How to Call Malaysia from the US

To call Malaysia from the US, dial 011 + 60 + number (drop leading 0). Kuala Lumpur example: 011-60-3-XXXX-XXXX. Penang: 011-60-4-XXX-XXXX. Malaysian mobile: 011-60-12-XXX-XXXX (01x network code, no leading 0).

The 011 is the US international exit code. The 60 is Malaysia’s country code. This pattern works from any US landline or mobile — on a smartphone you can substitute + for 011, dialing +60 3 XXXX XXXX.

How to dial Malaysia 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 60 — Malaysia’s ITU-assigned country code under the E.164 numbering plan.
3. Dial the area or mobile code without its leading 0. Malaysian numbers in domestic format start with a 0 trunk prefix. That 0 is dropped for international dialing. Kuala Lumpur’s domestic prefix 03 becomes 3; a mobile code 012 becomes 12.
4. Dial the local subscriber number exactly as written. Digit count after the code varies by region and number type.

The complete pattern: 011 60 <area or mobile code minus leading 0> <local number>.

If you see a Malaysian number already formatted with +60 (common on business cards and websites), replace the + with 011 from a US landline, or dial it as-is from a smartphone.

Malaysian area codes by city

Malaysian landlines use geographic area codes — one digit in Peninsular Malaysia (codes 3 to 7 and 9) and two digits in East Malaysia (the 8x codes for Sabah and Sarawak). The leading 0 shown in domestic format is dropped for all international calls.

City / region	Domestic prefix	Dial from US (after 011 60)
Kuala Lumpur / Selangor	03	3
Penang	04	4
Ipoh / Perak	05	5
Melaka / Negeri Sembilan	06	6
Johor Bahru	07	7
Kuantan / Pahang	09	9
Kuching (Sarawak)	082	82
Kota Kinabalu (Sabah)	088	88

Malaysian mobile numbers do not use city area codes. Mobile codes (after the country code) start with 1 — common network codes include 12, 13, 16, 17, and 19, with newer 11 and 15 codes carrying an extra digit. Example: a number beginning 012 is a mobile; dialed from the US as 011 60 12 XXX XXXX.

How Malaysian numbering works

Malaysia uses a national numbering plan governed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), with a single leading 0 trunk prefix used only for domestic calls.

Landline numbers consist of an area code (one digit in Peninsular Malaysia, two digits in East Malaysia, both shown with a leading 0 domestically) followed by a six- to eight-digit subscriber number.

Mobile numbers consist of a two-digit mobile code beginning with 1 (for example 12, 13, 16, 17, 19), followed by a seven- or eight-digit subscriber number. Numbers in the 011 and 015 ranges carry eight subscriber digits; most others carry seven.

When dialing internationally, you always drop the single leading 0 and replace it with 011 60 from the US, or +60 in E.164 notation.

Time zone: MYT (UTC+8)

Malaysia observes a single time zone year-round:

• MYT (Malaysia Time) — UTC+8, covering Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak).
• No daylight saving — Malaysia’s clock never changes, so the only seasonal shift in the gap comes from the US switching between EST and EDT.

US time zone	Offset (US standard time)	Offset (US daylight time)
Eastern (ET)	Malaysia +13 h	Malaysia +12 h
Central (CT)	Malaysia +14 h	Malaysia +13 h
Mountain (MT)	Malaysia +15 h	Malaysia +14 h
Pacific (PT)	Malaysia +16 h	Malaysia +15 h

Important for business callers: the 12-to-13-hour gap means the US and Malaysian working days barely overlap. The most workable window is early morning US Eastern, around 8 AM–10 AM ET, which reaches Malaysia in the 8 PM–10 PM evening range — late but often still acceptable for a scheduled call. For a daytime-to-daytime conversation, a late US evening call reaches the start of the Malaysian business day the following morning.

US to Malaysia calling costs

Costs vary significantly by calling method:

• US carrier per-minute (no plan): AT&T and Verizon typically charge several dollars per minute to Malaysia without an international add-on. Fine for a one-off call.
• Carrier international add-on packages: a monthly fee cuts the per-minute rate substantially. Worthwhile once you call Malaysia regularly.
• VoIP providers (including DialPhone): flat per-minute rates to Malaysia that typically undercut carrier add-ons, with no monthly minimum. For US–Malaysia 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 Malaysian side also uses the app and has Wi-Fi or data. Not viable for reaching most Malaysian landlines or businesses.

