The Easiest Way to Call Mexico from the US

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You can easily learn how to call Mexico. When calling Mexico from the US, you must use the correct dialing format. Making a call to Mexico requires a specific sequence depending on whether you are contacting a landline or a mobile phone. For your convenience, here are the two essential formulas for calling Mexico from the USA.

To call a Mexico landline, dial: 011 + 52 + Area Code + Phone Number.

To call a Mexico cell phone, dial: 011 + 52 + 1 + Area Code + Phone Number.

The dialing process to call Mexico from the US uses 52 as the Mexico country code, which is a key part of the calling code for Mexico.

Key Takeaways

• Dial 011 first for all international calls from the US.
• Use 52 as the country code for Mexico.
• Add 1 after 52 when calling a Mexican cell phone.
• Always include the 10-digit area code and phone number.
• Check call rates with your phone company to avoid high costs.

Understanding the Calling Code for Mexico

The dialing formula might seem complex at first. You can master it by understanding each part of the sequence. The complete calling code for Mexico is a combination of three key components. Let’s break down what each number means.

The US Exit Code: 011

You must first dial an exit code to signal that you are making an international call. The United States uses 011 as its international exit code. This prefix tells your phone provider to connect your call outside of the country. You will dial this code every time you make international calls from the US.

Note: The US is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). Many other countries and territories in this plan also use 011 as their exit code.

The Mexico Country Code: 52

After the exit code, you dial the country code for your destination. Every country has a unique code for identification. Mexico’s country code is 52. You must dial country code 52 immediately after dialing 011. This number directs your call specifically to the telephone network in Mexico. This country code is consistent across the entire nation. You will use 52 whether you are calling Mexico City, Tijuana, or a small rural town.

The Mobile Phone Indicator: 1

Here is the most important difference when calling a mobile phone in Mexico. You must add the number 1 after you dial country code 52. This special digit is a mobile phone indicator. It tells the network that you are trying to reach a cell phone, not a landline.

• For landlines, you dial: 011 + 52 + ...
• For mobiles, you dial: 011 + 52 + 1 + ...

Forgetting this step is a common mistake. Always remember to include the 1 to ensure your call to a mobile phone in Mexico connects successfully. This completes the international calling code for Mexico when contacting a mobile user.

How to Call Mexico: Landline Numbers

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Now that you understand the individual codes, let’s walk through the process of calling a landline in Mexico. The key is to combine the exit code, country code, and the local 10-digit number into one seamless sequence.

For example, if you want to call a landline in Mexico City with the area code 55 and the local number 1234-5678, you would dial:

011-52-55-1234-5678

Let’s break down each part of this process so you know exactly how to call Mexico every time.

Dialing the Full 10-Digit Number

After dialing the US exit code (011) and Mexico’s country code (52), you will dial the complete 10-digit local phone number. In 2019, Mexico’s Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) simplified its dialing system. This change standardized all phone numbers across the country to a uniform 10-digit length, just like in the United States.

If you’re calling a hotel, courier, or supplier, the conversation often ends up including pricing and how to pay. To avoid agreeing to a number that looks fine on the phone but is expensive after conversion, you can quickly check the current USD↔MXN rate with BiyaPay’s currency converter and compare what the amount means in your home currency before you confirm anything. If you later need to move funds across borders, BiyaPay also provides a dedicated send money entry where you can review available corridors and payout methods.

BiyaPay is a multi-asset wallet covering FX, cross-border payments, and fund management. On compliance, it operates with registrations such as a U.S. MSB and New Zealand FSP. For a single place to manage access and account details, use the official website or complete setup via register.

This 10-digit number always includes the area code. The structure depends on the region:

• Major cities like Mexico City use a 2-digit area code followed by an 8-digit local number.
• Other regions use a 3-digit area code followed by a 7-digit local number.

You no longer need to dial special prefixes like 01 for national long-distance calls. You simply dial the 10-digit number directly after the country code.

Pro Tip: Watch for Per-Minute Rates International calling costs can vary significantly. Some VoIP providers offer very low rates. For example, Ooma’s Basic Service charges around $0.029 per minute for calls to landlines in cities like Guadalajara and Monterrey. In contrast, major carriers like Verizon may have pay-per-minute rates starting from $0.49 per minute. Always check with your provider to understand the costs.

Finding Area Codes in Mexico

Mexico has hundreds of area codes, and a single state can have many. The state of Jalisco, for instance, uses over 30 different area codes in addition to Guadalajara’s primary code. You must have the correct area code for your call to connect successfully.

If you do not know the area code, you can use reliable online resources to find it. Several websites function as a Mexico area codes directory. These tools allow you to look up codes by searching for a specific state or city. Some even provide interactive maps to help you pinpoint the correct region. These databases are the most efficient way to ensure you have the right digits before you dial.

Major City Area Codes List

To help you get started, here is a list of area codes for some of Mexico’s largest cities and most popular tourist destinations. Using this table is a great first step for calling a landline in Mexico.

Remember to dial the full sequence: 011 + 52 + Area Code + Local Number.

Making a Call to Mexico Mobile Phones

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Contacting a mobile phone in Mexico is just as straightforward as calling a landline, but it requires one extra, crucial digit. Understanding this small difference is the key to successfully calling a mexican cell phone every time. The process combines the codes you’ve already learned with a special mobile indicator.

