Call costs guide

These numbers relate to specific locations in the UK and are used for homes and businesses. For example, Belfast is 028, Cardiff is 029, Edinburgh is 0131 and London is 020. These geographic numbers are sometimes referred to as 'basic rate', 'local rate' or 'national rate'.

Calls from landlines are typically charged up to 16p per minute. Many providers charge a 23p call set-up fee (or 'connection charge'), but this can vary. Call charges are dependent on the time of day, and most providers offer call packages that allow calls free of charge at certain times of the day.

Call costs from mobiles vary according to the calling plan chosen. Typically, they are included in free call packages. However, if you call an 01/02 number outside of any inclusive minutes, they can cost between 3p and 65p per minute.

Many organisations use 03 numbers as an alternative to more expensive 08 numbers. For example, many public sector bodies have moved from 0845 numbers to 0345.

Calls cost no more than calls to geographic numbers (01 or 02).

Calls from landlines are typically charged up to 16p per minute. Many providers charge a 23p call set-up fee (or 'connection charge'), but this can vary. Call charges are dependent on the time of day, and most providers offer call packages that allow calls free of charge at certain times of the day.

Call costs from mobiles vary according to the calling plan chosen. Typically, they are included in free call packages. However, if you call an 01/02 number outside of any inclusive minutes, they can cost between 3p and 65p per minute.

The 0500 Freephone number range was withdrawn on 5 June 2017. It had been used to provide services such as sales, enquiries and helplines, alongside the widely-used 0800 and 0808 Freephone numbers.

Read more about our decision to withdraw 0500 numbers.

Many landline providers now include calls to mobiles in their call allowances, but where they don’t, they are typically charged between 10p and 20p per minute. There can also be a call set-up fee (or 'connection charge'), which is usually 23p.

Calls between mobiles are normally included in free call packages. However, if made outside of any inclusive minutes, they can cost between 3p and 65p per minute, depending on the call plan chosen.

These are different from mobile numbers, and calls to them can be more expensive. They can be used as a 'follow me' service, where calls are diverted from another number.

Some phone companies include calls to 070 numbers in call allowances. However, some don’t, and calls can cost around 50p per minute from a landline or 86p per minute from a mobile.

A number of businesses and organisations use Freephone numbers, including some helplines and charities such as Action on Hearing Loss or Age UK, as well as Government services such as Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Calls are free of charge from all consumer landlines and mobile phones.

If you are calling from a business phone, you should check with your provider whether there will be a charge for calling 0800 or 0808.

These service numbers are used by organisations for sales or enquiry lines.

The cost of calling 0843, 0844 and 0845 numbers is made up of two parts: an access charge going to your phone company, and a service charge set by the organisation you are calling.

The service charge for calls to 084 numbers is between 0p and 7p per minute. The service charge must be clearly displayed wherever the phone number is advertised or promoted.

The access charge – which is additional to the service charge – will vary depending on your phone company, and can range from 8p to 67p per minute. Choose a provider from the table below for more information on their pricing.

These service numbers are used by organisations for sales or enquiry lines.

The cost of calling 087 numbers is made up of two parts: an access charge going to your phone company, and a service charge set by the organisation you are calling.

The service charge for calls to 087 numbers is between 0p and 13p per minute. The service charge must be clearly displayed wherever the phone number is advertised or promoted.

The access charge – which is additional to the service charge – will vary depending on your phone company, and can range from 8p to 67p per minute. Choose a provider from the table below for more information on their pricing.

These premium rate numbers are mainly used for competitions, TV voting, horoscopes, chat lines, adult lines, recorded information and professional advice services. You can bar them from being dialled from your phone, as you can with other numbers. These numbers are also regulated by the Phone-paid Services Authority*

The cost of calling 09 numbers is made up of two parts: an access charge going to your phone company, and a service charge set by the organisation you are calling.

The service charge for calls to 09 numbers can range from 1p to £3.60 per minute. You may be charged a one-off call cost ranging from 5p to £6. The service charge must be clearly displayed wherever the phone number is advertised or promoted.

The access charge – which is additional to the service charge – will vary depending on your phone company, and can range from 8p to 67p per minute. Choose a provider from the table below for more information on their pricing.

116 numbers are used for certain services of social value which have the same six-digit number across the European Union. They are:

• 000 for missing children hotlines;
• 111 for child helplines; and
• 123 for emotional support helplines.

116 numbers are free to call from any phone, whether landline or mobile.

The cost of calling directory enquiry numbers (starting 118) is made up of two parts: an access charge going to your phone company, and a service charge set by the organisation you are calling.

The service charge can vary depending on the directory enquiry service you call, and it’s worth shopping around to find the lowest price. As of 1 April 2019, 118 service charges are subject to a cap, which means 118 companies must not charge more than £3.65 per 90 seconds of a call. The service charge must be clearly displayed wherever the phone number is advertised or promoted.

Calls can include a one-off connection charge and then a separate per minute rate – this also varies depending on the service. For example, some providers may charge around £2.50 as a one-off charge and then an additional per-minute charge of around 75p a minute.

We would encourage customers only to use the directory enquiries service for onward connection to the number they have asked for when they really need to, as the charges are often higher than hanging up and calling directly on your landline or mobile.

The access charge – which is additional to the service charge – will vary depending on your phone company, and can range from 8p to 67p per minute. Choose a provider from the table below for more information on their pricing.

118 numbers are also regulated by the Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA) (previously known as PhonePayPlus and ICSTIS), which regulates phone-paid services in the UK. These are the premium rate goods and services that you can buy by charging the cost to your phone bill and prepay account. You can find out more information at the PSA website.

Three-digit numbers provide access to services of social value.

Calls to the following numbers are free from all phones:

• 999/112: to call Emergency Services (police, ambulance, fire and HM Coastguard) in an emergency situation
• 101: to call the police for non-emergency enquiries
• 105: for the national power cut service. You can call 105 to report or get information about power cuts in your local area. You can also call 105 if you spot damage to electricity power lines and substations
• 111: to call the NHS for non-emergency enquiries
• 119: to call the NHS for help with coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations, testing and NHS COVID Passes

123 for the ‘Speaking Clock’: call prices vary according to your phone provider. Ask them for details.

159 for the ‘Bank fraud helpline’: This number can be used by most UK banking customers to connect directly with their bank when they receive an unexpected or suspicious call about a financial matter. Call prices are set by your phone provider and may not be included in your call bundle. In many cases, the cost will be the same as a national rate call. For more information, ask your provider.

Download our infographic  (PDF, 294.8 KB) for information about three-digit numbers used in the UK.