If you see an incoming call from +1-787, it's from Puerto Rico. The island uses the same +1 country code as the US and Canada because it's a US territory and part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). Puerto Rico has two area codes: 787 (the original, assigned in 1996) and 939 (an overlay added in 2001 when 787 numbers started running out).
From the US or Canada, calling Puerto Rico works exactly like calling another state. You dial 1-787 (or 1-939) plus seven digits. No international exit code, no special procedure. From outside North America, it's an international call to +1, then the area code and number. This confuses people in both directions: mainland Americans sometimes think they need to dial a special international code for Puerto Rico (they don't), and people outside the US sometimes don't realize Puerto Rico is under +1 (it is).
Quick answer: From the US or Canada, dial 1-787-XXX-XXXX or 1-939-XXX-XXXX (same as any domestic long-distance call). From other countries, dial +1-787-XXX-XXXX. Puerto Rico uses Atlantic Standard Time (UTC-4) year-round with no daylight saving, which means it matches US Eastern Daylight Time in summer.
How to call Puerto Rico: quick reference
Puerto Rico is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), so calls from the US and Canada are domestic. From outside North America, treat it as an international call to country code +1. Replace 787 with 939 if the number uses the overlay area code.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +1-787-XXX-XXXX (or 1-787-XXX-XXXX) |
| US/Canada landline | 1-787-XXX-XXXX (domestic long distance) |
| UK | 00-1-787-XXX-XXXX |
| Dominican Republic | 1-787-XXX-XXXX (same NANP system) |
| Spain | 00-1-787-XXX-XXXX |
| Other countries | +1-787-XXX-XXXX |
Understanding Puerto Rico phone numbers
Puerto Rico follows standard NANP format: a 3-digit area code (787 or 939) followed by a 7-digit local number. Ten-digit dialing is mandatory on the island, even for local calls.
Area codes
| Area code | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 787 | All of Puerto Rico | Original area code (1996). Most existing numbers use this |
| 939 | All of Puerto Rico | Overlay code (2001). Newer numbers. Same geographic coverage |
Both area codes cover the entire island. There's no geographic split. A 787 number and a 939 number can be next-door neighbors. The 939 overlay was added because 787 was running out of available combinations.
Number format
All Puerto Rico numbers follow +1-787-XXX-XXXX or +1-939-XXX-XXXX. There is no way to tell from the number alone whether it's a mobile or landline, just as in the rest of the US. The 7-digit local number doesn't indicate a carrier or a city.
On the island, you must always dial all 10 digits (area code + number), even when calling a neighbor on the same area code. Dialing just 7 digits without the area code won't work.
Mobile carriers in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico's mobile market is served by the same major US carriers, though market share differs from the mainland.
T-Mobile (~35-40% market share)
T-Mobile is the largest carrier in Puerto Rico, bolstered by its merger with Sprint (which had a strong island presence). Coverage is solid across urban areas and most highways. T-Mobile invested in network rebuilding after Hurricane Maria in 2017, and its 5G rollout in San Juan metro is progressing.
Claro (~30-35% market share)
Claro Puerto Rico is owned by America Movil (Carlos Slim). It's the same Claro brand that operates across Latin America, which makes it popular with Puerto Ricans who travel between the island and other Latin American countries. Coverage is competitive with T-Mobile in urban areas.
Liberty Mobile (~20-25% market share)
Operated by Liberty Latin America, which also runs cable TV and broadband on the island. Liberty acquired AT&T's Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands wireless operations in 2020. The company offers bundled packages (mobile + home internet + TV) that appeal to households wanting a single provider.
AT&T and others
AT&T still operates FirstNet (the first-responder network) and some consumer plans in Puerto Rico. Smaller MVNOs and prepaid brands also operate. If you're calling someone with a prepaid phone on the island, it could be on any of these networks.
