How to call the US from Ireland: A step-by-step guide

When you’ve got clients or family members in the US, you might need to call them from Ireland. Placing an international call works differently than domestic calls, but it’s not complicated. The only difference is that you’ll need to use specific codes based on the recipient’s location.

In this article, you’ll learn how to call the US from Ireland and how you can do it for much cheaper than a traditional phone call.

How to call the USA from an Ireland number

Here’s the dialing format you need to use for calling a US number from Ireland:

Landline: 00 – 1 – Area Code – Landline Number

Cell phone: 00 – 1 – 10-Digit Mobile Number

There are multiple prefixes in the dialing format above:

1. Dial the Ireland exit code (00)

The first two numbers (00) represent the exit code. Anyone who wants to call an international number from Ireland needs to use the exit code.

2. Dial the US country code (1)

The third digit is the country code (also called ISD code). The country code for calling the US is 1.

3. Key in the area code
   

You’ll also need to key in a three-digit area code when calling a landline number in the US. 

There are 291 area codes in the US. Here are the area codes for some of the largest US cities:

4. Dial the recipient’s phone number

The last part of the format is a seven-digit local number (landline or mobile). 

Combine all four elements and you’ve got a valid phone number required to call someone in the US from Ireland. For instance, if your NYC business associate’s telephone number is (212) 123-4567, you can call them from Ireland by dialing 00-1-212-123-4567.
Looking to call Ireland from the United States instead? Check our guide on how to call Ireland from the US.

How to factor in time zone differences calling the US from Ireland

When calling someone in the US, look up the local time in the US before calling. When it’s morning in Dublin, people might still be sleeping in the US.

For instance, if you’re calling someone in New York at 11 AM Dublin time. They’ll receive your call at 6 in the morning — before the crack of dawn. 🌅

Keep in mind the t US time zones to make sure you don’t call someone at an inappropriate time. Fortunately, US time zones are fairly straightforward.

There are nine time zones in the US (including territories), and all of them are at an hour’s difference:

• Eastern Standard Time (EST): EST is 5 hours behind Irish Standard Time (IST). Major cities like New York and Philadelphia follow EST.
• Central Standard Time (CST): CST is 6 hours behind IST. Major cities like Chicago and Austin adhere to CST.
• Mountain Standard Time (MST): MST is 7 hours behind  IST. Major cities like Denver and Salt Lake City follow MST.
• Pacific Standard Time (PST): PST is 8 hours behind IST. Major cities that observe PST time include Los Angeles and Seattle.
• Alaska Standard Time (AKST): AKST is 9 hours behind IST. Major cities like Alaska, Fairbanks, and Juneau honor ASKT.
• Hawaii-Aleutian Time (HST): HST is 10 hours behind IST. All of Hawaii follows HST.
• Samoa Standard Time (SST): SST is 11 hours behind IST and covers the unincorporated territory of American Samoa. 
• Chamorro Standard Time (CHST): CHST is 12 hours behind IST and includes Guam.

All US states except Arizona and Hawaii (and some overseas US territories) also observe daylight time. During any month between March and November, you should add another hour for calculating the time in the US.

You don’t need to do it manually, though. You can use an online time converter to see what time it is in any US state.

How much does it cost to call the US from Ireland?

International calls can cost you a fortune. Virgin Mobile, for instance, charges 30c per minute for calls to the US and Canada. A 60-minute call to the US will cost you €18 (roughly $20). The calling costs can quickly pile up if you regularly make calls to the US.

Some mobile carriers offer an unlimited international calling plan. But in most cases, these plans still come with a cap. Once you use up all the minutes, you’ll pay at the going per-minute rate.

The expensive plan works fine if you want to make an occasional call to your pal in the US. But if you need to make regular calls to the US, there’s a pocket-friendly alternative — OpenPhone.

How to call the US from Ireland without paying international fees

International calling plans are confusing and expensive, but there’s a better and more cost-effective alternative for making calls to the US.

This is where OpenPhone comes in.

OpenPhone is a VoIP phone system that allows unlimited calls to the US for as little as $15 per user per month. You can also send text messages (SMS and MMS) to a US phone number without any extra cost.

Leads not picking up calls from an international number? OpenPhone gives you US numbers, significantly improving the chances of leads picking up calls. You can also share a North American toll-free number with leads or clients. A toll-free number will allow your clients in the US, Canada, and other countries across the pond to call you for free.

The best part? You don’t pay anything extra even when you’re traveling. As long as you have a compatible computer (Windows or Mac) or mobile phone (iOS or Android) and an internet connection, you can call your US clients without any roaming charges.

Getting started with OpenPhone is a quick three-step process:

1. Sign up for an account and try out OpenPhone free with a seven-day trial. 
2. During signup, select a specific city or area code in the US to pick your phone number
3. When asked, select a US area or city code to get a US phone number.
   

Once you’ve logged in, select the green phone call button at the top, enter the number you wish to dial, and select “Call.”

Call the US for less with OpenPhone

International calling isn’t difficult. You just need to know the correct international dialing codes, phone number, and understand the time zone differences.

Calling the US from Ireland is expensive, but using a VoIP system can save you a lot of money. For a much lower cost, VoIP phone systems also offer many features that a landline or cell phone can’t offer including automated text messaging and phone menus. 

Test out calling from a US number by starting your free trial of OpenPhone.

Words by Arjun Ruparelia

Arjun is a freelance writer specializing in marketing and technology. When he's not in front of the screen, he likes to cook and play with his Labrador.