Country guide
How to Call Russia from the US
For the Russian-speaking diaspora in the United States, a clear phone line home is a daily need, and for anyone working with Russian counterparts, a reliable connection matters too. This guide explains the +7 country code, the 10-digit number format, the Moscow and St. Petersburg codes, the stable time difference, and the cheapest way to reach a Russian landline or mobile straight from your browser.
Russia's country code and dialing format
Russia's country calling code is +7. From a US phone you dial the international format as 011 + 7 + the 10-digit Russian number. From a browser-based service like Phonecall you simply enter +7 and the number, the 011 exit code is added for you, so the same entry works whether you are at home, traveling, or abroad.
Every Russian number has 10 digits after the country code: a 3-digit area or mobile code followed by a 7-digit subscriber number. Inside Russia people dial a domestic trunk 8 before the 10 digits, but you never include that 8 when calling internationally. The full international number is always +7 plus the 10 digits, nothing more, nothing less.
The 3-digit code tells you the destination. Moscow landlines use 495 and the newer 499; St. Petersburg landlines use 812. Mobile numbers nationwide begin with 9, so a mobile looks like +7 9XX XXX-XX-XX regardless of which city the owner lives in. A common mistake is to keep the domestic 8 and dial +7 8XXX, drop the 8 and the call goes through.
- Moscow landline: +7 495 XXX-XX-XX or +7 499 XXX-XX-XX
- St. Petersburg landline: +7 812 XXX-XX-XX
- Any Russian mobile: +7 9XX XXX-XX-XX
Moscow 495 and 499, and other city codes
Moscow is large enough to use two landline codes. The historic 495 filled up, so 499 was added; both serve the same city and are dialed the same way after +7. A number starting +7 495 and one starting +7 499 are both ordinary Moscow landlines, neither costs more to reach than the other.
Other major cities have their own 3-digit codes, for example St. Petersburg on 812. Because the area code is fixed-length and built into the 10-digit number, you do not adjust anything based on the city. Whatever the printed number, copy all 10 digits and prefix them with +7.
Time difference between the US and Russia
Russia spans 11 time zones, the widest of any country, so the right call time depends on which city you are reaching. Moscow time is UTC+3, about 8 hours ahead of US Eastern and 11 hours ahead of US Pacific. If it is 9 AM in New York, it is around 5 PM in Moscow.
Russia stopped observing daylight saving time in 2014 and has kept fixed clocks ever since, so the gap to the US shifts only when the US itself changes its clocks, the difference is otherwise stable all year. Keep the time spread in mind: when it is afternoon in Moscow it is already evening in Yekaterinburg and the middle of the night in Vladivostok, so confirm your contact's city before you dial.
The cheapest way to call Russia from the US
US carriers treat Russia as an international destination, and without an add-on the per-minute charges climb quickly, especially to mobiles. Roaming while you travel is worse still. A browser-based VoIP call routes over the internet directly to the Russian carrier, so you pay only the destination rate, a few cents a minute, shown on screen before you dial.
Phonecall bills per second instead of rounding up to the next minute, has no monthly fee, and no minimum top-up, and your credit never expires. Your first 60-second call is free, so you can confirm a number connects before spending anything. App-to-app calling like WhatsApp or Telegram is also free, but it only reaches someone running the same app on a smartphone with internet, it will not connect to a Russian landline, an older relative without the app, a clinic, or a bank.
See live per-minute rates
How to call Russia from your browser, step by step
1. Open Phonecall
Go to phonecall.app in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge on any laptop, desktop, or phone. There is nothing to download and no SIM involved.
2. Sign in and allow your microphone
Create an account with email or Google, then allow microphone access when the browser asks so the other side can hear you.
3. Enter the number as +7
Type +7 followed by the 3-digit city or mobile code and the 7-digit number. Do not include the domestic 8. Spaces and dashes are fine, they are stripped automatically.
4. Check the rate and press call
The per-minute rate to that Russian number appears before the call connects. Press call; the person you are calling answers on their normal phone.
Frequently asked questions
What is the country code for Russia?
Russia's country code is 7. From the US you dial 011 + 7 + the 10-digit number on a regular phone, or simply +7 and the number from a browser-based service like Phonecall.
Why do some Moscow numbers start with 495 and others with 499?
Moscow uses two landline area codes. The original 495 ran out of capacity, so 499 was added. Both serve the same city and are dialed identically after +7. You do not add the domestic trunk 8 when calling from abroad.
What is the time difference between the US and Russia?
Russia spans 11 time zones. Moscow is UTC+3, about 8 hours ahead of US Eastern. Russia has not observed daylight saving since 2014, so the gap is stable except when the US changes its own clocks.
How can I tell a Russian mobile from a landline?
Russian mobile numbers begin with 9 (+7 9XX...), while city landlines use codes like 495 and 499 for Moscow or 812 for St. Petersburg. Both are dialed the same way: +7 followed by the 10-digit number.
Calling Russian landlines vs mobiles
Rates to Russian landlines and mobiles differ slightly, and Phonecall shows the exact figure for the number you typed before you connect. Whichever you are calling, the dialing format is identical, +7 and 10 digits, no domestic 8, and the call runs over carrier-grade HD voice infrastructure so it sounds clear on the other end.
For families split between the US and Russia, a dependable line that does not require relatives to install an app makes a real difference. With per-second billing and a free first call, you can reach Moscow, St. Petersburg, or any city across Russia without a contract.