The +1246 country code connects calls to Barbados, the easternmost island in the Caribbean. Barbados is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), so you dial it as +1 followed by area code 246 and a seven-digit local number. About 290,000 people live on this 166-square-mile island, which punches well above its weight in tourism, offshore finance, and cricket. British colonial history left English as the official language, so phone conversations are easy for English speakers. You will likely call hotels, guesthouses, banks, or family members who stayed behind when Bajans emigrated to the UK, US, or Canada.
Quick answer: Barbados uses area code 246 under the +1 country code (NANP). Phone numbers are 10 digits total: +1-246-XXX-XXXX. There is no trunk prefix. Landline numbers typically start with 2, 4, or 6, and mobile numbers start with 2, 5, 8, or 8. Barbados is on Atlantic Standard Time (AST, UTC-4) year-round with no daylight saving.
How to call Barbados: quick reference
Barbados follows the NANP dialing pattern. From the US or Canada, dial it like a long-distance call, but be aware your carrier will bill it at international rates. From other countries, use your international exit code followed by 1246 and the seven-digit local number.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +1246 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-1246-[local number] |
| UK | 00-1246-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-1246-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-1246-[local number] |
| France | 00-1246-[local number] |
Understanding Barbados phone numbers
All Barbadian numbers follow the NANP format: +1-246-NXX-XXXX, where N is 2-9 and X is 0-9. The full international number is always 11 digits. The 246 area code covers the entire island; there are no sub-area codes.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers generally use prefixes in the 2xx, 5xx, and 8xx ranges. Common mobile prefixes include 230-234, 240-244, 250-257, 260-262, 266-269, 280-285, 520-524, 530, 535, 545, 820-828, 830-838, 840-848, and 850-852. The two main carriers split these ranges between them.
Landline numbers
Fixed-line numbers use prefixes like 225-228, 246, 271, 416-435, 438, 467, 535, 620-622, 625-628, and 630-638. The Bridgetown area and surrounding parishes share these ranges. Because the island is small (only 21 miles long and 14 miles wide), there was never a need for geographic area code subdivisions.
Mobile carriers in Barbados
Flow (formerly LIME / Cable & Wireless)
Flow is the incumbent telecommunications provider in Barbados, tracing its roots back to the colonial-era Cable & Wireless. It has gone through several name changes: Cable & Wireless became LIME (Landline, Internet, Mobile, Entertainment) in 2008, then rebranded to Flow after Liberty Latin America acquired it. Flow operates both the fixed-line network and a mobile network with 4G LTE coverage across the island.
Digicel
Digicel entered Barbados in 2004 and quickly became a popular mobile-only alternative. The Jamaica-headquartered carrier is known for aggressive pricing and sponsorship of cricket and music events across the Caribbean. Digicel offers 4G LTE service on the island. It does not provide landline service.
Don't confuse +1246 with nearby codes
Barbados (+1246) is one of many Caribbean NANP codes starting with "2". A wrong digit sends your call to a different island.
| Code | Country | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +1 242 | Bahamas | 242 vs 246 - third digit is 2 (Bahamas) vs 6 (Barbados) |
| +1 268 | Antigua and Barbuda | 268 vs 246 - "Barbuda" sounds like "Barbados" but different code |
| +1 264 | Anguilla | 264 vs 246 - last two digits transposed |
| +1 284 | British Virgin Islands | 284 vs 246 - both start with "2" but differ after that |
The Barbados/Bahamas swap (246 vs 242) is the most common mistake. The Barbuda/Barbados name confusion also trips people up, since Antigua and Barbuda (+1268) sounds similar but is a different country 250 miles to the northwest.
Time zone considerations
Barbados uses Atlantic Standard Time (AST, UTC-4) year-round. Unlike the Bahamas or the US, Barbados does not observe daylight saving time. This means during US summer months (when the East Coast is on EDT, UTC-4), Barbados and New York are on the same clock. During US winter months (EST, UTC-5), Barbados is one hour ahead of New York.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 9am in Bridgetown |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (winter/EST) | +1 hour ahead | 8:00 AM |
| US East Coast (summer/EDT) | Same time | 9:00 AM |
| US West Coast (winter/PST) | +4 hours ahead | 5:00 AM |
| UK (winter/GMT) | +4 hours ahead | 1:00 PM |
| UK (summer/BST) | +5 hours ahead | 2:00 PM |
| Japan | +13 hours ahead | 10:00 PM |
Communication in Barbados
Business hours
Most businesses operate Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Banks close at 3:00 PM on most days, with some branches open Saturday mornings. Government offices keep similar hours. Shops in Bridgetown and along the south and west coasts may stay open later, especially in tourist areas. Friday evenings on Oistins Fish Fry and the weekly street parties keep a different schedule entirely.
