What phone number is this? Every part of a number explained
In short: Explains one number from its digits: country and calling code, area code and place (NANP), the range type (mobile, landline, toll-free, premium, UK 03/08/09, personal), any extension, fictional ranges, short codes such as 911, 988, 999 and 112, and the international, national and E.164 formats. Limit: It reads the digits; it can't say who owns a number, whether it is in service or whether it is a scam.
To work out what a phone number is, read it from the left: the country code, then the area code or mobile prefix, then the subscriber number, then any extension. Paste a number here and each part is explained, with the type of range (mobile, landline, toll-free, premium), notes on special ranges such as UK 0333 or US 988, and the correct formats. It doesn't say who owns it.
Price: this tool is free. Live line type and carrier lookups come with Pro + Phone at $49.99/mo; email checking is from $9/mo. See pricing
Sample result
+44 333 123 4567 is a UK 03 number: national rate, charged like a call to a landline.
- Phone number
- +44 333 123 4567
- Country
- United Kingdom
- National
- 0333 123 4567
What this means for you
Country, area code, type of range, extension and formats from the digits. Not who owns it.
- Paste any number
- Country, area code and type
- Extensions and short codes
- International, national, E.164
- +44 333
- 800
- 988
By SimpleVerifier Team · Last updated · Runs in your browser; nothing you paste is sent to us
Got a whole list of numbers to understand?
- The bulk phone number validator gives country, type and E.164 for every number in a file.
- For the live line type and carrier of each number, upload the list at /verify with Pro + Phone.
How do I find out what a phone number is?
- Paste the number as you saw it, with or without +, spaces, brackets or an extension (ext. 42, x42).
- Pick the country it was written for if it has no + country code.
- Press Explain this number to see each part: country, area code, type of range, subscriber number, extension and formats.
- Read the notes for special ranges: toll-free and premium codes, UK 03, 08 and 09 numbers, fictional ranges, short codes.
Example
- You enter
+44 333 123 4567, then(800) 555-0199 ext. 42, then988.- You get
- UK service number (UAN range), with the note that 03 numbers cost the same as a landline call; formats 0333 123 4567 and +443331234567. US toll-free 800 number with extension 42 explained. 988 as the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline short number, with no E.164 form.
- Limits
- Runs in your browser; one number at a time.
How is a phone number built?
Every international number follows ITU-T E.164: a country code of one to three digits (+1 for the US and Canada, +44 for the UK, +63 for the Philippines), then a national number of up to 12 more digits. Inside the country, the national number usually starts with an area code for landlines or a mobile prefix, then the subscriber number.
Written nationally, many countries add a trunk prefix, the 0 in the UK's 020 7946 0958, which is dropped after +44. An extension (ext. 42, x42) isn't part of the number: it is dialled after the switchboard answers.
What do special numbers like 0333, 800 and 988 mean?
In the UK, Ofcom's plan gives each first digit a meaning: 01 and 02 are landlines, 03 (0300, 0333…) are national numbers charged like a landline, 07 mobiles (070 personal and 076 pagers apart), 0800 and 0808 freephone, 084 and 087 service numbers with an extra charge, and 09 premium rate.
In North America, 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888 are toll-free, 900 is premium, and 555-0100 to 555-0199 are reserved for films. Three-digit numbers are services: 911 for emergencies, 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 211 for community help, 411 for directory assistance.
What each part of +1 (512) 555-2671 ext. 42 means
| Part | Digits | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Country code | +1 | North American Numbering Plan (US, Canada, Caribbean) |
| Area code | 512 | Austin, Texas |
| Exchange (prefix) | 555 | The central office code |
| Line number | 2671 | The subscriber |
| Extension | 42 | A desk behind the switchboard |
Who uses this tool, and for what?
- Anyone with a missed call
- See whether an unknown number is a mobile, a landline in a given area, a premium line or a toll-free company number before calling back.
- Support teams
- Explain to a customer why a 0333 or 0800 number costs what it costs.
- Developers
- Check how libphonenumber reads a number: country, type, extension and E.164 output.
What can’t this tool tell you?
- It reads the digits; it can't say who owns a number, whether it is in service or whether it is a scam.
- Range type is what the plan allocated; ported and VoIP numbers can differ.
- US and Canadian numbers can't be told apart as mobile or landline from the digits.
- Short codes are explained for the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and India only.
Common questions
- What phone number starts with +44?
- +44 is the United Kingdom. After it, 7 is usually a mobile, 1 or 2 a landline, 3 a national rate number, 800 or 808 freephone and 9 premium rate.
- What phone number is +63?
- +63 is the Philippines. Mobile numbers continue with 9, such as +63 917 123 4567; Manila landlines start with 2.
- What is a 0333 number?
- A UK non-geographic number charged at the same rate as a call to a landline, and included in most call bundles. Companies and charities use it as one national number.
- What does an extension in a phone number mean?
- It is the internal line of one person or desk at an organisation. Dial the main number, then the extension when the system answers; it isn't part of the phone number.
- Can it tell me who owns a number?
- No. Ownership is not in the digits, and reverse lookups need private people data. It explains what kind of number it is and where it was issued.
Sources
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