Last Updated on April 22, 2025 by BusinAssist Editorial Team
Need to have a local connection with your UK business partners or clients? You will have to make international calls and for that to happen, you have to understand the UK phone number format. Operating a UK business in another country means your communication should be on top. Businesses that succeed are the ones that close sales deals and resolve customers’ issues through phone calls. This helps you to connect seamlessly with your UK customers from anywhere in the world.
How does one put a UK phone number format on international numbers? This guide will explore how you can seamlessly put a UK phone number in the international format and how businesses can leverage phone calls to remain competitive in the market.
What is a UK phone number format?
A British mobile phone number format comprises 15 digits which is based on E.164 standards. Standards by the ITU-Telecommunication Standardization Sector, E.164 is an international standard that defines the format of international numbers.
The digits include the plus sign (+), UK country code “44” followed by national destination code (NDC), and the numbers you want to contact that have spaces or dashes after every 3 numbers.
For example, the number will have these codes:
- +44 (country code)
- 0204 (NDC representing caller’s area)
- 67855673 (subscriber number)
It will appear as: +44 0204 6785 5673
Is a UK phone number format the same as a UK virtual number?
A UK number format may seem the same as a UK virtual number since they have the same numerical sequence but there are key differences. The number of digits will be identical when calling a UK phone number. However, unlike a UK phone number format, a virtual number is not tied to a physical location or phone line. UK phone number format requires a physical device to receive and make calls.
The key differences will include:
Physical presence: UK virtual numbers are cloud-based meaning that it does not require a physical presence while the UK number format is linked to a physical line.
Access: A UK number requires a physical device such as a phone to make or receive a call, whereas a virtual number can be accessed through an app or a computer.
Flexibility: Both options offer flexibility for making calls from anywhere in the world. However, a UK phone number may require a service provider’s support if certain number formats fail to connect, whereas virtual numbers typically have fewer restrictions when calling UK numbers.
Understanding UK area codes
Area codes known as NDC, can either come in three digits, four or five. Three-digit codes are assigned to areas in metropolitan areas, four-digit codes are assigned to large cities, and four-digit codes are assigned to major urban cities in the country.
Three-digit codes:
Here are the cities in the UK that use a 3-digit code:
| London | 020 |
| Northern Ireland | 028 |
| Southampton and Portsmouth | 023 |
| Cardiff | 029 |
| Coventry | 024 |
Four-digit codes:
The large cities that use the 4-digit codes include:
| Sheffield | 0114 |
| Leicester | 0116 |
| Nottingham | 0115 |
| Glasgow | 0141 |
| Birmingham | 0121 |
| Manchester | 0161 |
| Leeds | 0113 |
| Liverpool | 0151 |
| Bristol | 0117 |
| Reading | 0118 |
| Edinburgh | 0131 |
| Tyneside | 0191 |
Five-digit codes:
The areas that use five-digit codes include:
| Chesterfield | 01246 |
| Mansfield | 01623 |
| Wetherby | 01937 |
| Ripon | 01765 |
| Burton upon Trent | 01283 |
| Castleford | 01977 |
| Doncaster | 01302 |
| Ashbourne | 01335 |
| Rotherham | 01709 |
How to call the UK phone number?
We often make calls and calling a UK phone number may seem easy but it may be overwhelming to pick up the format and get started calling from wherever you are. This may seem daunting especially if you do not know the area code or the format of the number. How you make a call to the UK phone number, and format will depend on whether you are calling using a landline or a mobile number.
Mobile vs. landline
Mobile and landline numbers have different prefixes. Mobile numbers start with the prefix “07” while landline numbers have different area code prefixes.
When you are making a call within the UK using a mobile number, you do not have to use an area code since mobile numbers don’t have them. The format will be: 07 45689734567
For the landline, the format will be:
- The area code starting with 0
- Insert the local number
To call Manchester, the format number will be; 0161 23345 0987
However, if you are located in Manchester, and want to call a Manchester number, you can omit the area code number and just dial the subscriber number. The number will be: 23345 0987
Calling the UK internationally by a mobile phone, the format will include;
- International access code
- The UK country code
- The mobile number without the ‘0’
So, when calling from Germany, the international access code will be “00”, and the UK country code “44”. Calling this UK number, 024 6786 6789, from Germany, you will dial 00 44 24 6786 6789.
There are also variations when calling using the UK landline to call UK mobile, or UK mobile to call a UK landline.