See DialPhone pricing for current per-minute Malaysia rates included in each plan tier.

Calling Malaysian mobile vs landline from the US

From a US perspective, the dialing procedure is the same: 011 60 <number without leading 0>. The difference lies in the number format itself:

• Landlines have a geographic area code (one digit in Peninsular Malaysia, two in East Malaysia) followed by a six- to eight-digit local number.
• Mobiles start with a network code beginning with 1 (12, 13, 16, 17, 19, and the newer 11/15 ranges). There is no separate area code.

Identifying the type from the number: any Malaysian number starting with 01 (domestic format) is a mobile. Numbers starting with 03–09 are landlines or service numbers tied to a geographic region.

Calling cost note: Malaysian 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.

Common mistakes and business-calling tips

The single most common error is leaving the leading 0 in the Malaysian number. Dialing 011 60 03 2167 1234 (with the 0) will usually fail — the correct string is 011 60 3 2167 1234. Drop that 0 every time.

A close second is misjudging the time gap. At 12–13 hours ahead, a “morning” call from the US lands in the Malaysian evening. Confirm the local Malaysia time before scheduling so you do not reach a contact at midnight.

For US teams with recurring Malaysia calling — manufacturing, electronics supply chains, palm-oil and commodities trade, or shared-service and BPO operations centered in Kuala Lumpur — a DialPhone business phone plan removes per-minute sticker shock and lets your team present a consistent, verified caller ID across the time-zone divide. That matters when a Malaysian gatekeeper is screening an unfamiliar overnight international number.

For the full exit-code logic and per-country mobile rules, see how to call internationally from the US.

FAQ

Calling Malaysia FAQ

What is the country code for Malaysia? +

Malaysia's country code is +60. From a US landline or mobile, you reach it by dialing the US international exit code 011 first, making the full prefix 011 60. From a smartphone that supports E.164 dialing you can substitute + for 011, so +60 works identically.

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

Yes. Malaysian numbers in domestic format start with a 0 — for example, Kuala Lumpur is written 03 XXXX XXXX locally. That leading 0 is Malaysia's trunk prefix and is only used for calls placed inside Malaysia.

When calling from the US, replace the leading 0 with 011 60. So 03 2167 1234 becomes 011 60 3 2167 1234. Leaving the 0 in place is the most common reason a US-to-Malaysia call fails to connect.

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

Malaysian mobile numbers start with 01 in domestic format — common network codes include 012, 013, 016, 017, and 019. Dial 011 + 60 + the mobile number without its leading 0.

Example: a number written as 012 345 6789 is dialed from the US as 011 60 12 345 6789. Mobile numbers do not use a geographic area code — the 01x prefix identifies the carrier network.

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

Malaysia is 13 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time (UTC+8 vs UTC-5), or 12 hours ahead when the US is on daylight saving time (EDT). Malaysia does not observe daylight saving, so its clock never changes.

The large gap makes overlap tight: the most workable window is early morning US Eastern (around 8 AM–10 AM ET), which lands in the evening (roughly 8 PM–10 PM) in Malaysia. For a daytime-to-daytime call, late US evening reaches the Malaysian morning.

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

Standard US carrier rates without an international plan typically run a few dollars per minute to Malaysia. Carrier international add-on packages charge a monthly fee and cut the per-minute rate substantially.

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

Can I call Malaysian toll-free (1800 / 1300) numbers from the US? +

Generally no. Malaysian 1800 and 1300 numbers are designed for callers inside Malaysia. From the US they usually fail to route, and if a call does connect you may be billed at a standard international rate. Ask your Malaysian contact for their geographic +60 landline or +60 mobile number as a reliable alternative.

What time zone abbreviation does Malaysia use for calling? +

Malaysia uses MYT — Malaysia Time — which is UTC+8 nationwide, covering both Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak). There is a single time zone across the whole country.

Unlike Europe or the US, Malaysia has no summer/winter split and observes no daylight saving time, so MYT stays at UTC+8 all year. The only shift in the US–Malaysia gap comes from the US side changing between EST and EDT.

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

Save Malaysian numbers in full E.164 international format: +60 followed by the area code or mobile code without its leading 0, then the local number. For example, a Kuala Lumpur number 03 2167 1234 should be saved as +60 3 2167 1234.

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.

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.

• How to call the UK from the US
• How to call Germany from the US
• How to call France from the US
• How to call Italy from the US
• How to call Spain from the US