Best Time to Call USA (+1): Global Time Zone Guide
Find the best time to call the U.S. with our global guide. From India, UK, Australia & more, avoid bad timing with smart tips, stats, and time zone charts.
Author: Sujith Grandhi
Find the best time to call the U.S. with our global guide. From India, UK, Australia & more, avoid bad timing with smart tips, stats, and time zone charts.
Author: Sujith Grandhi
"One ring at the wrong hour = one missed deal, friend, or moment."
Calling someone in the USA sounds simple, until you realize they’re asleep when you ring, or you’ve accidentally called during their lunch break.
Whether it’s for business, family, or something urgent, getting the timing right makes a big difference. Nobody wants to deal with missed calls or “Why are you calling me now?” moments.
The thing is, the USA doesn’t have just one time, it runs across several time zones. So depending on where you are, and where your call’s going (overseas), you might be hours off without even realizing it.
That’s where this guide comes in.
I’ve put together a clear and simple breakdown of how USA time zones work, how to figure them out easily, and the best time to call USA from different countries, so you can avoid those awkward “oops, wrong time” moments for good…
More on This Topic: How to check Call History of Any Number Online
So, how many time zones does the USA actually have?
Short answer: six.
Most people think there are only four time zones in the USA. But in reality, there are six.
The main four are Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Time, the ones most of the mainland follows. The remaining two are Alaska Standard Time and Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time, used only in Alaska and Hawaii.
And we’re not talking about small shifts. The time difference from one coast to the other can stretch up to six full hours. That’s a big deal if you're calling from another country, you don’t want to ring someone at the wrong time.
Let’s say it’s 12:00 PM (noon) UTC, the universal reference time.
Here’s what that means across different parts of the USA:
So, one country, six clocks. That’s why knowing the time zone is a must before making your call.
Don’t Miss This: US Phone Number Format
Here’s the simple breakdown:
Time Zone | Abbreviation | Time Behind the Clock (Approx.) | Big Cities |
---|---|---|---|
Eastern Time | EST / EDT | 5 hours behind UTC | New York, Miami |
Central Time | CST / CDT | 6 hours behind UTC | Chicago, Dallas |
Mountain Time | MST / MDT | 7 hours behind UTC | Denver, Phoenix |
Pacific Time | PST / PDT | 8 hours behind UTC | Los Angeles, Seattle |
Alaska Time | AKST / AKDT | 9 hours behind UTC | Anchorage |
Hawaii Time | HAST / HADT | 10 hours behind UTC | Honolulu |
UTC means Coordinated Universal Time.
Every country compares its local time to UTC, kind of like the world’s central clock.
Phoenix doesn’t follow Daylight Saving Time, so it usually stays on MST all year.
(Same format applies to all zones with DST)
The best time to call USA really depends on where you're calling from. Because the US has six time zones, even a few hours can make a big difference. A perfect evening for you might be the middle of the night for someone in the States.
To help you avoid awkward timing, missed calls, or half-asleep “hello?” moments, I’ve broken it down by country. That way, you’ll know exactly when to call, no matter where you are in the world.
If you’re in India, calling someone in USA means dealing with a major time gap. India is ahead of the USA by 9.5 to 15.5 hours, depending on the American time zone. So, while it's your evening, it might still be early morning, or even the middle of the night, in the States.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
USA Time Zone | Time Difference (India Is Ahead By..) |
Best Time to Call (IST) |
---|---|---|
Eastern (EST/EDT) | +9.5 to +10.5 hrs | 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM |
Central (CST/CDT) | +10.5 to +11.5 hrs | 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM |
Mountain (MST/MDT) | +11.5 to +12.5 hrs | 8:30 PM - 11:30 PM |
Pacific (PST/PDT) | +12.5 to +13.5 hrs | 9:30 PM - 12:30 AM |
Alaska (AKST/AKDT) | +13.5 to +14.5 hrs | 10:30 PM - 1:30 AM |
Hawaii (HAST/HADT) | +14.5 to +15.5 hrs | 11:30 PM - 2:30 AM |
Related Reading: Best Time to Call India
So, if you call during the best times listed, the time in the U.S. will usually be between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM.
The best time to call USA from India is between 6:30 PM and 10:30 PM IST.
This matches with morning time in the U.S. (around 8 AM to 12 PM), when people are just starting their day. They’re more likely to pick up the phone, check messages, and talk. It’s a good time for both business and personal calls, and you won’t be waking anyone up.
Calling USA from UK is easier to manage compared to some other countries, but you still need to time it right. The UK is ahead of the USA by 5 to 10 hours, depending on the American time zone.