The Key Step: Adding the ‘1’

When you dial a cellphone number in mexico, you must add the number 1 immediately after the country code (52). This digit acts as a mobile phone indicator, signaling to the network that you are trying to reach a mobile device instead of a fixed landline.

A telecommunications analyst at LatCom Insights, Carlos Méndez, confirms this pattern:

“Mobile numbers in Mexico are easily flagged by the leading ‘1’ in the subscriber segment. It’s a consistent pattern across carriers.”

Forgetting this digit is the most common reason a call to a mobile phone fails to connect. The complete international prefix for a Mexican mobile number is always 011 + 52 + 1.

Important Note: While dialing rules within Mexico have changed, the requirement to add the 1 for international calls from the US remains. If you omit the 1 when calling from the United States, your call will not go through.

Dialing the Mobile Area Code

After you dial the prefix 011-52-1, the next step is to enter the area code. A great feature of the Mexican telephone system is its consistency.

• Mobile phones use the exact same area codes as landline numbers in the same geographic region.
• If you know the area code for a city, like Guadalajara (33), you use that same code whether you are calling a landline or a mobile phone there.
• You must always include the area code when making a long-distance call, which includes any call originating from the US.

This consistency simplifies the process of how to call mexico, as you do not need to learn a separate set of codes for mobile devices.

Completing the Mobile Number

Once you have the full prefix and the area code, you just need to dial the remaining local phone number. Let’s put all the pieces together. To call a mobile phone in Cancun, which has an area code of 998, you would follow this complete sequence:

011-52-1-998-XXXX-XXXX

Here is a simple, step-by-step guide for calling a mexican cell phone:

1. Dial the US Exit Code: Start with 011.
2. Dial the Mexico Country Code: Add 52.
3. Add the Mobile Indicator: Dial 1.
4. Enter the Area Code: Dial the 2 or 3-digit area code for the city or region (e.g., 664 for Tijuana).
5. Dial the Local Number: Finish with the 7 or 8-digit local phone number.

The table below summarizes the key differences you can look for when you have a 10-digit number from Mexico. This is the easiest way to know if you are dealing with a landline or a mobile number.

Following this structure is the most reliable method for how to call mexico and connect to a mobile user without any issues.

Dialing Toll-Free Numbers in Mexico

You might need to contact a business in Mexico, such as a hotel or airline, that provides a toll-free number. These numbers typically start with an 800 prefix. While these calls are free within Mexico, you should know that calling them from another country usually incurs international charges. Your phone provider will likely treat it as a standard international call.

Heads Up on Costs: Always check with your service provider about the rates for calling a Mexican toll-free number. Do not assume the call will be free just because the number starts with 800. International long-distance fees almost always apply.

Understanding how to dial these numbers correctly is simple once you know the standard international format. The process for calling mexico from the usa remains consistent, you just substitute the area code with the toll-free prefix.

Using the Toll-Free Prefix: 800

In Mexico, the primary toll-free prefix is 800, similar to the system used in the United States. When you see a number listed as 800-XXX-XXXX, you can dial it from the US by following the international calling sequence. You will use 800 in the place where you would normally put the city’s area code. This prefix signals to the telephone network that you are trying to reach a specific type of business or service line. The structure is straightforward and does not require you to look up a geographic area code.

The Full Toll-Free Dialing Sequence

To connect your call successfully, you must combine all the necessary codes in the correct order. You will dial the US exit code, the country code for Mexico, and then the 800 number itself.

Here is the complete, step-by-step process for dialing a Mexican 800 number from a US phone:

1. Dial the US exit code: 011.
2. Dial Mexico’s country code: 52.
3. Dial the three-digit toll-free code: 800.
4. Dial the remaining seven digits of the number.

For example, if the number you want to reach is 800-123-4567, the full dialing format you would enter into your phone is 011-52-800-123-4567. Following this sequence ensures your call is routed correctly through the international network to the intended toll-free line.

You now have all the essential information on how to call Mexico from the US. The process is simple when you remember the correct dialing sequence. The complete calling code for mexico changes slightly depending on the type of phone you are contacting. For a quick review, keep these two main formulas handy.

• To Call a Landline: Dial 011 + 52 + Area Code + Number
• To Call a Cell Phone: Dial 011 + 52 + 1 + Area Code + Number

Mastering this calling code for mexico ensures your calls will connect successfully every time.

FAQ

Here are answers to common questions about calling Mexico. This guide provides quick solutions for your international dialing needs.

Can I use the ‘+’ sign instead of 011?

Yes, you can. On most mobile phones, you can press and hold the 0 key to produce a + symbol. This + automatically replaces the US exit code (011) when making international phone calls. This guide confirms it is a valid shortcut for calling internationally.

Is it expensive to make an international call to Mexico?

Costs for international phone calls vary greatly. Your provider determines the rate. Some VoIP services offer very low per-minute rates, while major mobile carriers can be more expensive. This guide recommends checking with your provider before you make an international call to avoid surprises.

Why did my call to a Mexican cell phone fail?

The most common error is forgetting the mobile indicator 1. When calling internationally to a Mexican mobile number, you must dial 011 + 52 + 1 before the area code. This guide emphasizes that the 1 is essential for all international calls to mobile devices.

Do I still need the ‘1’ for mobile numbers after Mexico’s dialing changes?

Yes, you do. While dialing rules within Mexico have changed, the requirement for the 1 remains for anyone calling internationally from the US. This guide shows you must include it to successfully make an international call to a mobile phone.