morning. Good for business calls at start of US workday.
What should you know about calling United States?
The US has excellent mobile coverage in cities and suburbs. Major carriers
are Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Rural America may have limited coverage.
Most Americans use mobile as their primary number.
Call quality from India to the US is excellent via VoIP. Traditional
international calls also work well. The distance doesn't affect modern
call quality. If experiencing issues, it's usually local network
congestion on either end.
Cultural tips
Americans are direct and time-conscious. Business calls should be brief
and purposeful. For personal calls, a quick text asking "good time to
call?" is appreciated. Voicemail is widely used—leave a message if they
don't answer. Avoid calling before 8 AM or after 9 PM their local time.
Holidays to know
Thanksgiving (late November) is the biggest US family holiday—people
travel and gather. Christmas/New Year week, July 4th, and Memorial Day/
Labor Day weekends are also major. US holidays don't align with Indian
ones, so Diwali week is a normal work week in the US.
Alternatives to phone calls
WhatsApp is popular among Indian-Americans for family calls. FaceTime
works well for Apple users. Google Meet and Zoom are standard for
business calls, especially with the time difference making scheduled
calls necessary. Many prefer video calls for seeing family.
Frequently asked questions
What's the time difference between India and the US?
India (UTC+5:30) is ahead of all US time zones:
- US Eastern (NYC, Boston): India is 10.5 hours ahead (9.5 during EDT)
- US Central (Chicago, Houston): India is 11.5 hours ahead (10.5 during CDT)
- US Pacific (LA, SF): India is 13.5 hours ahead (12.5 during PDT)
Note India's 30-minute offset. When it's 9 PM in New York, it's 7:30 AM
in India (next day).
What are the area codes for major US cities?
East Coast:
New York: 212, 646, 917 · New Jersey: 201, 551, 973 · Boston: 617, 857 · Washington DC: 202 · Philadelphia: 215 · Atlanta: 404
Tech hubs:
San Francisco Bay Area: 415, 408, 510, 650 · Seattle: 206 · Austin: 512 · Denver: 303
Other major cities:
Los Angeles: 213, 310, 323 · Chicago: 312, 773 · Houston: 713, 832 · Dallas: 214 · Miami: 305 · Phoenix: 602
When should I call the US West Coast from India?
California (Pacific Time) is 13.5 hours behind India (12.5 during PDT):
- Your 7:30 AM = their 6 PM previous day (good—after work)
- Your 9:30 PM = their 8 AM same day (good—start of workday)
The Bay Area (Silicon Valley) is a common destination for business calls.
Can I use WhatsApp to call the US?
Yes, WhatsApp calling works well to the US. Many Indian-Americans
prefer WhatsApp for family calls—it's free over WiFi and good for
video. For business, scheduled Zoom or Google Meet calls are standard.
Regular phone calls also work perfectly.
How do I know if a US number is mobile or landline?
You can't tell from the number—US mobile and landline numbers share
area codes and look identical. Unlike India (where 6-9 prefixes mean
mobile), US numbers give no indication. Most personal numbers are
mobile these days.
Current rates
$0.04-$0.14/min
Rates vary by mobile vs landline. Billed per minute, rounded up.
View all rates →