Communication style
English is the official language. Bajan Creole (Bajan dialect) is spoken informally and you might hear it on phone calls with friends and family, though most Barbadians switch to standard English for business. Phone etiquette is polite but not overly formal. Bajans appreciate a greeting before getting down to business. WhatsApp is the dominant messaging app and is often used for business inquiries, restaurant reservations, and coordinating with guesthouse owners.
Network quality
Barbados has good telecommunications infrastructure for its size. 4G LTE covers the entire island. Fixed-line service through Flow is reliable. The island does not suffer from the coverage gaps that larger, more spread-out Caribbean nations face. Power outages during tropical storms can temporarily affect cell towers, but the island's compact size means repairs happen quickly.
The Bajan diaspora
Where they went
The UK has the largest Bajan diaspora, a legacy of the Windrush generation. Thousands of Barbadians emigrated to Britain in the 1940s-1960s to fill post-war labor shortages, and their descendants form a well-established community concentrated in London, Birmingham, and Manchester. The US East Coast (New York, Miami, and the Washington, D.C. area) has the next largest population. Canada, particularly Toronto, also has a sizable Bajan community. The phrase "Little England" as a nickname for Barbados reflects both the colonial history and the ongoing two-way migration to Britain.
Why they call
Family ties between Barbados and the UK are multigenerational. Grandparents who stayed behind, children sent to study in Britain, and cousins split between continents all generate regular call traffic. Cricket season brings a wave of calls as Bajans follow the West Indies team. Crop Over festival (June-August, culminating on Kadooment Day) and Christmas are peak calling periods. The offshore banking sector also generates business calls from international financial centers.
Dialing examples
Calling a Bridgetown landline from the US
You want to call a bank in Bridgetown. The local number is 431-5000. From a US mobile, dial +1 246 431 5000. From a US landline, dial 1-246-431-5000. Your carrier will bill this at international rates despite the familiar +1 prefix.
Calling a Bajan mobile from the UK
Your cousin in Barbados has the mobile number 826-3456. From the UK, dial 00 1 246 826 3456, or on a mobile phone, +1 246 826 3456.
Calling a hotel on the west coast from Germany
You are booking a hotel in Holetown. Their number is 422-2291. From Germany, dial 00 1 246 422 2291, or on a mobile, +1 246 422 2291.
Calling within Barbados
All local calls use just the seven-digit number: 431-5000. Since the entire island shares the 246 area code and there are no sub-codes, you never need to dial 246 for calls within Barbados.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming domestic US rates apply
Barbados uses +1 just like the US, but calls to +1-246 are billed as international by most US and Canadian carriers. Some people discover this only when they see their phone bill. Use a VoIP service or check your plan's international rates before calling.
Mixing up Barbados and Barbuda
Barbados (+1246) is a single island nation. Barbuda is the smaller island in Antigua and Barbuda (+1268). The names sound alike but they are different countries separated by about 250 miles. If someone says "Barbuda," they mean Antigua and Barbuda, not Barbados.
Forgetting the time zone doesn't shift
Barbados stays on AST (UTC-4) year-round. If you are used to calling during US summer when the clocks match, you might forget that in winter Barbados is one hour ahead of New York. An 8:00 AM call to Barbados that worked fine in July will ring at 9:00 AM Barbados time in January.
Dialing a trunk prefix
Barbados has no trunk prefix. Do not add a 0 after the 246 area code. The correct format is +1-246-XXX-XXXX with nothing between 246 and the local number.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +1246 code?
The +1246 code is for Barbados, an island nation in the eastern Caribbean. The 246 is an area code within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).
Is Barbados the same as Barbuda?
No. Barbados (+1246) is an independent island nation. Barbuda is the smaller island in Antigua and Barbuda (+1268). They are separate countries about 250 miles apart.
What time zone is Barbados in?
Barbados uses Atlantic Standard Time (AST, UTC-4) year-round. It does not observe daylight saving time. During US summer, Barbados matches Eastern Daylight Time. During US winter, Barbados is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
Do I need to dial 0 before a Barbados number?
No. Barbados has no trunk prefix. Dial +1-246 followed directly by the seven-digit local number. For local calls within Barbados, use just the seven digits.
Are calls to Barbados charged at domestic US rates?
No. Despite sharing the +1 country code, most US and Canadian carriers classify calls to +1-246 as international. Per-minute charges will apply unless your plan includes Caribbean calling or you use a VoIP service.
See also: Bahamas (+1242) | Antigua and Barbuda (+1268) | All country codes