All You Need to Know About UK Phone Number Format

Senior Writer: Supriya Bajaj

Published : June 2, 2023

Do you want to expand your business in the UK and deal with prospects and clients in different UK areas? Well, then you would have to make international calls to the UK. And for that, you must be quite clear about the UK phone number format.

Do you know 41% of businesses prefer phone calls for resolving customer issues, 29% for closing sales, and 35% for scheduling appointments? So, to remain competitive, you must leverage phone calls for the above purposes.

And if you have UK-based customers, the UK phone number format must be at your fingertips. It usually starts with ‘+’ followed by the UK country code (44), area code, and the number you want to contact.

We understand it can be overwhelming for you to pick up the format and get started with international calling. To make it easier, we have curated this knowledge-filled guide on everything you need to know about the UK phone number format. We have covered the step-by-step process of calling UK phone numbers, types of UK phone numbers, area codes list, and more. Let’s begin!

Expert Advice

"Making successful international calls to the UK is not difficult. The correct codes entered on the right device at the right UK time (business hours) are three major ingredients of a relevant phone number format. Understanding the UK phone number format can help you streamline business communication and gain an instant competitive advantage."

What Is UK Phone Number Format?

The UK phone number format is based on E.164 standards by ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector. The numbers that follow E.164 standards include all the crucial information to route the call to the right country, area, and subscriber.

Here are all the elements of a typical UK numbering plan:

• The foremost part of the UK phone number starts with a country code (one to three digits).
• After the country code comes the National Destination Code (NDC).
• The third part of the UK phone number is the complete subscriber number.

Note: A UK phone number can only be 15 digits max, and National Destination Code + Subscriber Number make up the national (significant) number, i.e., a complete UK number.

Codes for dialing UK phone numbers

Wondering how to write a UK phone number? You will notice that UK phone numbers are written so that there’s a space between the area code and the subscriber number to keep it clear and readable. Coming to the multiple area codes for UK phone numbers, they range between 3 to 5 digits.

Now there’s one more point to be remembered. When dialling a UK phone number from within the UK but from a different area, you don’t have to enter the country code; just add a zero before the area code and then key in the phone number. However, when trying to reach a contact in the UK from a different country, key in the country code, enter the dialling code (without zero), and then continue dialling the subscriber number.

Let’s dive into the 3, 4, 5, and international dialling code individually.

1. Three-digit codes

The 3-digit dialling code always begins with 02. It is followed by 8-digit phone numbers. A huge part of metropolitan areas follows the 3-digit codes.

Here is the list of 3-digit UK dialling code currently in use:

Now the number format with this 3-digit area code would look like (020) XXXX XXXX when calling from the UK and +44 20 XXXX XXXX when calling from some other country. The preceding zero before the area codes is dropped when calling from a foreign country.

2. Four digit codes

The four digits dialling code always begins with 011x or 01×1. These four digit local numbers (area codes) are followed by 7-digit phone numbers. Large cities and surrounding areas follow this.

Here are 12 major 4-digit UK dialling codes:

UK numbers with four digit area code look like this 01XX YYYY YYY when calling from within the UK and this +44 1XX YYYY YYY when calling from outside the UK. Drop the zero when calling from another country.

3. Five digit codes

The 5-digit dialling codes begin with 01XXX. It is followed by 5-6 digit phone numbers.

Here are some 5-digit area codes:

UK numbers with 5-digit codes look like 01XXX YYY YYY when calling from within the UK, and +44 1XX YYY YYY when calling from outside the UK. Drop the zero when calling from a foreign country.

If you couldn’t find the UK dialling code you were looking for, search it here.

4. International dialing

Have your customer base in countries other than the UK and want to be accessible to them via your UK phone number? You must display the number in the international format. Now international dialling code for Europe and the UK is 00, but it can differ for other parts of the world.

So, to be recognizable and reachable by your international customers, use + instead of the international dialling code. Doing so will make it self-explanatory for customers to enter their international dialling code.

Coming to the UK country code, (44) is mandatory to reach a number in the UK. Note that US, Canada, and Carribean have the same country code. Also, remember the zero, added-in area codes, is dropped when your customers call from outside the UK.

Now, coming to our next situation, remember to enter the International Direct Dialling number for you to reach out to other countries. For the UK, it is 00, which differs from country to country.

Then comes the phone number you’d like to reach. For instance, to reach a contact in the US, the international format would look like this: 00-1-213-3456789.

Here’s the breakdown: International Direct Dialling number (00), US country code (1),  Los Angeles area code (213), and US Phone number (3456789).

Check out a complete guide to seamlessly place international calls.

