The +1 (268) area code is for Antigua and Barbuda, a twin-island nation in the eastern Caribbean. Like Anguilla and most of the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), sharing the +1 country code with the US, Canada, and about 20 other Caribbean territories. The 268 area code is what identifies a call as going to or coming from Antigua and Barbuda.
Antigua is the larger island at about 108 square miles, with the capital St. John's and the majority of the population (roughly 100,000 people total). Barbuda, about 30 miles north, is much smaller and quieter, with around 1,600 residents. Most international calls go to Antigua, where the hotels, government offices, and businesses are. If you are calling from the US or Canada, it dials like any domestic long-distance call: 1 + 268 + seven-digit number.
Quick answer: Dial +1 268 followed by the 7-digit local number. From the US or Canada, dial 1-268-XXX-XXXX. Local numbers are 7 digits. Landlines often start with 268-462 or 268-480. Mobile numbers commonly start with 268-720, 268-764, or 268-785. There is no trunk prefix.
How to call Antigua and Barbuda: quick reference
Antigua and Barbuda uses the NANP format, so calling from the US or Canada is the same as dialing a domestic long-distance number. From other countries, add your international access code before +1 268.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +1268 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-1268-[local number] |
| UK | 00-1268-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-1268-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-1268-[local number] |
| France | 00-1268-[local number] |
Understanding Antigua and Barbuda phone numbers
All phone numbers in Antigua and Barbuda follow the NANP format: +1 (268) XXX-XXXX. The entire country uses the single 268 area code with no sub-area codes.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers typically use exchange prefixes like 462, 480, 481, and 460. The format is: +1 268 462 XXXX. Government buildings, hotels, and established businesses are mostly on landlines. APUA (Antigua Public Utilities Authority) operates the fixed-line infrastructure.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers use different exchange prefixes depending on the carrier:
| Prefix | Carrier | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 268-720 | Digicel | +1 268 720 XXXX |
| 268-764 | Flow | +1 268 764 XXXX |
| 268-785 | Digicel | +1 268 785 XXXX |
| 268-736 | Flow | +1 268 736 XXXX |
| 268-770 | Digicel | +1 268 770 XXXX |
No trunk prefix
There is no trunk prefix. Local calls within Antigua and Barbuda use just the 7-digit number. From abroad, dial the full +1 268 XXX XXXX.
Mobile carriers in Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda has two main mobile carriers, both regional Caribbean operators.
Digicel
Digicel is the dominant mobile carrier in Antigua and Barbuda. The Jamaica-headquartered company entered the market in 2004 and quickly gained market share with aggressive prepaid pricing. Digicel provides 4G LTE coverage across Antigua and in the populated areas of Barbuda. It is the more popular carrier, particularly for prepaid users. Digicel also offers home internet and cable TV services on the islands.
Flow (formerly LIME / Cable & Wireless)
Flow is part of Liberty Latin America and has a long history in Antigua going back to the Cable & Wireless days. It operates both mobile and fixed-line services. Flow offers 4G LTE and also provides broadband internet. It tends to be more popular with business customers and postpaid subscribers. Flow also runs the main fiber optic internet infrastructure on the island.
APUA (fixed line only)
The Antigua Public Utilities Authority operates the legacy landline network. APUA handles fixed-line telephony as a government utility, alongside its electricity and water services. Landline penetration has declined as mobile usage has grown, but government offices and many businesses still maintain APUA landlines.
Don't confuse +1268 with nearby codes
The 268 area code sits among several similar-looking Caribbean NANP codes. The most common mix-ups:
| Code | Territory | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +1 268 | Antigua and Barbuda | 268 - the twin-island nation. |
| +1 264 | Anguilla | 264 vs 268. Anguilla is a smaller British territory nearby. |
| +1 246 | Barbados | 246 vs 268. Don't confuse Barbuda with Barbados. |
| +1 284 | British Virgin Islands | 284 vs 268. Different island group entirely. |
| +1 260 | Indiana (US) | 260 is a US domestic area code. 268 is Caribbean. |
The Barbuda / Barbados confusion deserves special mention. Barbuda is part of Antigua and Barbuda (+1 268). Barbados is a completely separate country with its own area code (+1 246). They sound similar but they are different islands, different governments, and different phone systems.
Time zone considerations
Antigua and Barbuda uses Atlantic Standard Time (AST), UTC-4 year-round. No daylight saving time. During North American summer, the islands are on the same clock as US Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
| Your time zone | Offset from AST | When it's 10:00 AM in Antigua |
|---|---|---|
| US East (EST) | AST +1h | 9:00 AM same day |
| US East (EDT, summer) | Same | 10:00 AM same day |
| US West (PST) | AST +4h | 6:00 AM same day |
| UK (GMT) | AST -4h | 2:00 PM same day |
| Central Europe (CET) | AST -5h | 3:00 PM same day |
| Australia East (AEST) | AST -14h | 12:00 AM next day |
Business hours are generally 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday. Banks often close at 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM. Tourism businesses (hotels, tour operators, restaurants) answer calls into the evening and on weekends.
