How to Call Russia from the USA: Complete Guide
Step-by-step guide to call Russia from the USA. Dial 011+7+area code+number. Moscow (495), St. Petersburg (812), mobile (9XX). Rate comparison: BubblyPhone $0.02/min vs AT&T $3.50/min. Best times to call.
Step-by-step instructions for dialing Russian landlines and mobile phones from the United States, including area codes, costs, and the best times to call
+7Quick Answer
📞Step-by-Step: How to Dial Russia from the USA
Dial 011 (US International Exit Code)
From a US landline, dial 011 to signal an international call. From a US mobile phone, you can press and hold 0 to get the + symbol instead, which works the same way.
Dial 7 (Russia Country Code)
The country code for Russia is 7. This code is shared with Kazakhstan, but the area codes are different so calls are routed correctly.
Dial the Area Code or Mobile Prefix
For landlines, dial the city area code: 495 for Moscow, 812 for St. Petersburg. For Russian mobile phones, the prefix starts with 9XX (e.g., 916, 903, 920).
Dial the Local Number
Complete the call by dialing the remaining digits of the local number. The total Russian number (after country code 7) is always 10 digits— area code + local number combined.
📋Example Calls from the US to Russia
Moscow Landline
011 (exit code) + 7 (Russia) + 495 (Moscow) + 7-digit local number
St. Petersburg Landline
011 (exit code) + 7 (Russia) + 812 (St. Petersburg) + 7-digit local number
Russian Mobile Phone
011 (exit code) + 7 (Russia) + 9XX (mobile prefix) + 7-digit number
From a US mobile phone: Replace 011 with + in all examples above. For instance, a Moscow call becomes +7-495-XXX-XX-XX.
⚠️Common Mistakes When Calling Russia
Forgetting to drop the 8 trunk prefix
Russians dial 8 before domestic numbers (e.g., 8-495-XXX-XX-XX). When calling from the US, do NOT include the 8. Dial 011-7-495-XXX-XX-XX instead.
Confusing Russia (+7) with Kazakhstan (+7)
Both Russia and Kazakhstan share country code +7. Kazakhstan uses area codes starting with 6 and 7 (e.g., 701, 702, 771). Russian landlines use codes like 495, 812, and mobile prefixes start with 9XX.
Using wrong area codes
Moscow has two area codes: 495 (primary) and 499 (secondary). St. Petersburg uses 812. Using the wrong code will result in a wrong number or failed call.
Dialing 00 instead of 011
The US uses 011 as the international exit code, not 00 (which is used in Europe and most other countries). From a US mobile phone, you can use + instead of 011.
💰Cost to Call Russia from the USA
International calling rates to Russia vary widely. Here is a comparison of the most common options available to US callers:
| Service | Rate per Minute | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BubblyPhone | $0.02-0.05/min | VoIP, no contract, pay-as-you-go |
| AT&T | $2.50-3.50/min | Standard international rate without add-on |
| Verizon | $2.00-3.00/min | Pay-per-use international calling |
| T-Mobile | $0.25+/min | With Stateside International Talk add-on |
| Google Voice | $0.07/min | Available from US only, requires Google account |
| Telegram | Free | App-to-app voice/video, most popular messenger in Russia |
Tip:Rates shown are for calls to Russian mobile numbers. Landline rates are typically the same or slightly cheaper. Rates may vary — check with your provider for current pricing.
🕐Best Times to Call Russia from the USA
Time Zone Difference
Recommended Calling Windows
| Your Time (EST) | Moscow Time | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 8 AM - 12 PM | 4 PM - 8 PM | Best — evening in Russia, people are home |
| 6 AM - 8 AM | 2 PM - 4 PM | Good — afternoon in Russia |
| 12 PM - 6 PM | 8 PM - 2 AM | Late evening / night in Russia |
| 6 PM - 6 AM | 2 AM - 2 PM | Nighttime / early morning in Russia |
Russia spans 11 time zones. The times above are for Moscow (UTC+3). Vladivostok, for example, is UTC+10 — 15 hours ahead of EST. Always confirm the specific city’s time zone before calling.
📱Alternatives to Traditional Calls
If both parties have internet access, these apps are widely used in Russia and can be a free alternative to traditional international calls:
Telegram
The most popular messaging app in Russia. Supports free voice calls, video calls, and messaging. Nearly universal adoption in Russia.
Widely used globally and in Russia. Offers free voice and video calls over Wi-Fi or mobile data. End-to-end encrypted.
VoIP Services
Services like BubblyPhone let you call any Russian phone number (landline or mobile) at VoIP rates — no app needed on the receiving end.
Note: Telegram is by far the most popular messenger in Russia. If you need to reach someone in Russia regularly, installing Telegram is the best first step. However, if you need to call a Russian landline or a person who is not on Telegram, a VoIP service or traditional call is necessary.
🏙️Common Russian City Area Codes
These are the most frequently dialed Russian area codes. Use these after dialing 011-7 (or +7) from the US:
| City | Area Code | Example (from US) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow | 495 / 499 | 011-7-495-XXX-XX-XX | Capital, largest city |
| St. Petersburg | 812 | 011-7-812-XXX-XX-XX | Second-largest city |
| Novosibirsk | 383 | 011-7-383-XXX-XX-XX | Largest city in Siberia |
| Yekaterinburg | 343 | 011-7-343-XXX-XX-XX | Urals federal district center |
| Kazan | 843 | 011-7-843-XXX-XX-XX | Capital of Tatarstan |
| Vladivostok | 423 | 011-7-423-XXX-XX-XX | Far East, Pacific coast |
| Sochi | 862 | 011-7-862-XXX-XX-XX | Black Sea resort city |
Mobile numbers: Russian mobile numbers do not use city area codes. Instead, they use 3-digit mobile prefixes starting with 9 (e.g., 916, 903, 920). The format is always +7-9XX-XXX-XX-XX regardless of which city the person is in.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
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