How to Call the US from France? Dialing Steps, Cost, & Tips

The US phone number format for international calls includes France’s international access code, the US country code, the area code, and the subscriber number. This ensures your call is correctly routed from France to the specific region and number within the United States.

1. IAC or Exit Code: To make an international call from France to the US, you need to dial the International Access Code. In France, this code is 00, but if you’re calling from a mobile phone, you can simply use the “+” symbol instead.
2. Country Code: Every country has its own country code. For the United States, the country code is 1, and it must be added right after the exit code.

3. Area Code: In the US, every phone number includes a 3-digit area code that identifies a specific geographic region, and it applies to both landline and mobile numbers.
   
   There are over 300 area codes in the United States. Below is a list of some popular USA area codes:

   Region	Area Code	Region	Area Code
   New York	212	California	213
   Illinois	312	Texas	214
   Florida	305	Georgia	404
   Washington	206	Pennsylvania	215
   Massachusetts	617	Ohio	216
   Michigan	313	Colorado	303
   North Carolina	704	Virginia	703
   Maryland	301	Arizona	602
   Minnesota	612	Missouri	314
   Tennessee	615	Nevada	702

4. Subscriber Number: This is the unique 7-digit number assigned to an individual or business line.

To call the US from France, dial the exit code of France (00), followed by the US country code (1), the area code, and the 7-digit subscriber number. Mobile and landline numbers follow the same format in the US, so the dialing procedure is the same for both.

To call a US landline number from France, you must include the France international access or exit code, the US country code, followed by the area code, and the subscriber's landline number.

To call a US mobile number from France, you must include the France international access or exit code, the US country code, followed by the area code, and the subscriber's cell phone number.

To call a US toll-free number from France, you must dial the France international access code or “+” sign, the US country code, and the toll-free number.

However, it’s important to note that most US toll-free numbers usually cannot be reached directly from outside North America. Moreover, these numbers are only free within the United States and may incur charges.

The cost of calling a US number from France can vary depending on several factors, including service provider, whether you’re calling a landline or mobile number, and your plan type.

For example, if you're using Orange, one of the main telecom providers in France, the standard rate for calling the United States is €1.18 per minute, which is approximately $1.25 USD per minute. Sending an SMS to the US from France costs €0.28 (about $0.30 USD) per message, while sending an MMS (multimedia message) will cost €1.10, or approximately $1.17 USD.

If you make frequent or long calls to the US, this can become quite costly over time. To help reduce expenses, many telecom providers offer specialized international calling packages. These packages include a set number of international minutes or unlimited calls to certain countries, including the US, for a fixed monthly fee.

Another cost-saving option is to use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services like Calilio, Google Voice, or RingCentral. These services offer virtual phone numbers that let you make phone calls to the US at local US rates. Instead of relying on traditional mobile networks, these platforms use your Wi-Fi or mobile data connection to place calls.

When calling the United States from France, the ideal time depends on the US time zone of the person you're calling. While the general recommendation is to call during 9 AM to 5 PM local time in the US, you must consider the time difference, as France is ahead by several hours.

France operates on Central European Time (CET) or Central European Summer Time (CEST) during daylight saving time. On the other hand, the United States spans several time zones, ranging from Eastern Time (ET) to Pacific Time (PT).

To help you call at the right time, here's a breakdown of time differences and the best calling windows from France to each US time zone.

To successfully connect with individuals or businesses in the US from France, you must follow the correct dialing format: the exit code of France, the US country code, the area code, and then the 7-digit subscriber number.

However, it’s important to consider time zone differences and call costs when making international calls to the US. Using a VoIP service like Calilio, you can make international calls to the US at affordable rates while avoiding common connection failures.