UK landline to UK mobile: Dial 07 then the mobile number. The format will be, 07 6786 6789
UK mobile to UK landline: Dial the area code then a local number. The format will be, 024 6786 6789
UK mobile to UK mobile: Dial 07 then the subscriber number
UK landline to UK landline: Dial the area code then the subscriber number
How to solve a not-sent message due to an incorrectly formatted phone number?
This error mostly occurs when the number misses a digit, a character such as the plus sign, dashes, or spaces. However, here is how you can resolve the issue.
- Verify the format of the number: Is it dialed in the correct format depending on the device you are using (mobile or landline)? Particularly check the area code if it matches the area you are trying to send the message and the digit count.
- Remove unnecessary characters: Remove unnecessary spaces, dashes, and signs where they are not needed. Use them when the number format specifies them.
- Don’t miss foreign prefixes: Add the appropriate country code when you are texting internationally.
- Check for missed digits: If one digit is missed, the number won’t function, the message will not be sent, and you will receive an error.
To ensure the number has been fixed, try to resubmit the message again. Restart your phone and ensure the messaging app is updated, this can also help to ensure the message is sent if the format number is correct.
What are the common phone formatting errors?
Missed country code: If you miss dialing one digit of the country code, it will put you in the wrong location bringing about errors.
Incorrect area codes: entering wrong area codes bring about errors in either calling or messaging.
Incorrect sequence: Adding or removing a digit will bring about errors.
Excessive use of characters: excessive use of special characters such as dashes, spaces, and parentheses.
Mobile vs. Landline: when you mix up phone number formatting when using a mobile number and landline, an error may occur. As mentioned above, the mobile phone number formatting is different from the landline phone number formatting. Ensure to understand the format you need to dial depending on whether you are using a mobile or landline.
Dialing a UK phone number format from abroad or overseas may seem easy, however, it can be overwhelming when you make a simple mistake. With the guidance above, you will get to understand which format you will use depending on whether you are using a mobile or a landline.
Need a UK virtual number? BusinAssist makes it possible for businesses to stay connected with their UK clients and partners while located anywhere in the world. You will get the flexibility of using it with any device and an internet connection.
Purchase it today from BusinAssist by contacting us at [email protected].
FAQs
Q: How to put the UK phone number in international format?
Ans: To put a UK phone number in the international format, you will have to remove the leading (0) from the area code and add a plus (+) sign followed by the country code “44” before the rest of the numbers. It will show as, +44 0987654321.
Q: How to fix a message not sent to a phone number formatted incorrectly?
Ans: To fix a not-sent message to a number formatted incorrectly, first ensure the number has no typos and it is in the correct format. If it is, remove any additional characters or spaces and retry sending the message. If it does not help, type the number directly into the message field and send the message. If it still doesn’t work, restart your phone and ensure your message app is updated. Resend the message again and if it still doesn’t go through, contact your mobile carrier for further assistance.
Q: How to format phone numbers with country codes?
Ans: To format a phone number with a country code, you will have to add a plus (+) sign and the country code. For example, the UK country code is “44” so the number will be +44 456-390-1267, the US country code is “1” so the format will be +1 564-345-8904.
Q: What does a phone number formatted incorrectly mean?
Ans: “Phone number formatted incorrectly” means that the number does not follow the region’s standard format. It is either missing a character, dash, space, or missing a digit making the number not to be recognised by the system.
Q: What is a valid phone number format?
Ans: A valid phone number format includes a plus sign (+), the country code “44” and the local phone number with each section separated with spaces or dashes depending on the regions after the three numbers.
Q: How to enter a US phone number in UK format?
Ans: To enter a US phone number in the UK format, you will have to add (+) followed by “1”, the US country code, then the phone number. For instance, the US number is (212)-476-7497 in UK format it will be +1 (212)-476-7497.
Read Also:
- 0207 Numbers and 0203: A Detailed Guide and Difference
- The Process of Porting Landline Numbers to VoIP: What Every UK Business Should Know
- Do I Need a Registered Business to Sell on Etsy? A Simple Guide for Beginners
- Understanding Your Rights: What to Do If Your Employer Doesn’t Issue a P45
- Can HMRC Access Your Bank Account? What Every Taxpayer Should Know
- What is a Tax Office Reference Number and How Can I Find It?
- How to Change Your SIC Code on Companies House: A Step-by-Step Guide for UK Businesses
The BusinAssist Editorial Team has 15+ years of experience writing about small business and company formation in the UK, Canada, and the USA. We simplify complex processes and provide practical insights to help entrepreneurs succeed. Business Assist with BusinAssist – your partner for business success.