To call Mexico from the US, dial 011 (the US exit code), then 52 (Mexico's country code), then the 10-digit Mexican number. On a cell phone, dial +52 and the 10 digits. That's it: since August 3, 2019, the same pattern works for landlines and mobiles.
If you learned to call Mexico before 2019, a lot of what you remember is out of date. The extra 1 for mobiles, and the 01, 044 and 045 prefixes, are gone. This guide explains the change, the number formats, Mexico's time zones (which no longer follow US daylight saving time in most of the country), costs and WhatsApp.
The short version
| What you dial | For Mexico | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US exit code | 011 | Or + on a cell phone |
| Country code | 52 | |
| Trunk or mobile prefix | None | The old 1 (mobiles) and 01, 044, 045 were retired in 2019 |
| Number | 10 digits | Area code plus local number, for landlines and mobiles alike |
| Full pattern | 011 52 + 10 digits | +52 + 10 digits on a cell phone |
What changed in 2019
On August 3, 2019, Mexico's telecom regulator, the Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT), moved the whole country to 10-digit dialing. Every Mexican number became a 10-digit number made of an area code and a local number, and the special prefixes went away:
- No more 1 after +52 for mobiles: Before 2019, calling a Mexican cell phone from abroad meant dialing +52 1 and the number. Now you dial +52 and the 10 digits, the same as a landline.
- No more 01: Mexicans used to dial 01 for domestic long distance. It's gone, so you may still see old numbers written as 01 55…; ignore the 01.
- No more 044 and 045: These were dialed inside Mexico to reach a mobile. If a number is written 044 55… or 045 33…, drop the prefix and use the 10 digits.
- Toll-free numbers: 01 800 numbers became 800 numbers. They are meant for callers in Mexico and may not connect from the US.
IFT gave a transition year for people to update their contacts, which ended in 2020. If an old saved contact won't connect, check it for a stray 1, 01, 044 or 045.
Mexico number formats
Every number is 10 digits. The area code is 2 digits for the three largest cities and 3 digits elsewhere, followed by an 8- or 7-digit local number. You can't tell a mobile from a landline by the format; both look the same.
| City | Area code | Written in Mexico | From the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | 55 | 55 XXXX XXXX | 011 52 55 XXXX XXXX |
| Guadalajara | 33 | 33 XXXX XXXX | 011 52 33 XXXX XXXX |
| Monterrey | 81 | 81 XXXX XXXX | 011 52 81 XXXX XXXX |
| Other cities | 3 digits | XXX XXX XXXX | 011 52 XXX XXX XXXX |
Worked example
IFT doesn't publish a range of fictional numbers the way the UK and US do, so these examples use X for the digits. Say a supplier in Mexico City gives you the number 55 XXXX XXXX, or the old style 044 55 XXXX XXXX:
| Written as | Dial from a US landline | Dial from a US cell phone |
|---|---|---|
| 55 XXXX XXXX | 011 52 55 XXXX XXXX | +52 55 XXXX XXXX |
| 044 55 XXXX XXXX (old mobile style) | 011 52 55 XXXX XXXX (drop 044) | +52 55 XXXX XXXX |
| +52 1 55 XXXX XXXX (old international mobile style) | 011 52 55 XXXX XXXX (drop the 1) | +52 55 XXXX XXXX |
| 01 33 XXXX XXXX (old long-distance style) | 011 52 33 XXXX XXXX (drop 01) | +52 33 XXXX XXXX |
Time difference from the US
Mexico ended daylight saving time for most of the country under its time zone law, the Ley de los Husos Horarios, which took effect on October 30, 2022. Most of Mexico now stays on the same clock all year, while the US still changes clocks. So the gap to the US changes twice a year, on US dates.
| Mexican zone | Where | UTC offset | Compared with US time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centro | Most of the country, including Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey | UTC−6 all year | Same as Chicago in US winter; 1 hour behind Chicago (2 behind New York) from March to November |
| Pacífico | Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Nayarit (except Bahía de Banderas) and Sonora | UTC−7 all year | Same as Arizona all year |
| Sureste | Quintana Roo (Cancún, Tulum) | UTC−5 all year | Same as New York in US winter; 1 hour behind New York in US summer |
| Noroeste | Baja California (Tijuana, Mexicali) | UTC−8, with summer time | Changes clocks with the US border; same as Los Angeles all year |
The border caveat: the law keeps seasonal (summer) time only along the northern border, where some municipalities, such as Ciudad Juárez, Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros, change clocks on the same dates as the US so cross-border life stays in step. If you call a business in a border city, check its local time rather than assuming the Centro zone.
