How to Call the UK: Dialing Codes and Numbers

UK Country Code and Exit Code Basics

To call the UK from another country, start with the international dialing prefix, then enter the UK country code, followed by the UK number without its first 0.

The UK country code is +44. The plus sign tells a mobile phone to use the correct international exit code for the country you are calling from. On most mobile phones, press and hold the 0 key to enter the plus sign.

If you are calling from the United States using a phone that does not accept the plus sign, use the US exit code 011 instead. The start of the call is therefore either +44 or 011 44.

A UK phone number is often shown locally with a 0 at the beginning. That 0 is a domestic trunk prefix. Drop it when adding +44 or 011 44. Do not remove any other digits.

• From a mobile phone: dial +44, then the UK number without its leading 0.
• From a US phone using an exit code: dial 011, then 44, then the UK number without its leading 0.
• From another country: use that country’s international exit code, followed by 44 and the UK number without its leading 0.

How to Call a UK Landline Number

A UK landline has an area code and a local subscriber number. In domestic writing, the area code begins with 0. Parentheses may appear around the area code, but they are formatting marks and are not entered on the keypad.

To make the call from a mobile phone outside the UK:

1. Find the complete UK landline number on the organization’s official contact page, a recent statement, or correspondence from the person you want to reach.
2. Check that the number includes its area code.
3. Remove only the first 0 from the area code.
4. Enter +44.
5. Enter the remaining area code and subscriber number with no spaces or punctuation.
6. Review the digits, then place the call.

From a standard US phone, enter 011 instead of the plus sign, followed by 44 and the landline number without its initial 0.

Area codes do not all have the same length, so do not shorten or rearrange the number to make it match another UK landline. If you are asking “how do I call the UK” for a business or public office, copy the number exactly from its official contact information before making the international conversion.

How to Call a UK Mobile Number

A UK mobile phone number is normally written for domestic use with 0 as its first digit. Unlike a landline, it does not use a geographic area code. The conversion rule is still the same: remove the first 0 and place +44 before the remaining digits.

1. Confirm that you have the recipient’s complete UK mobile phone number.
2. Delete the single leading 0.
3. Enter +44 on a mobile phone, or enter your country’s international exit code followed by 44.
4. Enter every remaining digit in the original order.
5. Check that you have not inserted a landline area code, then place the call.

From the United States, the keypad sequence can begin with +44 on a mobile phone or 011 44 on a phone that requires the US exit code. A call to a UK mobile and a call to a UK landline begin the same way internationally, but the underlying UK numbers use different domestic formats.

Common Dialing Mistakes to Avoid

The most frequent error is keeping the domestic 0 after the UK country code. Use either the leading 0 for a call made inside the UK or +44 for a call made from abroad, not both.

• Do not enter +, an exit code, and 44 together. Use the plus sign or the caller’s local exit code.
• Do not add 44 to an incomplete local number. A landline needs its full area code.
• Do not remove a 0 from the middle of the number. Only the first domestic 0 is dropped.
• Do not assume a mobile number needs a geographic area code.
• Do not type parentheses, hyphens, or other printed separators.
• Do not use 44 as though it were a UK area code. It is the country code.

The phrase “call to call UK” sometimes appears in searches, but the needed process is simply: international prefix, UK country code, and the complete UK number with its leading 0 removed.

Formatting a UK Number Correctly

A phone number in the UK may be printed with spaces, parentheses, or hyphens to make it easier to read. Those marks are not part of the dialed number. Keep the digits in their original order while removing the separators.

For a locally formatted landline, identify the initial 0 at the start of the area code. Replace that 0 with +44. Keep the rest of the area code and the subscriber number.

For a locally formatted UK mobile phone number, replace its first 0 with +44 and retain all remaining digits. When saving the contact on a smartphone, the +44 format is usually the clearest international form because it does not depend on remembering a particular country’s exit code.

If the phone number UK contact information already begins with +44, do not add another country code and do not restore the domestic 0. Spaces may be removed when entering or saving it.

What to Do If the Call Doesn't Connect

First, compare the digits with the original source. Confirm that the international format starts with +44 or with your current country’s exit code followed by 44. Then make sure the original leading 0 was removed once and only once.

If the format is correct, check whether the source is current. For a company or organization, return to its official website and look for a page usually labeled Contact, Help, Support, or Customer Service. Use the number shown for the department you actually need. Some lines may be intended only for callers already in the UK, so read any notes beside the listing.

For a personal contact, ask the recipient to resend the complete number with the country code. If a landline fails, confirm the area code. If a UK mobile phone number fails, confirm that no landline area code was added.

You can also try the organization’s official contact form, secure account message, or published email option. Avoid numbers copied from unofficial directories, search-result summaries, or old messages. A current official contact page is the safest place to confirm how to call a UK number and reach the right line.