Depends on why you're calling I suppose. If you're calling to give them a piece of your mind without actually having to talk to them, then that is rude at any hour :) If you are simply returning a call that requires a response ASAP, then no. If the person wishes to speak to you directly then why bother? Wait until you know you can actually converse with the person. If you just don't want to talk to the person period--don't call. I have seen this question referenced before and there are some people who tend to make up their own rules of etiquette. For some reason, some people find this practice offensive. I personally believe that it depends on why you are calling late and leaving a message as I have already stated. However, according to 21st Century Etiquette, A Guide to Manners for the Modern Age by Charlotte Ford and Jacqueline deMontravel. . .personal numbers (includes cell phones) should be called during these specific hours 9 am-10pm on weekdays and called with discretion on weekends (for example, if you know the part you wish to reach sleeps 'til noon on the weekends, don't call until after that time). The question is somewhat vague, so this is the best answer I can come up with, but I hope it helps.

I agree with the other answer that it IS rude. As was said before, if you don't want to talk to the person then why bother calling them? Sure they may usually turn off the cell phone late at night but what if they forgot to? You might risk waking them up which is not very curtious. Then you've got on your hands a person that you don't feel like talking to who is angry because you just woke them up. That benefits no one.

No, not really. When they wake up they will hear the message and all is well. If you don't call you might foget in the morning to tell that person what you wanted to tell them... And think of it this way. If you call adn the phone is off you leave a message and no one gets hurt. If you call and they are awake you can tell the person that message, and still, noone gets hurt. Whats the big deal?

If you know for sure that a person turns their ringer of at a certain time, why would it matter what time of the night you call them? They would not hear the phone ring, and therefore it would not disturb them. If you're not disturbing them, then, how can it be rude?

I wouldn't take the chance. I often leave messages on voice mail in the middle of the night. But that;s the voice mail in the office. Not at home. Two reasons (1) I leave v/m so that I fdon't forget. (2) it really is faster from a business point of view.

generally yes, but if it is important then thats different.

If you are not going to disturb them then there is no harm, but I would not take the chance. Late night calls are irritating and, unless it's an emergency (when the ringer being turned off would not help), I would not make them.

It's always rude to call someone late at night, whether their ringer is on or off. The only time a call should be made late in the evening is because of a life or death emergency. The same holds true for early morning. You must remember that when you call into their home you are intruding into their life. Period. Inside the walls of our homes is our private life, private space, and when someone comes into that space, whether by phone or in person, then they must be 100% respectful of our feelings and beliefs. Taking the chance you may offend someone is rude on all levels.

I used to turn my phone totally off at night because I worked shift work. I always figured that no matter what happened I couldn't do anything about it in the middle of the night.

I have a rule I never call anyone after 9pm or before 8am unless it's an emergency.

If they turn their ringer off what difference does it make? People call and txt me at all hours of the night because a lot of the time I'm up then, hell your more likely to wake me up calling during the morning daylight lol. That's why I turn my phone on silent when I'm going to bed

It would depend entirely upon the situation. Granted, I normally do not call people at all after 2000. However, if it was an urgent business matter and I was fairly confident that I would not disturb them, then I might call and leave a message so that they could get it in a reasonably timely manner the next morning. Of course if it was a medical emergency, family member sort of situation, I'd call them by which ever means I might actually reach them, if I knew they would want to be called about it.

Would not bother me at all. If I decided I don't care to receive calls doesn't mean others are not allowed to try to call, I will get back to them if and when I care. I'm not a slave to a phone and I don't expect others to know my routine.

Yes, it's rude to ring a phone late at night unless it's someone you know will be up.