Communication in Antigua and Barbuda
Language and business culture
English is the official language. Antiguans and Barbudans speak a Caribbean English creole in everyday conversation, but standard English is used in business, government, and tourism. You will not have a language barrier on the phone. People are generally friendly and unhurried in conversation, which is worth knowing if you are used to rapid American phone culture.
Internet and messaging
WhatsApp is the dominant messaging platform. Almost everyone has it, and many businesses use WhatsApp for customer communication. Flow and Digicel both offer LTE data plans, and WiFi is available at hotels and cafes. iMessage is common among iPhone users. Facebook Messenger also sees heavy use. For quick questions to a hotel or business, a WhatsApp message will often get a faster response than a phone call.
Calling Barbuda
Barbuda uses the same 268 area code as Antigua. There is no separate code or special dialing procedure. Mobile coverage on Barbuda was heavily damaged during Hurricane Irma in 2017, and while it has been rebuilt, coverage can still be spottier than on Antigua, especially in less populated areas.
The Antiguan and Barbudan diaspora
Where they settled
The Antiguan diaspora is concentrated in the United States (particularly New York, where there is a sizable community in Brooklyn and the Bronx), the United Kingdom (mainly London, with a historically large Antiguan community in places like Shepherd's Bush and Tottenham), and Canada (primarily Toronto). The US Virgin Islands and other Caribbean islands also have Antiguan communities. Estimates suggest more Antiguans live abroad than on the islands themselves.
Why they call home
Family calls are the big driver. Antigua is a close-knit society and people who emigrate stay in regular phone contact. Call volume spikes around Carnival (late July through early August, culminating in the first Monday and Tuesday of August), Christmas, and Independence Day (November 1). Hurricane season (June to November) also triggers check-in calls, especially after the experience of Hurricane Irma devastating Barbuda in 2017.
Dialing examples
Calling a hotel in St. John's from the US
To call a hotel in St. John's from a US mobile: dial +1 268 462 0520. Or without the plus: 1-268-462-0520. It works exactly like calling another US area code, though your carrier will bill it as international.
Calling an Antiguan mobile from the UK
To reach a Digicel mobile from the UK: dial 00-1-268-720-XXXX. The 00 is the UK's international access code, 1 is the NANP country code, 268 is Antigua's area code, and 720-XXXX is the mobile number.
Calling from another Caribbean island
From a NANP island like Barbados (+1 246): dial 1-268-XXX-XXXX. From a non-NANP island like Martinique (+596): dial 00-1-268-XXX-XXXX.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming it is a free domestic call from the US
This catches people every time. Dialing 1-268 from the US looks like a domestic call, but it is not. US carriers treat Caribbean NANP numbers as international. If you call without checking your plan, you could be paying $1 to $3 per minute on some carriers. Use CallSky or check your international rate before dialing.
Confusing Barbuda with Barbados
Barbuda is the smaller island in Antigua and Barbuda (+1 268). Barbados is a separate country with area code +1 246. If someone says "I'm in Barbuda" and you dial 1-246, you will reach Barbados instead. Listen carefully to which island they mean.
Dialing +268 without the 1
From outside North America, you need the full +1 268, not just +268. The +268 code on its own is not assigned to any country, but omitting the 1 will cause your call to fail or route incorrectly.
Calling during a hurricane
Antigua and Barbuda is in the hurricane belt. Major storms can knock out phone infrastructure for days. Barbuda was almost entirely evacuated after Hurricane Irma in September 2017. If your calls are not going through during hurricane season, check the weather before assuming it is a phone issue.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is calling Antigua and Barbuda the same as calling the US?
The dialing format is the same (1 + 268 + number), but the cost is different. Most US phone plans treat Caribbean NANP calls as international, not domestic. Check your plan or use a VoIP service for predictable per-minute rates.
Do Antigua and Barbuda share an area code?
Yes. Both islands use the 268 area code. There is no separate code for Barbuda. You dial the same way regardless of which island the number is on.
What is the best time to call Antigua?
Business hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM AST (UTC-4), Monday to Friday. Hotels and tourism businesses answer later. Antigua is 1 hour ahead of US Eastern Standard Time, and the same as EDT during summer.
Can I use WhatsApp to call Antigua?
Yes. WhatsApp is the most popular messaging and calling app in Antigua and Barbuda. Most locals and businesses use it. LTE and WiFi coverage are good enough for voice and video calls on both islands.
Is Barbuda the same as Barbados?
No. Barbuda is the smaller island in Antigua and Barbuda (area code 268). Barbados is a separate, independent country about 300 miles to the south with area code 246. Different islands, different governments, different phone numbers.
Looking for other Caribbean dialing codes? See our guides for Anguilla (+1 264), Barbados (+1 246), and British Virgin Islands (+1 284).