When do you consider it too late to phone?

I'm currently having an argument with my husband about the time when it becomes unacceptable to phone someone socially.

I think anytime after 9pm is rude. It's simply too late. If the person has children, I'd say it was closer to 8pm.

We had a friend phone us last night at a quarter to 10. I refused to pick the phone up, so Jon picked it up. She just wanted to have a chat and kept him on the phone for over half an hour. Jon doesn't go to bed early but I still think that it was rude to call that late.

Am I being overly harsh about this? Jon wasn't bothered that she called that late. If one of us had actually been in bed sleeping then he might have flipped but as we were both up he didn't care. I think it doesn't matter whether you're in bed or not, it's not acceptable.

I was going to say exactly what you said, 9 PM.  I often go to bed before 10 PM and my family all knows not to call past 9.  Heck, they don't even call past 8 unless it's something that can't wait.  My in-laws, on the other hand, who live on the West Coast, don't seem to be able to grasp the concept.  

9pm for non-family members and 10pm for family. If I worked that time would be bumped back to 9pm. I give a little leeway for people calling from overseas.

Yeah, i agree with 9.

Yeah, 9. 10 for family but that would rarely happen anyway. My best friend is caller ID, though. If I don't want to talk, I don't answer anyway.

My best friend is caller ID, though. If I don't want to talk, I don't answer anyway.

I totally agree. There's no law that says I have to pick up a call, so if I don't want to, I won't.

And my family is really good about the time difference. My mom is up at the crack of dawn and often rings me then. It'll be like 5am for her but 2pm for me.

I'll ring them when it's 10pm here but that's only because I know it's the afternoon there.

And thanks guys. I'm totally going back to Jon and tell him "see, everyone says it's too late".

I love it when I'm right.

My mom always used to say 9 when I was growing up and I always thought she was crazy, but I don't answer my phone after about 10 unless it's an emergency. Haha! I'm usually too caught up in my tv shows and I don't like to be bugged during them

I have a child that starts bedtime routine at 7 so anytime after that is disturbing to our household. Growing up my parents said no phone after 9pm, So any calls that come in after that tim I'd know it was an emergency...but just calling to BS after 9 I would consider rude.

9, definitely

After 9 p.m. is too late, barring an emergency.

I'd say 9pm in general as well ... except for emergencies, of course, and except for a few very close friends who I know are night owls.

Between 9 and 10.

Funny though, growing up when I was a teenager we got calls till 11.  My parents didn't seem to mind.  (Maybe because we didn't have email, mobiles etc back then!)

I agree most everyone else with 9.00 PM, generally, barring emergencies or long distance call issues.

I only just looked at this thread for the first time but I was going to say 9pm as well - unless you know the person is a night owl.