Don't confuse +1787 with nearby codes
Since Puerto Rico shares country code +1 with the US, Canada, and several Caribbean nations, the area code is what identifies the call as Puerto Rican. Other Caribbean +1 area codes are easy to confuse.
| Area code | Territory | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| 787 / 939 | Puerto Rico | Both are Puerto Rico. 939 is the overlay for newer numbers |
| 809 / 829 / 849 | Dominican Republic | Closest Caribbean neighbor. Three area codes for one country |
| 340 | US Virgin Islands | Nearby US territory. St. Thomas is a short flight from San Juan |
| 284 | British Virgin Islands | Next to USVI but British territory |
| 868 | Trinidad and Tobago | Caribbean, further south |
The Dominican Republic confusion is the most common. Puerto Rico and the DR are separated by the Mona Passage (about 80 miles), and there's constant travel between them. DR numbers use 809, 829, or 849 after +1. If someone from the Caribbean gives you a +1 number and you're not sure which island, the area code is the only clue.
One important warning: some Caribbean +1 area codes (not Puerto Rico) are associated with phone scams that charge premium rates when you call back. Puerto Rico's 787 and 939 are safe, standard NANP codes with no premium charges.
Time zone considerations
Puerto Rico uses Atlantic Standard Time (AST) at UTC-4 year-round. The island does not observe daylight saving time. This creates an interesting effect: during US Eastern Daylight Time (March-November), Puerto Rico and New York are on the same clock. During US Eastern Standard Time (November-March), Puerto Rico is 1 hour ahead of New York.
| Your time zone | When it's 9 AM in San Juan | Best calling window |
|---|---|---|
| US East (EST/EDT) | 8:00 AM / 9:00 AM | Same time zone half the year. Nearly perfect overlap |
| US Central (CST/CDT) | 7:00 AM / 8:00 AM | 1-2 hours behind. Easy overlap during business hours |
| US West (PST/PDT) | 5:00 AM / 6:00 AM | 9 AM-1 PM PT (1 PM-5 PM AST) |
| UK (GMT/BST) | 1:00 PM / 2:00 PM | 12 PM-8 PM GMT (8 AM-4 PM AST) |
| Dominican Republic (AST) | 9:00 AM | Same time zone. Call anytime |
The near-identical time zone with the US East Coast is one of Puerto Rico's advantages for business. Call centers, remote work, and mainland family calls all benefit from having almost no time difference.
Communication in Puerto Rico
Language
Puerto Rico is predominantly Spanish-speaking. Spanish and English are both official languages, and most business and government functions operate in Spanish. In the San Juan metro area and tourist zones, English is widely spoken. Outside metro areas, expect Spanish to be the primary language. If you're calling a business, starting in Spanish will usually get a warmer reception, even if the person can switch to English.
WhatsApp and messaging
WhatsApp usage is very high in Puerto Rico, more so than on the US mainland. It's the default messaging app for most Puerto Ricans, especially for family group chats and small business communication. iMessage is also common since iPhone penetration is high (similar to the mainland US). For reaching businesses, a mix of phone calls, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger all work.
Network quality and Hurricane Maria legacy
Hurricane Maria in September 2017 destroyed much of Puerto Rico's telecom infrastructure. At its worst, 95% of cell towers were down. The networks have been rebuilt, and in some cases upgraded (carriers used the rebuild to install newer equipment). Coverage in the San Juan metro area is now comparable to any US city. Rural mountainous interior still has weaker coverage. Power grid reliability has improved but is not at mainland US levels, so occasional outages can affect cell service in less populated areas.
The Puerto Rico diaspora
More Puerto Ricans live on the US mainland (~5.8 million) than on the island (~3.2 million). Since Puerto Ricans are US citizens, there are no immigration barriers, and movement between the island and mainland is constant. The phone traffic between Puerto Rico and the mainland US is enormous.
Florida (1.2+ million)
Central Florida, especially the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area, has become the largest Puerto Rican community on the mainland, surpassing New York. The I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando is sometimes called the "Puerto Rican corridor." The migration accelerated dramatically after Hurricane Maria in 2017, when tens of thousands relocated. Many have stayed.
