Best Time to Call Internationally: Complete Guide for 2026

Calling someone abroad? Knowing the best time to call internationally can save you from waking someone up at 3 AM — or missing them during business hours. This guide covers the best calling times for 50+ countries.

Best Calling Times by Region

🇺🇸 Calling the United States

The US spans 6 time zones (HST to EST). Best times to call from abroad:

From Europe: 2-6 PM local time (morning in US)
From Asia: Late evening local time (morning in US)
From Australia: Late night local time (afternoon in US)

Popular US cities: New York | Los Angeles | Chicago | Miami

🇬🇧 Calling the United Kingdom

The UK is on GMT (winter) or BST (summer, UTC+1). Best times:

From US: 8-10 AM EST (1-3 PM UK)
From Asia: Morning local time (early morning UK)
From Australia: Late evening local time (morning UK)

Popular UK cities: London | Manchester | Edinburgh

🇯🇵 Calling Japan

Japan is on JST (UTC+9) year-round — no DST. Best times:

From US: 5-7 PM PST (9-11 AM JST next day)
From Europe: 9-11 AM local (5-7 PM JST)
From Australia: 10 AM-12 PM local (11 AM-1 PM JST)

Popular Japanese cities: Tokyo | Osaka | Kyoto

🇮🇳 Calling India

India uses IST (UTC+5:30) — no DST. Best times:

From US: 7-9 AM EST (5:30-7:30 PM IST)
From UK: 12-2 PM GMT (5:30-7:30 PM IST)
From Australia: 10 AM-12 PM local (5:30-7:30 AM IST)

Popular Indian cities: Mumbai | Delhi | Bangalore

🇦🇺 Calling Australia

Australia has 3 time zones. Best times from abroad:

From US: 4-6 PM PST (9-11 AM AEDT next day)
From UK: 9-11 PM GMT (8-10 AM AEDT next day)
From Asia: 10 AM-12 PM local (12-2 PM AEDT)

Popular Australian cities: Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane

Cheap International Calling Tips

Use VoIP services: WhatsApp, Skype, and Zoom calls are free over WiFi
Google Voice: Free calls to US and Canada from anywhere
Rebtel: Low-cost international calls without internet
Local SIM cards: Buy a local SIM when traveling for cheap rates
Off-peak hours: Many carriers offer cheaper rates on weekends and evenings