How to Call Lebanon from the US

To call Lebanon from the US, dial 011 + 961 + area code or mobile prefix (drop leading 0) + local number. Beirut example: 011-961-1-XXXXXX. Tripoli (North): 011-961-6-XXXXXX. Lebanese mobile: 011-961-3-XXXXXX (or 70/71/76/78/79/81, no leading 0).

The 011 is the US international exit code. The 961 is Lebanon’s country code. This pattern works from any US landline or mobile — on a smartphone you can substitute + for 011, dialing +961 1 XXXXXX.

How to dial Lebanon from the US

Follow these four steps every time:

1. Dial 011 — the US exit code for all international calls. On a mobile keypad, long-press 0 to enter + as a shortcut; + works identically to 011 on smartphones.
2. Dial 961 — Lebanon’s ITU-assigned country code under the E.164 numbering plan.
3. Dial the area code or mobile prefix without its leading 0. Lebanese numbers in domestic format start with a 0 trunk prefix. That 0 is dropped for international dialing. Beirut’s domestic prefix 01 becomes 1; a mobile written 03 becomes 3.
4. Dial the local subscriber number exactly as written. Total digit count after the country code varies by line type.

The complete pattern: 011 961 <area code or prefix minus leading 0> <local number>.

If you see a Lebanese number already formatted with +961 (common on business cards and websites), replace the + with 011 from a US landline, or dial it as-is from a smartphone.

Lebanese area codes by region

Lebanese landlines use geographic area codes organized by region. The leading 0 shown in domestic format is dropped for all international calls.

Region	Major city	Domestic prefix	Dial from US (after 011 961)
Beirut	Beirut	01	1
Mount Lebanon	Jounieh / Aley	04–05	4–5
North	Tripoli	06	6
South	Sidon (Saida)	07	7
Bekaa	Zahle	08	8
Keserwan / Byblos	Jbeil	09	9

Lebanese mobile numbers do not use city area codes. Mobile prefixes (in domestic format) are 03, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, and 81 — assigned to the country’s two network operators, Alfa and Touch. Example: a number beginning 70 is dialed from the US as 011 961 70 XXXXXX.

How Lebanese numbering works

Lebanon’s country code +961 is assigned by the ITU under the E.164 international numbering plan.

Landline numbers are built from a single-digit geographic area code (1 for Beirut, 6 for the North, 7 for the South, 8 for the Bekaa, and so on) followed by a six-digit subscriber number, shown domestically with a leading 0 trunk prefix.

Mobile numbers were introduced into the +961 namespace as GSM networks launched and are identified by their network prefix rather than a geographic code. Lebanon’s two mobile networks — Alfa and Touch — share the 03, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, and 81 ranges.

When you call internationally, you replace the leading 0 with the international access sequence: 011 961 from the US, or +961 in E.164 notation.

Time zone: EET and EEST

Lebanon observes two time zones across the year:

• EET (Eastern European Time) — UTC+2, in effect from the last Sunday of October through the last Sunday of March (Lebanon’s “winter time”).
• EEST (Eastern European Summer Time) — UTC+3, in effect from the last Sunday of March through the last Sunday of October.

US time zone	Offset to Lebanon (most of year)
Eastern (ET)	Lebanon +7 h
Central (CT)	Lebanon +8 h
Mountain (MT)	Lebanon +9 h
Pacific (PT)	Lebanon +10 h

Important for business callers: because both the US and Lebanon observe daylight saving time, the offset from US Eastern stays at a consistent 7 hours for essentially the whole year — there is no large seasonal swing to track.

The US and Lebanon do not switch clocks on the exact same Sunday, so for short transition windows in spring and autumn the offset can briefly differ by an hour. The reliable overlap window for standard business hours is 8 AM–11 AM ET, reaching Lebanese offices between 3 PM and 6 PM local time before most close.

US to Lebanon calling costs

Costs vary significantly by calling method:

• US carrier per-minute (no plan): major US carriers charge a high per-minute rate to Lebanon without an international add-on. Fine for a call or two per month.
• Carrier international add-on packages: a monthly fee reduces the per-minute rate. Worthwhile above modest monthly volume.
• VoIP providers (including DialPhone): flat per-minute rates to Lebanon that typically undercut carrier add-ons, with no monthly minimum. For US–Lebanon business calling at any volume, a VoIP plan on DialPhone business phone pays for itself quickly.
• Free app-to-app (WhatsApp, Signal): works if the Lebanese side also uses the app and has Wi-Fi/data. Widely used in Lebanon, but not viable for reaching most landlines or businesses on a regular phone number.

Calling Lebanese mobile vs landline from the US

From a US perspective, the dialing procedure is the same: 011 961 <number without leading 0>. The difference lies in the number format itself:

• Landlines have a geographic area code (Beirut 1, North 6, South 7, Bekaa 8) followed by a six-digit subscriber number.
• Mobiles start with a network prefix — 3, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, or 81 after dropping the leading 0 — with no separate area code.

Identifying the type from the number: any Lebanese number whose domestic prefix is 03, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, or 81 is a mobile. Numbers starting 01–09 in the geographic ranges are landlines.

