🇨🇳 How to Call China from US
Complete guide to calling China from the United States. Learn the dialing format, country code, and how to save up to 95% on your calls.
Mobile
$0.48/min
Landline
$0.48/min
No credit card required. Credits never expire.
Quick Reference: Dial China
011 + 86 + number
011 is the US exit code
+86 + number
+ replaces exit code on mobile
Step-by-Step: How to Call China
Follow these steps to dial China from any US phone
Dial the US Exit Code: 011
This tells your phone carrier you're making an international call. From a cell phone, you can press and hold 0 to get the + symbol instead.
Dial China's Country Code: 86
This routes your call to China. Every country has a unique code - China's is +86.
Dial the Local Number
Enter the full local number including any area or city code. Don't include the leading 0 if the local format uses one.
Example: Calling China
Let's call a China number: 12345678
011-86-12345678
+8612345678
Breakdown: 011 (US exit code) + 86 (China code) + 12345678 (local number)
China Phone Number Format
Understanding China phone numbers
+86 XX XXXX XXXX
011-86-XX-XXXX-XXXX
Note: Drop the leading 0 when calling from abroad. Chinese mobile numbers are 11 digits starting with 1 (e.g., 138, 139, 150, 186). Dial +86 followed by the 11-digit mobile number. For landlines, include the area code without the leading 0 — Beijing is +86-10-XXXX-XXXX, Shanghai is +86-21-XXXX-XXXX.
China Quick Facts
Capital
Beijing
Language
Mandarin Chinese
Currency
CNY
Timezone
UTC+8
Tips for Calling China
China is 13 hours ahead of US Eastern Time. The best time to call from the US East Coast is early morning (6-8 AM ET = 7-9 PM CST). For the US West Coast, evening calls (6-8 PM PT = 9-11 AM CST next day) work well for reaching people during Chinese business hours. Note that China observes no daylight saving time, so the time difference changes seasonally from the US perspective.
The Cheapest Way to Call China
Skip your carrier's expensive rates
Traditional Carriers
InternationalCall
Calling China FAQ
How do I call China from the US?
From a US phone, dial 011 + 86 + local number. From a US cell phone, you can also dial +86 + local number using the + symbol.
What is the country code for China?
The country code for China is +86. When dialing from the US, use 011 as the exit code before the country code.
What does 011 mean when calling internationally?
011 is the US international access code (exit code). It tells your phone carrier that you're placing an international call. Different countries have different exit codes - for example, the UK uses 00.
How much does it cost to call China?
With InternationalCall, calls to China cost $0.48/min for mobile and $0.48/min for landline. Traditional carriers charge $1.50-3.00/min plus connection fees.
More China Calling Resources
Cheap Calls to Other East Asia Countries
Ready to Call China?
Start calling for just $0.48/min. No contracts, no monthly fees. Credits never expire.