To call Germany from the US, dial 011 (the US exit code), then 49 (Germany's country code), then the German number without its leading 0. A Berlin number written 030 23125 042 becomes 011 49 30 23125 042, or +49 30 23125 042 from a cell phone.
German numbers look messier than most because they don't have a fixed length: area codes run from two to five digits, and local numbers vary to match. You don't need to understand the pattern to dial, only to drop the 0. This guide covers the formats, mobiles, a worked example with numbers Germany's regulator reserves for fiction, time differences and costs.
The short version
| What you dial | For Germany | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US exit code | 011 | Or + on a cell phone |
| Country code | 49 | |
| Trunk prefix | 0 (drop it) | Germany calls this the Verkehrsausscheidungsziffer; it's only for calls inside Germany |
| Number length | Varies | Area codes are 2 to 5 digits |
| Full pattern | 011 49 + number without the 0 | +49 on a cell phone |
Step by step from a US phone
- 1. Write down the number as given: German numbers are often written with the area code in brackets or separated by a slash: (030) 23125 042 or 030/23125042.
- 2. Remove the leading 0: The 0 is dialed only inside Germany. 030 becomes 30; 0171 becomes 171.
- 3. Dial 011 49, then the rest: From a US landline, 011 49 30 23125042. From a cell phone, +49 30 23125042. Ignore the slashes, brackets and spaces.
- 4. Save contacts as +49: The same entry works from the US, inside Germany and in WhatsApp.
German number formats
Germany's regulator, the Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), divides the country into about 5,200 local network areas. Each has an area code (Vorwahl) of two to five digits, and the subscriber number fills the rest. Big cities have short codes and small towns have long ones.
| Type | Written in Germany | From the US |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin landline | 030 XXXXXXXX | 011 49 30 XXXXXXXX |
| Munich landline | 089 XXXXXXX | 011 49 89 XXXXXXX |
| Cologne landline | 0221 XXXXXXX | 011 49 221 XXXXXXX |
| Small-town landline | 0XXXX XXXXX (longer code, shorter number) | 011 49 XXXX XXXXX |
| Mobile | 015X, 016X or 017X followed by the number | 011 49 15X…, 16X… or 17X… |
Mobiles start with 015, 016 or 017 (written with the 0 inside Germany). A few blocks in the 016 range (0164, 0168, 0169) are reserved for paging services, not phones. Mobile prefixes were originally tied to networks, but numbers can be ported, so the prefix doesn't reliably tell you the carrier.
Freephone numbers start with 0800 and are free inside Germany. They may not connect from abroad; look for a regular landline number on the company's contact page.
Worked example
These examples use the BNetzA's "drama numbers", ranges reserved for films, books and other media that are never given to a real subscriber. They include Berlin 030 23125 000 to 999, Munich 089 99998 000 to 999, and mobiles 0171 39200 00 to 99.
| Written in Germany as | Dial from a US landline | Dial from a US cell phone |
|---|---|---|
| 030 23125 042 (Berlin) | 011 49 30 23125 042 | +49 30 23125 042 |
| 089 99998 517 (Munich) | 011 49 89 99998 517 | +49 89 99998 517 |
| 0171 39200 12 (mobile) | 011 49 171 39200 12 | +49 171 39200 12 |
| +49 (0)30 23125 042 | 011 49 30 23125 042 (skip the (0)) | +49 30 23125 042 |
Time difference from the US
Germany uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) in summer. Like the rest of the EU, it changes clocks on the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.
| US time zone | Germany is ahead by (most of the year) | 9 a.m. in New York is |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (New York) | 6 hours | 3 p.m. in Berlin |
| Central (Chicago) | 7 hours | |
| Mountain (Denver) | 8 hours | |
| Pacific (Los Angeles) | 9 hours | |
| Hawaii | 11 hours in German winter, 12 in German summer |
The daylight-saving caveat: because the US changes clocks on different dates (second Sunday in March, first Sunday in November), the gap shrinks by an hour for two to three weeks in March and about a week around the end of October. In 2026, Germany fell back on October 25 and the US falls back on November 1, so New York is five hours behind Berlin that week. In 2027, the US springs forward on March 14 and Germany on March 28.