In practice: from early November to mid-March, Mexico City is on the same time as Chicago. From mid-March to early November, it's an hour behind Chicago and two behind New York.
What it costs
- Check whether your plan includes Mexico: Some US cell plans include calling and texting to Mexico. For example, T-Mobile lists a "Canada & Mexico included" benefit on many of its plans, with unlimited calling and texting between the US, Mexico and Canada on eligible plans. Other carriers have similar features on some plans, so check yours before you dial.
- If it doesn't, check the per-minute rate: Carriers publish international rates by country, sometimes with separate prices for landlines and mobiles. We don't quote numbers here because they change.
- Calling apps: WhatsApp and other app-to-app calls cost nothing beyond data, which is why many people in Mexico prefer them for everyday calls.
- Toll-free numbers: Mexican 800 numbers are free inside Mexico and may not connect from the US. Ask for a regular 10-digit number.
Texting and WhatsApp
WhatsApp is widely used by Mexican businesses and families, often more than regular texts. To add a Mexican contact, save the number as +52 and the 10 digits. WhatsApp's help page on international numbers has carried a Mexico-specific note about the old 1 after +52; if a saved Mexican contact doesn't appear in WhatsApp, check that page for the current advice.
Regular texts from a US cell phone to a Mexican mobile use the same +52 format. Whether they're included depends on your plan.
Common mistakes
- Adding a 1 after 52 for a mobile: retired in 2019.
- Dialing 044 or 045 from an old contact card: drop them.
- Using 01 in front of the area code: drop it.
- Assuming Mexico City is always one hour behind New York: it's two hours behind in US summer now that Mexico doesn't change clocks.
- Calling a Mexican 800 number from the US and getting nothing: it may only work inside Mexico.
Sources
Country code and dialing prefixes: ITU list of E.164 assigned country codes and ITU dialing procedures (international and national prefixes). The 2019 change: IFT, Cambios en la marcación a 10 dígitos and Expansión, 10 datos de la marcación a 10 dígitos (August 1, 2019). Time zones: Ley de los Husos Horarios en los Estados Unidos Mexicanos and 15 U.S.C. § 260a (US daylight saving time runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November). Plan example: T-Mobile, Canada & Mexico included. 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 Mexico; its numbers are US (+1) numbers only. For calls to Mexico, use your carrier, a calling app or WhatsApp as described above.
Where it helps is the other direction, when customers in Mexico reach your US business. From a Mexican phone, customers dial 00 1 and your 10-digit US number (or +1 on a mobile). Most of Mexico is within a couple of hours of US time, so their calls mostly land in your business day, but evenings and weekends still need covering. 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 Canada from the US, how to call Spain from the US and how to get a business phone number. See also how to call the US from Mexico and how to call Colombia from the US.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need to dial 1 after 52 for a Mexican cell phone?
No. Since August 3, 2019, you dial 011 52 and the 10-digit number for mobiles and landlines alike.
What is the country code for Mexico?
52. From the US, dial 011 52, or +52 on a cell phone.
How many digits is a Mexican phone number?
Ten: a 2- or 3-digit area code plus the local number. Mexico City (55), Guadalajara (33) and Monterrey (81) have 2-digit area codes.
Does Mexico have daylight saving time?
Not in most of the country since October 30, 2022. Some municipalities along the US border still change clocks on US dates.
Can Chargezen text Mexican numbers?
Chargezen is built for US (+1) numbers and isn't an international calling or texting service. Use WhatsApp or your carrier for Mexico. Chargezen answers calls that customers in Mexico make to your US number.
