Staying connected has never been easier, but if you’ve ever stared at your phone screen thinking, “Okay, but how do I actually call Taiwan from the USA without messing it up?” — don’t worry, we got you. Whether you’re dialing a landline to catch up with family or ringing a friend’s mobile to plan that night market adventure, this guide breaks it all down for you.
Let’s go step by step so you can dial like a pro.
Table of Contents
Basic Dialing Format
Before you even punch in those digits, here’s the golden formula you need:
011 + 886 + Area Code (for landlines) + Local Number
- 011 → This is the US exit code (aka the “get me outta here” code). It tells your network you’re calling internationally.
- 886 → This is Taiwan’s country code.
- Area Code → Needed if you’re calling a landline. Mobile numbers don’t use these.
- Local Number → The actual digits of the person you’re trying to call.
For mobile numbers, you skip the area code and just add the mobile prefix. Easy peasy.
Taiwan’s International Dialing Code
Taiwan’s international dialing code is +886. Anytime you see a Taiwan number written out internationally, it’s gonna start with this.
Pro Tip: If you see a number written as +886 987 654 321, just replace the + with the US exit code 011 when dialing from the States. So it becomes: 011 886 987 654 321.
Examples of Calling Landline and Mobile Numbers
Okay, let’s put it into action.
- Calling a Taipei landline:
Dial 011 + 886 + 2 + XXXX XXXX
(Here, “2” is the Taipei area code.) - Calling a Kaohsiung landline:
Dial 011 + 886 + 7 + XXXX XXXX - Calling a Taiwanese mobile:
Mobile numbers usually start with a “9.”
Example: Local format → 0987 654 321
From USA → 011 + 886 + 987 654 321
See? Not rocket science. Just a little number magic.
Popular Area Codes of Taiwan
Taiwan uses single-digit and two-digit area codes for different regions. Here are some popular ones:
- Taipei → 2
- Kaohsiung → 7
- Taichung → 4
There are more, of course. You can check the full list of Taiwan area codes here (link this to your country code page).
Time Zone Differences
This one’s a biggie. Taiwan operates on Taiwan Standard Time (TST), which is UTC +8.
That means:
- When it’s noon in New York (EST, UTC -5), it’s 1 AM the next day in Taiwan.
- Basically, you’re living in yesterday while your friend in Taiwan is already vibin’ in tomorrow.
Hack: Use your phone’s world clock or Google “time in Taiwan” before calling, so you don’t end up waking someone at 3 AM. (Unless they’re your bestie and you know they’re gaming at that hour.)
Calling Costs & Tips
International calling can sometimes be a wallet-burner. Here’s what you need to know:
- Carrier charges: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile usually charge $1–$3 per minute for Taiwan calls. Yikes.
- Calling cards: Old-school but still around — they give you slightly cheaper rates.
- VOIP apps: WhatsApp, Skype, and Line work if you’ve got Wi-Fi. But quality can be a hit or miss.
- Talk Home App: (more on this below)
Pro Tips to Save Money:
- Avoid calling during your US carrier’s peak hours.
- Use Wi-Fi–based apps when possible.
- If you call regularly, switch to an app with cheap international rates.
How to Call Taiwan from USA Using Talk Home App?
Here’s the no-brainer way. With the Talk Home App, you can call Taiwan directly from your smartphone without dealing with confusing dialing steps or crazy fees.
Why it slaps:
- Low rates: Calls to Taiwan start at pennies per minute.
- No contracts, no hidden fees.
- Crystal-clear voice quality.
- You can even top up your balance online or send credit to your fam back home.
Steps:
- Download the Talk Home App (iOS or Android).
- Create an account & add credit.
- Dial Taiwan numbers directly (no need to remember 011 or extra codes).
It’s literally like making a regular call, just way cheaper.
Conclusion
Calling Taiwan from the USA might look like a number-puzzle at first, but once you’ve got the format down, it’s smooth sailing. Whether you’re calling a Taipei landline or your cousin’s mobile in Taichung, all you need is the 011 + 886 combo and you’re set.
And if you wanna save cash while staying connected, ditch those sky-high carrier rates and switch to an app like Talk Home. Because let’s be real—why pay $2/min when you can pay cents?