Calling cost note: Lebanese mobile destinations can be priced higher per minute than landlines on some US carrier plans. VoIP providers including DialPhone typically apply a single flat rate regardless of landline vs mobile destination.

SMS to Lebanon and business use cases

US-to-Lebanon SMS works from most US mobile plans — the same international add-on that covers calls usually covers texts. Business-grade SMS (A2P, bulk, or CRM-triggered) requires a provider supporting international SMS routing to Lebanese networks.

US–Lebanon B2B context where this matters most:

• Diaspora-driven trade: the large Lebanese-American business community keeps a steady flow of calls between US firms and counterparts in Beirut. Reliable caller ID presentation matters when reaching contacts who screen unknown international numbers.
• Banking and professional services: US firms coordinating with Beirut-based finance, legal, and consulting partners benefit from predictable per-minute rates rather than carrier surcharges.
• Import / export and hospitality: US companies sourcing from or supplying Lebanese partners manage a steady 7-hour offset that a timezone-aware phone setup handles cleanly.

For outbound, DialPhone routes US-to-Lebanon calls with STIR/SHAKEN attestation on the US leg, so your caller ID carries a verified credential rather than appearing as an unverified international number.

FAQ

Calling Lebanon FAQ

What is the country code for Lebanon? +

Lebanon's country code is +961. From a US landline or mobile, you reach it by dialing the US international exit code 011 first, making the full prefix 011 961. From a smartphone that supports E.164 dialing you can substitute + for 011, so +961 works identically.

Do I need to drop the leading 0 when calling Lebanon from the US? +

Yes. Lebanese numbers in domestic format start with a 0 — for example, a Beirut landline is written 01 XXX XXX locally. That leading 0 is Lebanon's trunk prefix and is only used for calls placed within Lebanon.

When calling from the US, replace the entire leading 0 with 011 961. So 01 234 567 becomes 011 961 1 234 567. Leaving the 0 in place is the most common reason a US-to-Lebanon call fails to connect.

How do I call a Lebanese mobile number from the US? +

Lebanese mobile numbers start with 03, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, or 81 in domestic format (the 03 numbers carry a single leading 0). Dial 011 + 961 + the mobile number without its leading 0.

Example: a number written as 03 123 456 is dialed from the US as 011 961 3 123 456, and 70 123 456 becomes 011 961 70 123 456. Mobile numbers do not use a city area code — the prefix identifies the carrier network.

What is the best time to call Lebanon from the US? +

Lebanon is 7 hours ahead of US Eastern Time for essentially the entire year. Because both the US and Lebanon observe daylight saving, the offset stays at a consistent 7 hours rather than shifting seasonally.

The reliable business-hours overlap window is 8 AM–11 AM ET, which lands in the 3 PM–6 PM range in Lebanon — still within the local working day before most offices close.

How much does it cost to call Lebanon from the US? +

Standard US carrier rates without an international plan can run several dollars per minute to Lebanon. Carrier international add-on packages charge a monthly fee to reduce the per-minute rate.

VoIP providers including DialPhone charge flat per-minute rates to Lebanese destinations that are typically lower than carrier add-on plans, with no monthly minimum for low-volume callers.

Can I call Lebanese toll-free (800) numbers from the US? +

Lebanese toll-free numbers are free only when dialed from within Lebanon. Calling one from the US will typically fail to connect, because national toll-free ranges are not routable across international carriers.

Ask your Lebanese contact for their geographic +961 number (Beirut 1, North 6, South 7) or a direct mobile number as an alternative.

How are Lebanese landlines and mobiles formatted differently? +

Landlines use a single-digit or two-digit geographic area code — 1 for Beirut, 6 for the North (Tripoli), 7 for the South (Sidon), 8 for the Bekaa Valley — followed by a six-digit subscriber number.

Mobiles use a network prefix (3, 70, 71, 76, 78, 79, or 81) with no geographic area code. From the US the dialing procedure is identical: 011 961 followed by the number without its leading 0.

How do I save a Lebanese number in my phone contacts? +

Save Lebanese numbers in full E.164 international format: +961 followed by the area code or mobile prefix without its leading 0, then the subscriber number. For example, a Beirut number 01 234 567 should be saved as +961 1 234 567.

This format works from any country without modification, prevents dialing errors when roaming, and is the standard format expected by CRMs and VoIP platforms including DialPhone.

Start calling Lebanon today

Whether you make occasional calls to a contact in Beirut or run a team with daily US–Lebanon volume, the right setup eliminates per-minute sticker shock and missed calls.

• DialPhone pricing — compare per-minute Lebanon rates across plans
• Start a free trial — call Lebanon from day one, no commitment
• DialPhone business phone — full VoIP platform for international calling
• AI receptionist — handle inbound calls 24/7 across the 7-hour offset

Related guides

• How to call France from the US — same exit-code pattern, +33
• Number porting guide — bring your existing number to DialPhone
• STIR/SHAKEN explained — why caller ID attestation matters for international calls

Call other countries from the US

Part of the How to Call Internationally from the US hub — exit code 011, country codes, and the per-country mobile rules.

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