How to Call the USA from Kenya: A Comprehensive Guide

Nov 06, 2025 0

Not sure how to call the US from Kenya? You’re not alone. Many people get confused when calling international phone numbers due to the involvement of various telephone prefixes and codes. A slight mistake in dialing format can cause the call to fail or result in an inaccurate connection. On top of that, international call rates can be expensive if you don’t know the right method. That’s why we created this simple guide to help you. It covers the dialing steps to call the USA from Kenya and provides tips to avoid high costs for international calls. Additionally, we’ll explore the best time to place your call from Kenya to the US. Let’s dive in.

Key Components of a US Phone Number When Dialing from Kenya

Consider the Kenya exit code and the US phone number format (including the US country code, area code, and subscriber number) before calling the USA from Kenya. Each component plays a unique role in connecting your call accurately.

Kenya Exit Code

Every international call begins with an exit code. The Kenyan exit code is 000. When calling internationally, this code allows your call to leave the local phone network and reach another country. You can replace the exit code with the ‘+’ sign when calling from mobile phones.

The US Phone Number Format

A US phone number has three main parts: the country code, the area code, and the subscriber number. The country code for the United States is 1, and it signals the phone system to direct your call towards the US. Similarly, the area code is a 3-digit number that represents the specific region or city within the country. For example, the 312 area code is for Chicago, and 213 is for Los Angeles. The final part of the US phone number is the subscriber number, a unique 7-digit number that connects directly to the person or business you’re trying to reach.

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How to Dial the US from Kenya?

To call the USA from Kenya, enter the Kenya exit code (000), the US country code (1), the area code of the specific region, and the 7-digit local number. However, a US mobile number already includes the area code as part of its 10-digit format. So, you don’t need to dial the area code separately when calling US mobile numbers.

Read also: Making International Calls

How to Call a US Landline Number from Kenya?

To call a United States landline number from Kenya, dial the Kenyan exit code, followed by the USA country code, the area code, and the 7-digit local landline number.

Step 1: Dial 000, Kenya’s exit code.
Step 2: Dial 1, the US country code.
Step 3: Enter the three-digit area code of the specific US city.
Step 4: Dial the local landline phone number.

For Example: To call a Seattle landline number, 456 12XX, with area code 206 from Kenya, dial: 000 1 206 456 12XX.

Here:

000 - Kenya exit code
1 - US country code
206 - Seattle area code
456 12XX - Local landline number

How to Call a US Mobile Number from Kenya?

To call a US mobile number from Kenya, dial the Kenyan exit code, the US country code, followed by the 10-digit US mobile number.

Step 1: Dial Kenya’s exit code, 000.
Step 2: Dial the US country code, 1.
Step 3: Dial the 10-digit US mobile number.

For Example: To dial a Houston mobile number, 713 789 67XX, from Kenya, dial: 000 1 713 789 67XX.

Read also: How to Call Uganda

The Time Difference Between the US and Kenya

Kenya follows a single time zone - East Africa Time (EAT), which is UTC+3. However, the United States operates across multiple time zones, ranging from Eastern Time (ET) to Pacific Time (PT). This creates a noticeable time gap between the countries. If you do not consider the time differences, you might call someone during their sleeping hours or outside of working hours. For example, if it’s 3 PM in Kenya, it’s only 8 AM in New York (ET) and 5 AM in Los Angeles (PT). That might not be a good time for the person on the other end to answer your call.

What is the Best Time to Call from Kenya to the USA?

The ideal time to call the US is during their business hours, from 9 AM to 5 PM local time. This is the best time if you’re calling a company or business. For personal calls, it’s better to avoid early mornings or late evenings in the US. Try to call during early evening hours, when people are usually free and more likely to answer. Because of the time zone differences, it may be difficult to call at the right time.

Here’s a reference table to help you:

US Time Zone	Time Difference with Kenya	Best Time to Call from Kenya	Corresponding Time in the US (9 AM - 5 PM)
Eastern Time (ET)	-7 hours	4 PM - 12 AM	9 AM - 5 PM (ET)
Central Time (CT)	-8 hours	5 PM - 1 AM	9 AM - 5 PM (CT)
Mountain Time (MT)	-9 hours	6 PM - 2 AM	9 AM - 5 PM (MT)
Pacific Time (PT)	-10 hours	7 PM - 3 AM	9 AM - 5 PM (PT)

Calling Cost

Calling the US from Kenya can cost anywhere between 1.5¢ to 20¢ per minute, depending on the service provider you use. For example, MyTello offers rates as low as 0.77¢ per minute. Google Fi, on the other hand, charges about 20¢ per minute. And Apps like Viber Out offer to make international calls between these countries at around 1.9¢ per minute. Some providers may also offer discounted rates on bundle plans. It’s a good option to subscribe to such plans, especially if you need to make international calls frequently.

How to Save Costs When Dialing the US from Kenya?

A traditional phone carrier often comes with a high cost. Consider using virtual phone numbers, social media apps, or calling cards for international calls. But both callers must be on the same app for calls. Virtual Phone Numbers: A VoIP service provider offers virtual phone numbers to make calls over the internet at a low price. Unlike social media apps, you can also make calls to a regular mobile or landline number using these online numbers. Calling Cards: Calling cards include prepaid minutes for local and international calls. They come with an access code and a PIN code. You’d dial these codes to activate the card before dialing the phone number to call.