New York and New Jersey (1.1+ million)
The original mainland hub. The Bronx, East Harlem ("El Barrio"), Brooklyn, and parts of New Jersey (Newark, Paterson, Camden) have multigenerational Puerto Rican communities. The "Nuyorican" identity has its own culture, slang, and traditions. Phone traffic between New York and the island is one of the heaviest domestic corridors in the US.
Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts (600,000+ combined)
Philadelphia, Hartford, Springfield, and Holyoke all have large Puerto Rican populations, some dating to mid-20th century labor migration. Hartford has one of the highest Puerto Rican population percentages of any US city.
Illinois and Texas (300,000+ combined)
Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood is the historic center of Puerto Rican life in the Midwest, complete with steel Puerto Rican flags arching over Division Street. Houston and Dallas have growing communities.
Dialing examples
Calling a 787 number from the US
Your contact's number is 787-234-5678. From any US phone: dial 1-787-234-5678. Or tap +1-787-234-5678 in your contacts. It's a domestic call.
Calling a 939 number from the US
Same process. The number is 939-876-5432. Dial 1-939-876-5432. The 939 area code works identically to 787.
Calling Puerto Rico from the UK
Your contact's number is 787-345-6789. From the UK: 00-1-787-345-6789. Remember, the +1 is the country code (same as US), 787 is the area code.
Calling Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic
Both are in the NANP system. Dial 1-787-456-7890 directly, same as calling the US mainland from the DR.
Common mistakes to avoid
Dialing 011 from the US (treating it as international)
Puerto Rico is part of the NANP. From the US, dial 1-787-XXX-XXXX, not 011-1-787-XXX-XXXX. The 011 exit code is for international calls, and calling Puerto Rico from the US mainland is domestic. If you dial 011 first, it may still work on some carriers, but it's wrong and unnecessary.
Forgetting about the 939 area code
Puerto Rico has two area codes: 787 and 939. If someone gives you a number starting with 939, it's still Puerto Rico, not a different country or territory. Both cover the entire island.
Assuming everyone speaks English
If you're calling a business or government office, Spanish is the working language. Having a few phrases ready, or asking "habla ingles?" helps. In tourist-facing businesses and the San Juan metro, English is common, but don't assume.
Getting charged international rates by your carrier
Most US carriers treat Puerto Rico as domestic, but some smaller or international carriers may charge it as international. If you're calling from a non-US carrier, check whether Puerto Rico is included in your plan or if it bills as an international call to +1. From outside the NANP zone, it's always an international call.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is 787 a country code?
No. 787 is an area code within the +1 country code (North American Numbering Plan). Puerto Rico shares +1 with the US, Canada, and several Caribbean nations. The full international format is +1-787-XXX-XXXX.
What's the difference between 787 and 939?
Both are Puerto Rico area codes covering the entire island. 787 is the original code, 939 is the overlay added when 787 ran out of available numbers. They're interchangeable in terms of location.
Is calling Puerto Rico from the US an international call?
No. Puerto Rico is a US territory in the NANP. From the US, dial 1-787-XXX-XXXX just like calling another state. Most US carriers include Puerto Rico in domestic plans. From outside the US, it is an international call to +1.
What time zone is Puerto Rico in?
Atlantic Standard Time (AST), UTC-4, year-round. No daylight saving. During US Eastern Daylight Time (March-November), Puerto Rico and the US East Coast are on the same time. During Eastern Standard Time (November-March), Puerto Rico is 1 hour ahead.
Do Puerto Ricans keep their 787/939 numbers when they move to the mainland?
Many do. Since it's all under +1, a Puerto Rico number works anywhere in the US. It's common for mainland Puerto Ricans to keep their 787 or 939 number for years after moving. Seeing a 787 area code doesn't necessarily mean the person is on the island.
What language should I use when calling Puerto Rico?
Spanish is the dominant language. English is widely understood in San Juan and business settings, but expect Spanish in government offices, smaller businesses, and rural areas.
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