German business hours generally end earlier than American ones, and many offices close early on Friday. From the East Coast, call before noon; from the West Coast, call first thing in the morning.
What it costs
- Cell plans: Calls to Germany are usually billed per minute unless your plan or an add-on includes Europe. Check your carrier's international rates; German mobiles and landlines are sometimes priced differently.
- Business lines: Business VoIP plans often include a list of countries; check whether Germany, and German mobiles, are on it.
- Apps: WhatsApp, FaceTime and similar app-to-app calls use data only. Calls from an app to a real German number usually cost credit.
- Special numbers: German 0800 numbers may not work from abroad, and premium numbers (0900) can be costly or blocked.
Texting and WhatsApp
Regular texts to a German mobile use the same format, for example +49 171 39200 12. Check your plan for international text charges.
WhatsApp is widely used in Germany. Save the contact as +49 and the number without its 0. Note that Germany has strict privacy and marketing rules, so don't add customers to group chats or send promotions without their consent.
Common mistakes
- Keeping the 0 after 49: 011 49 030… won't connect.
- Getting confused by slashes: 030/23125042 is just 030 23125042.
- Thinking a number is too short or too long: German numbers really do vary in length.
- Calling a German office at 1 p.m. Eastern on a Friday: it's 7 p.m. there.
- Assuming the gap is always six hours: it's five for a few weeks in March and around late October.
Sources
Country code and dialing prefixes: ITU list of E.164 assigned country codes and ITU dialing procedures (international and national prefixes). Area codes and the trunk 0: Bundesnetzagentur, Ortsnetzrufnummern. Mobiles: Bundesnetzagentur, Mobile Dienste (0)15, (0)16, (0)17. Fictional numbers: Bundesnetzagentur, Rufnummern für Medienproduktionen (Drama Numbers). Clocks: GOV.UK, When do the clocks change? (last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October; the same dates apply across the EU) and 15 U.S.C. § 260a (US daylight saving time runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November). WhatsApp: WhatsApp Help Center, How to add an international phone number. All checked October 19, 2026.
Where Chargezen fits
To be clear up front: Chargezen isn't an international calling service. It doesn't sell calling plans or numbers in Germany; its numbers are US (+1) numbers only. For calls to Germany, use your carrier, a calling app or WhatsApp as described above.
Where it helps is the other direction, when customers in Germany reach your US business. From a German phone, customers dial 00 1 and your 10-digit US number (or +1 on a mobile). Germany is six hours ahead of the East Coast, so a customer calling after lunch in Berlin reaches you before your team starts. Concierge answers calls on your US number day and night, from the business details you give it, so a call that lands at 3 a.m. your time still gets answered. When a caller needs a person, Concierge alerts your team in the Finn app and the browser, and a teammate can join the live call. Calls, texts and notes for each customer stay in one thread in the team inbox.
See the phone channel and the AI receptionist, get a local or toll-free US number, or bring the number you already have. If you sell subscriptions to customers abroad, see international subscriptions.
Related terms: VoIP, toll-free number and number porting. Related guides: how to call the UK from the US, how to call Spain from the US and call recording consent. See also how to call Türkiye from the US.
Frequently asked questions
What is the country code for Germany?
49. From the US, dial 011 49, or +49 on a cell phone, then the number without its leading 0.
How do I call a German mobile from the US?
Drop the 0 from the 015, 016 or 017 prefix: 0171 39200 12 becomes 011 49 171 39200 12.
Why are German phone numbers different lengths?
Germany has about 5,200 local areas with area codes of two to five digits, and subscriber numbers vary to fit. Short codes belong to big cities.
How many hours ahead is Germany?
Six hours ahead of US Eastern time and nine ahead of Pacific for most of the year, one hour less for a few weeks in March and around the end of October.
Can Chargezen call German numbers?
Chargezen isn't an international calling service and offers US (+1) numbers only. Chargezen answers calls that customers in Germany make to your US number.
