+44 is the country code for the United Kingdom
See how to dial it from anywhere
+44 explained
The United Kingdom country code, 44, is what you dial before a UK number when you call from abroad. It is also known as the UK dialing code, UK calling code, or UK phone code. In the UK phone number format, +44 comes first, then the area code, such as 20 for London, then the local number.
- Country code
- +44
- The 0044 country code is the same number
- ISO code
- GB
- The two-letter code on forms and shipping labels
- Used in
- United Kingdom
- Also on +44: Guernsey, Isle of Man, and Jersey
- Exit code
- 00
- From most countries. Also 011 from United States and Canada, 0011 from Australia, and + from any mobile
- Trunk prefix
- 0
- Drop it after +44
- Number length
- 7, 9, or 10 digits
- After +44
- UK time now
- UK mobile number format
- 07400 123456
- From abroad: +44 7400 123456
- UK landline number format
- 020 7946 0018
- From abroad: +44 20 7946 0018
+44 area codes of main cities
Each +44 area code below is in the form you dial from abroad: +44, then the city code, then the local number. Inside the United Kingdom, callers leave out +44 and put 0 in front of the city code. So London is +44 20 from abroad and 020 at home.
- London
- +44 20
- Birmingham
- +44 121
- Manchester
- +44 161
- Glasgow
- +44 141
- Edinburgh
- +44 131
- Liverpool
- +44 151
- Leeds
- +44 113
- Cardiff
- +44 29
- Belfast
- +44 28
UK phone number types
The first digits of a UK number tell you what kind of number it is: a landline, a mobile, a free number, or one that costs more to call. Here is a sample of each type of UK phone number, as dialed inside the United Kingdom and from abroad.
Good to know before you call the United Kingdom
“You alright?”
It means hello, not a question about your health
Reply
“Yeah, you alright?”
Emergency number
999
112 works too. Both reach the police, an ambulance, the fire service, and the coastguard.
GOV.UK999 is the oldest emergency number in the world. It started in London on 30 June 1937.
Greater London AuthorityThe numbers in British films never ring anyone. Ofcom keeps 07700 900000 to 900999 and 020 7946 0000 to 0999 for TV and radio drama.
OfcomCalls to 0800 and 0808 numbers have been free from UK mobiles since 1 July 2015. Before that, only landlines called them free.
UK Calling
What it costs to call the United Kingdom (using Suparelay)
Landline from $0.05/minMobile from $0.07/min
Only 7 of 220 countries cost less to call than the United Kingdom.
Enter a numberEach bar counts the countries at that price
Want to call the United Kingdom?
Call any phone from this tab. Nothing to install on either side, and you pay cents a minute.
Why a call to the United Kingdom fails
You call from: 🇺🇸 United States
The 0 is still in the number
The 0 at the start of a UK number is for calls inside the UK. From abroad, leave it out: +44 takes its place.
- Connects
- 011 44 20 7946 0018
- Does not connect
- 011 44 020 7946 0018
The exit code is wrong for your country
00 works from the UK, Europe, and most of the world. From the US and Canada the exit code is 011.
- Connects
- 011 44 20 7946 0018
- Does not connect
- 00 44 20 7946 0018
The number does not take calls from abroad
Freephone numbers that start with 0800 or 0808, and service numbers that start with 084, 087, or 09, often cannot be reached from outside the UK.
- Connects
- 011 44 20 7946 0018
- Does not connect
- 011 44 800 123 4567
Questions about +44
Which country is +44?
+44, or country code 44, belongs to the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man use it too.
What is the England country code?
England has no code of its own. It uses the UK country code +44, as Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland do.
Is the GB country code the same as +44?
No. GB is the ISO code of the United Kingdom, used in forms, addresses, and domain lists. The number you dial is +44.
What is +44?
+44 is the part you dial before a UK number when you call from another country. It replaces the first 0 of the number.
Is +44 the same as 07?
No. 07 is how UK mobile numbers start inside the UK. From abroad, drop the 0 and dial +44 7, so 07700 900123 becomes +44 7700 900123.
What is the difference between +44 and 0044?
The + stands for your exit code. 00 is the exit code in the UK, Europe, and most of the world, so the 0044 country code and +44 reach the same number there. From the US and Canada, dial 011 44 instead.
Do I drop the 0 after +44?
Yes. The 0 is the UK trunk prefix and works only inside the UK. Dial +44 20 7946 0018, not +44 020 7946 0018.
Can I text a +44 number?
Yes. Write the number as +44 without its first 0, and your phone sends the text abroad at your carrier's international rate.
How much does it cost to call the UK?
A call to a UK mobile costs more than a call to a landline. The dialer on this page shows the exact price of the number you enter before you call.
The information on this page is accurate as of September 24, 2026.
Ofcom, the UK telephone numbering plan