🇨🇦 Canada Phone Number Format
Canada shares country code +1 and the North American Numbering Plan with the United States, so a Canadian number is 10 digits: a 3-digit area code (416 Toronto, 604 Vancouver, 514 Montréal…) followed by a 7-digit local number. Only the area code reveals that the number is Canadian at all.
Canadian Number Formats at a Glance
Here is how one Canada number is written in each of the four standards:
| Format | Example | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| E.164 | +14165550199 | Databases, SMS APIs (Twilio, WhatsApp), CRMs |
| International | +1 416 555 0199 | Display to a global audience, business cards |
| National | (416) 555-0199 | Domestic display inside Canada |
| RFC3966 | tel:+1-416-555-0199 | Clickable tel: links on websites |
Sharing +1: How Canada Fits the NANP
Canada never had its own country code. When the North American Numbering Plan was drawn up, Canadian provinces were allocated area codes alongside US states, and the CRTC has administered the Canadian slice ever since. Software therefore cannot distinguish a Canadian record from an American one without an area-code lookup table — a genuine problem for tax, compliance and SMS-routing systems.
Canada completed its move to mandatory 10-digit local dialing in 2022, partly to make room for the 988 suicide-prevention shortcode. Seven-digit dialing is gone everywhere, so store and display all ten digits, always.
Big-city demand is served by overlay codes — Toronto stacks 416, 647 and 437 over the same streets — so two neighbours can have completely different area codes. Never infer “same city” from matching codes or vice versa.
Canadian Number Types Under the +1 Plan
Type Prefixes Digits Example Mobile & landline Area codes 204–905 (e.g. 416, 604, 514, 403) 10 (416) 555-0199 Toll-free 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888 10 (855) 555-0123
How to Reach Canadian Numbers
Calling from Dial Within Canada 416 555 0199 — Ten-digit dialing is mandatory nationwide. From the UK 00 1 416 555 0199 From any mobile +1 416 555 0199
- Enter + or your international exit code.
- Add country code 1.
- Dial the 3-digit Canadian area code, e.g. 416.
- Dial the 7-digit local number.
What Sets Canadian Numbers Apart
- You cannot tell a Canadian +1 number from a US one by the country code alone — only the area code reveals the country.
- Since 2022 all of Canada requires 10-digit local dialing; 7-digit dialing no longer works anywhere.
- Canadian mobiles use the same geographic area codes as landlines — there is no separate mobile prefix.
- CRTC reserves the 555-01XX range for fictional examples, mirroring the US convention.
Canadian Area Codes by City
Area code Region 416 / 647 / 437Toronto 604 / 778 / 236Vancouver 514 / 438Montréal 403 / 587Calgary 613 / 343Ottawa 902 / 782Nova Scotia & PEI
Check a Canadian Number
Paste any Canadian number and get E.164, international and national forms — the country auto-detects from the area code.
Enter phone number with country code or select country below.
Up to 100 numbers. Include country code or select a default country below.
| Original | E.164 | International | National | Valid |
|---|
Canada Phone Format FAQ
What is the format of a Canadian phone number?
Ten digits: area code + 7-digit number, written (416) 555-0199 nationally or +14165550199 in E.164. Canada uses the same NANP structure as the US.
Is the country code for Canada +1 like the US?
Yes. Canada and the US share country code +1 under the North American Numbering Plan. The area code (416, 604, 514…) tells you the number is Canadian.
How do I call Canada from Europe?
Dial 00 (or +), then 1, then the 10-digit Canadian number: 00 1 416 555 0199. No digits are dropped.
Do Canadian mobile numbers look different from landlines?
No. Canadian mobiles use ordinary geographic area codes, so format alone cannot distinguish mobile from landline — a lookup service is needed.