Example Of UK Phone Number

Now that we have discussed the UK phone number format let’s discuss UK telephone number and mobile number examples separately:

1. Telephone number example

UK telephone numbers in international format are basically made up of 3 parts: country code, area code, and contact number. Here’s an example of a typical UK (Bristol) phone number: +44 117 2345678.

A basic telephone number (including area code, UK country code, and mobile number) example:

• Country code: 44
• Bristol area code: 0117 (drop the 0 when calling from outside the UK)
• Contact number: 2345678

Combining these three parts together completes UK telephone numbers.

2. Mobile number example

The UK mobile phone number has 3 elements: country code, National destination code, and contact’s mobile phone number. Let’s look at UK mobile phone number: +44 7975 556677.

Here’s the breakdown of typical mobile phone numbers:

• Country code: 44
• National Destination Code: 7975
• Contact number: 556677

These three elements together are what a UK mobile phone number looks like.

How To Call A UK Phone Number?

Calling a UK phone number can be confusing, but once you understand the pattern, you can do it more quickly and efficiently. Remember that when trying to reach a UK phone number, keying in the correct codes and contact number is extremely important. Dialling the right code on the wrong device will not make your call reach the right person.

To make it easier, we have explained the step-by-step process to call a UK landline number and UK mobile phone number, considering different scenarios as examples.

How To Call a UK Landline?

For local dialling, a typical UK landline number begins with a 3-6 digits long geographic area code or dialling code starting with 01 or 02. For example, the area code for Liverpool is 0151, and for Coventry, the area code is 024.

Note: You may skip the area code when calling a UK landline from a UK landline within the same area code. However, when calling a UK landline from a UK mobile phone, it is mandatory to mention the area code.

Here’s a step-by-step process of calling UK landlines from outside the UK:

Step 1- Enter The International Code

The foremost step to calling a UK landline is to key in the international access code of the country you’re calling from. The initial digits are generally 00, 011, or just a ‘+’ (when calling from mobiles). This code signals the carrier that you’re trying to make an international call.

Step 2- Enter The Country Code

After correctly entering the access code, key in the country code of the country you’re trying to reach. In this case, it is the UK (44).

If you are looking for the country code of a different country, search here.

Step 3- Enter The Area Code

Once you’ve entered the international access code and the UK country code, you must ensure that your call reaches the specific area of your contact.  That can be done by correctly dialling your contact’s area code after dropping the zero as you’re dialling from outside the UK.

Step 4- Enter The Landline Number

Finally, you’ve reached the last step of dialling a UK landline. So, after dialling the international access code, country code, and area code, just your contact person’s number is left to be entered.

For a better understanding, here’s how a number from Edinburgh, UK, will look on your dial-pad/telephone screen in different scenarios:

Suppose you’re trying to reach this number from Edinburgh, UK: 0131 (area code) 123 4567 (contact number).

In the above table, 1234567 is the contact number; 0131 is Edinburgh’s area code; 00, 011, and + are access codes; and 44 is the UK country code.

How To Call A UK Mobile Number?

Firstly, do you know how many digits in UK mobile number are there? UK mobile phone numbers are typically 11 digits, beginning with a 07. When calling a UK mobile number from within the UK, just type in the complete contact number, and you’re good to go.

However, if you’re trying to reach a UK mobile from overseas, here are the steps you must follow:

Step 1- Enter The International Code

The first step to dialling a UK mobile number is to enter your country’s international access code. This code generally looks like this 00, 011, or ‘+’ (if calling from another country’s mobile).

Step 2- Enter The Country Code

After the international access code, you must dial the country code of the country your contact is from. In this case, it is the UK (44).

Step 3- Enter The Mobile Number

The last step to dialling a UK mobile number from a foreign country is to enter your contact’s complete phone number.

A UK mobile number looks slightly different when calling from different devices or locations.

Suppose your contact in the UK has a mobile number, 07-23456-7892, that you’d like to call. So, here’s how you dial it in different scenarios:

That’s how you dial UK telephone numbers and mobile numbers. We suppose you’re doubt-free and excited to reach out to your UK contact, discuss business, and close deals back to back.

Watch this video if you better understanding:

You May Also Read : The A to Z of Indian Phone Number Format

Types of UK Phone Numbers

UK phone numbers are segregated based on geographic location, country, and whether they are UK mobile phone numbers or UK telephone numbers. Different types have different formats and bring unique benefits. Let’s dive deep into three major types in detail: geographic numbers, non-geographic numbers, and mobile phone numbers.

