Last reviewed: 2025-01-07 · Reading time: 5 minutes
How do you dial Mexico from United States?
- Country code
+52- All numbers numbers
-
Example:
+52 55 1234 5678All numbers are 10 digits. First 2-3 digits are the area code. Mexico City is 55, Guadalajara is 33, Monterrey is 81.
- From old format numbers
-
Example:
+52 1 55 1234 5678 → +52 55 1234 5678Old number with '1' after +52? Remove the '1'. Mexico unified formats in 2019.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the old '1' prefix for mobile (eliminated in 2019)
- Dialing 011 before +52 (not needed with VoIP)
- Including 01, 044, or 045 (those are for domestic calls only)
When is the best time to call Mexico?
Timezone: Central Time for most of Mexico. Northwest uses Mountain, Baja California uses Pacific.
Same timezone
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM (Same as US Central your time)
Most of Mexico shares Central Time with Texas and Chicago. No conversion needed.
Evening calls
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Same hour for most US callers your time)
Good for family calls. Dinner runs later in Mexico—usually 8-10 PM.
What should you know about calling Mexico?
Major carriers are Telcel (largest), AT&T Mexico, and Movistar. Coverage
is excellent in cities and along highways. Rural and mountainous areas
can be spotty.
Call quality to Mexican cities is excellent. Border cities and tourist
areas have particularly good connectivity.
Cultural tips
Dinner runs late in Mexico—typically 8-10 PM—so calling at 7 PM local time
catches people before they sit down to eat. Sunday afternoons are family
time and good for calls. Business calls work best 10 AM-2 PM and 4-7 PM
(many businesses close for a late lunch break).
Holidays to know
Hard to reach people during Semana Santa (Easter week—beaches and family
gatherings), Christmas through New Year's, and Día de los Muertos
(Nov 1-2). September 15-16 is Independence Day—expect celebrations.
May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) is actually a minor holiday; September 16 is bigger.
Alternatives to phone calls
WhatsApp is the dominant messaging app in Mexico. Many Mexicans prefer
WhatsApp calls for international conversations since it's free over WiFi
and video calling is easy. If you're having trouble connecting by phone,
try WhatsApp first.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to add '1' before Mexican mobile numbers?
No. Mexico eliminated the '1' prefix in August 2019. All numbers are
now 10 digits after +52, mobile and landline alike. If you have an
old contact saved with +52 1, update it.
What are the area codes for major Mexican cities?
Major metros (2-digit codes):
Mexico City: 55 · Guadalajara: 33 · Monterrey: 81
Popular destinations (3-digit codes):
Cancún: 998 · Puerto Vallarta: 322 · Playa del Carmen: 984 · Los Cabos: 624 · Acapulco: 744 · Mazatlán: 669 · Cozumel: 987
Border cities:
Tijuana: 664 · Ciudad Juárez: 656 · Mexicali: 686 · Reynosa: 899 · Matamoros: 868 · Nuevo Laredo: 867 · Ensenada: 646 · Nogales: 631
Other major cities:
Puebla: 222 · León: 477 · Querétaro: 442 · Mérida: 999 · San Luis Potosí: 444 · Aguascalientes: 449 · Morelia: 443 · Toluca: 722 · Chihuahua: 614 · Hermosillo: 662 · Saltillo: 844 · Culiacán: 667 · Veracruz: 229 · Oaxaca: 951 · Tampico: 833 · Torreón: 871 · Villahermosa: 993 · Cuernavaca: 777 · Durango: 618 · Guanajuato: 473 · Zacatecas: 492 · La Paz: 612 · Tepic: 311 · Pachuca: 771 · Campeche: 981 · Colima: 312 · Tuxtla Gutiérrez: 961
Why can't I reach a number that used to work?
If you're dialing +52 1 55..., remove the '1' and try again.
Old formats stopped routing reliably after the 2019 change.
What time zone is Mexico in?
Most of Mexico uses Central Time (same as Chicago/Texas). Northwest
states use Mountain. Baja California uses Pacific. Mexico's daylight
saving schedule differs from the US.
Current rates
$0.04-$0.08/min
Rates vary by mobile vs landline. Billed per minute, rounded up.
View all rates →