This means when it’s your afternoon, most of the U.S. is just starting their workday, and that’s your best time.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
USA Time Zone | Time Difference (UK is Ahead By..) |
Best Time to Call (BST) |
---|---|---|
Eastern (EST/EDT) | +5 hours | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
Central (CST/CDT) | +6 hours | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
Mountain (MST/MDT) | +7 hours | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
Pacific (PST/PDT) | +8 hours | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
Alaska (AKST/AKDT) | +9 hours | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
Hawaii (HAST/HADT) | +10 hours | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM |
Give This a Read: Best Time to Call UK
The best time to call USA from the UK is between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM BST. That’s when it’s morning in most parts of the U.S., and people are starting their day. They’re more likely to pick up, reply, and actually talk, perfect for both work or personal calls.
If you’re in Canada, calling USA is pretty easy. Most parts of Canada share the same time zones as the U.S, or are just 1–2 hours apart. That means you don’t have to worry too much about waking someone up or calling at odd hours.
Still, the best time to call depends on which U.S. time zone you're trying to reach. Most of Canada follows Eastern, Central, or Pacific time, just like the U.S. So, a morning or early afternoon call usually works best.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
USA Time Zone | Time Difference from Canada (approx.) | Best Time to Call (Acc Your Local Time) |
---|---|---|
Eastern (EST/EDT) | Same as Ontario, Quebec | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Central (CST/CDT) | Same as Manitoba | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Mountain (MST/MDT) | 1 hour behind Alberta | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
Pacific (PST/PDT) | Same as British Columbia | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Alaska (AKST/AKDT) | 1 hour ahead of Yukon | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
Hawaii (HAST/HADT) | 2–3 hours ahead | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM |
The best time to call USA from Canada is between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM in your local Canadian time zone. This lines up with morning in the U.S, which is ideal for getting responses, making meetings, or just having a relaxed conversation.
Calling the USA from Australia takes a little more planning. There’s a huge time gap, the U.S. is usually 12 to 19 hours behind, depending on both your city and where you're calling in the U.S.
And just like the U.S., Australia runs on three main time zones, each with a slightly different time difference:
Because of this, your early morning (or very late night) is usually the prime time to reach someone in the U.S. during their morning or mid-day, when they’re most likely to pick up and respond.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
USA Time Zone | Time Difference Acc to AEST (Australia is Ahead By..) |
Best Time to Call (Acc AEST) |
---|---|---|
Eastern (EST/EDT) | +14 hours | 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM |
Central (CST/CDT) | +15 hours | 5:00 AM – 8:00 AM |
Mountain (MST/MDT) | +16 hours | 4:00 AM – 7:00 AM |
Pacific (PST/PDT) | +17 hours | 3:00 AM – 6:00 AM |
Alaska (AKST/AKDT) | +18 hours | 2:00 AM – 5:00 AM |
Hawaii (HAST/HADT) | +19 hours | 1:00 AM – 4:00 AM |
Worth a Look: Best Time to Australia
Time Zone Reference Used:
The "Best Time to Call" column is calculated using AEST (UTC+10).
From there, I adjusted the ACST and AWST timings manually:
If you're calling from Australia during the recommended late-night or early-morning hours, it’ll be daytime in the U.S, usually between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. That’s prime time when Americans are active, checking messages, and ready to talk.
Best time to call USA from Australia is 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM (AEST), 5:30 AM to 8:30 AM (ACST), and 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM (AWST), this lands in the U.S. morning hours (8:00 AM to 11:00 AM), when people are starting their day and more likely to answer.
Before you hit that call button, here are a few quick tips to make sure your call to the U.S. lands at the right time and doesn’t get ignored or sent to voicemail.
1. Know Their Time Zone – The U.S. has 6 time zones. Always check the exact U.S. state or city before you call.
2. Call Between 8 AM to 12 PM (U.S. time) – That’s the best window, people are fresh, alert, and more likely to answer.
3. Skip Lunch Hours & Late Nights – Avoid calling during 12–2 PM or after 6 PM U.S. time. It’s break time or family time.
4. Use Smart Calling Apps – WhatsApp, Zoom, and VoIP work great for international U.S. calls, which supports better quality, no extra costs.
5. Respect Business Hours (if it’s work-related) – For professional or business calls, stick to 9 AM to 5 PM (USA business hours).
6. Mind Daylight Saving Changes – Some U.S. states follow DST, others don’t. Always check the local time before calling.
7. Use Real Call Data for Business Success – If you’re calling for work, sales, or client meetings, timing is everything. Based on real stats:
So, calling USA isn’t hard, you just need to get the timing right.
Whether it’s for work, family, or just a quick chat, knowing the time zone and the best time to call USA saves you from awkward moments like, “Did I disturbed you at the wrong time?”
From India to the UK, Australia to Canada, it’s all about syncing your time with theirs. Now you know the best time to call right, let me remind you one more time, it’s the morning hours, between 8 AM and 12 PM. That’s when people are active, alert, and more likely to talk.
No more missed calls or bad timing. With this guide, you’re all set to call the U.S. like a pro.
Ready to dial? Now you know when to hit that call button.