1. Geographic numbers

Geographic number or local number includes the local area codes of a particular country. For instance, a UK telephone number with Nottingham area code (115) is a geographic number. You must remember that calls made to geographic numbers are charged at a local rate which varies with the caller’s and recipient’s location.

Such telephone numbers have no restrictions and can receive calls from within the country (here, the UK) or any neighboring country. It is a suitable regional/ local number to contact.

Benefits of using UK geographic numbers/ local numbers

Having UK geographic numbers help you blend in the UK market easily, and so it is quite beneficial for businesses:

• Geographic telephone numbers enable businesses to establish a strong local presence as they look like a local number.
• These numbers give your business a sense of inclusivity by allowing you to have a local number for global customers. This is because you have recognizable UK area codes.
• Using such numbers, you pay cost-effective local calling rates, saving you from paying high international calling bills. (Check out CallHippo’s Global number charges.)

Now that you are well-versed with geographic numbers, let’s move on to the next type of UK phone numbers.

2. Non-geographic numbers

Non-geographic numbers are the ones that have no UK area codes and remain the same country-wide. So, regardless of the area your customer is calling from, they’ll dial the same uniform number to reach your business. Thus, these numbers give businesses a more established image in the market.

Customers can reach you from other countries or anywhere in the world via non-geographic numbers. Such numbers have little use for general people but are a great option for businesses with customers nationwide.

Types of non-geographic national numbers

Not sure which non-geographic number would be the best for your business in the UK? Well, we have got you covered. Remember that these numbers have different prefixes with relative meanings, which vary from country to country.

Here are some non-geographic national number prefix types widely used by businesses in the UK:

Benefits of using non-geographic numbers

Non-geographic numbers come with some major benefits. Here are 3 of them:

• Companies with these numbers enjoy a strong nationwide presence.
• These numbers enable customers to contact your business instantly from within and outside the country in case of a query.
• Both customers and companies share the calling costs, so you would have to pay a lower bill compared to geographic numbers.

So, that was all that you needed to know about non-geographic numbers. It is clearly a better choice if you are a business with a customer base across the country.

3. Mobile numbers

If you are trying to expand or have hired new teammates in the UK, calling the UK can be frequent for business purposes. So you must know what UK mobile numbers look like, the codes they include, and how their formats change with devices and locations. Why? Because your call has to reach a different country.

Also, some of the UK’s major mobile network operators providing decent telephone services are Everything Everywhere (EE), O2, Vodafone, and Three. Let’s glance at the elements of a UK mobile number.

So, the UK mobile numbers are 11 digits long, starting with ‘07’.

The correct international dialling format for the UK is 07-333-433-335. This is for those who are calling from UK landlines or mobile phones. However, if your customer from overseas wants to reach your UK number, their dial pad must look similar to +44-7-333-433-335.

You may also like to check out the best free international calling apps in 2023.

Wrapping Up

We have finally reached the end of this extensive yet actionable guide on how to write UK phone number when calling from within or outside the United Kingdom. It is important to research and invest in the best virtual phone number service providers to scale up your business communication to the UK seamlessly.

Calling internationally is tricky when you are unclear about what dialling codes to enter and when. Because if you dial the wrong mobile or dialling codes, your call will not make it through, leading to time drainage.

Also, it is extremely necessary to consider your and your contact’s device before dialling the number. It may differ if you’re calling using mobile phones to landlines or vice-versa.

To avoid confusion, keep this guide handy and quickly refer to it when calling the United Kingdom. Double-check your phone number before hitting the call icon, and make sure you call within business hours if calling the United Kingdom from another country.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many digits are in a UK phone number?

There are 11 digits in a UK telephone number, including the area codes. The correct format of a UK telephone number would have one of these combinations:

• Three digits area code + 8-digit contact number
• Four digits area code + 7-digit contact number
• Five digits area code + 6-digit contact number

UK mobile numbers are again 11 digits long, including UK’s mobile code (07). This means a UK mobile number looks like 07-XXXX-XXXXX.

2. What are the top 5 UK phone number providers?

Here are the top 5 UK phone number providers that furnish exemplary telephone services:

1. CallHippo (You can also reach out to get international phone numbers for 50+ countries instantly.)
2. RingCentral
3. GoTo Connect
4. Vonage
5. 8 x 8

Updated : November 20, 2024

Supriya Bajaj

Supriya Bajaj is a senior content developer with immense experience in the VoIP telephony domain. With a deep knowledge of VoIP systems and emerging technologies in the field, she provides insightful and targeted content. Known for simplifying complex topics and her thought-leadership articles, Supriya delivers actionable content for both technical and non-technical audiences.

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