Frequently Asked Questions

What is the international format for phone numbers?

The international format for phone numbers is the E.164 standard: +[CountryCode][AreaCode][LocalNumber]

For example, a US number would be +14155551234, and a UK number would be +447700900123. This format ensures phone numbers work globally across all systems and platforms.

The + symbol indicates it's an international number, followed by 1-3 digit country code (e.g., +1 for US/Canada, +44 for UK, +91 for India).

How to write a mobile number in international format?

To write a mobile number in international format:

1. Start with the + symbol
2. Add your country code (e.g., +1 for US, +44 for UK, +61 for Australia)
3. Remove the leading zero if your country uses one
4. Add the rest of the number without spaces or dashes

Examples:

• UK mobile: 07700 900123 → +447700900123
• US mobile: (415) 555-1234 → +14155551234
• Australia: 0412 345 678 → +61412345678

How do you write your telephone number, including your country code?

Write your telephone number with country code by adding + followed by your country code before your number. Remove any leading zero.

Examples by country:

• 🇺🇸 US: +1 415 555 1234
• 🇬🇧 UK: +44 20 7946 0958
• 🇩🇪 Germany: +49 30 12345678
• 🇫🇷 France: +33 1 42 86 82 00
• 🇦🇺 Australia: +61 2 1234 5678
• 🇮🇳 India: +91 22 1234 5678

This format ensures anyone worldwide can call you correctly.

What is the significance of a + in a phone number?

The + symbol in a phone number indicates it's formatted in the international E.164 standard. It tells phone systems to dial internationally and means "international access code" (which varies by country: 00 in Europe, 011 in US/Canada).

When you see +1, it means "dial international, then country code 1". The + ensures the number works from any country without modification - your phone automatically converts it to the correct international dialing prefix.

Bottom line: Always use + for international numbers - it's universal and future-proof.

What is UK phone number format?

UK phone numbers have several formats:

National format (with leading 0):

• London landline: 020 7946 0958
• Mobile: 07700 900123

International format (E.164):

• London landline: +44 20 7946 0958
• Mobile: +44 7700 900123

UK landlines are typically 10 digits (including area code), mobiles are 11 digits starting with 07. When writing for international use, remove the leading 0 and add +44 (UK country code).

How to write my UK mobile number in international format?

To write your UK mobile in international format:

1. Remove the leading 0 from your mobile number
2. Add +44 (UK country code) at the beginning

Example:

If your UK mobile is 07700 900123, the international format is +447700900123 or +44 7700 900123 (with spaces).

For forms, use +447700900123. This format works globally and is the standard for storing UK mobiles in databases and CRM systems.

How do I format my 11 digit UK phone number for a form?

For an 11-digit UK phone number in a form, use international E.164 format:

• Mobiles: +447XXXXXXXXX
• Landlines: +441XXXXXXXXX or +442XXXXXXXXX

Step-by-step:

1. Remove the leading 0
2. Add +44

Examples:

• Mobile 07700 900123 → +447700900123
• Landline 020 7946 0958 → +442079460958

This format is universally accepted in forms, databases, and international systems. Avoid spaces and dashes for maximum compatibility.

What is American phone number format?

American phone number formats:

National format:

• (415) 555-1234 or
• 415-555-1234

International format (E.164):

• +14155551234

North American Numbering Plan (NANP) format:

• +1-415-555-1234

US numbers are 10 digits: 3-digit area code + 3-digit exchange + 4-digit subscriber number. Country code is +1 (shared with Canada and Caribbean).

For international use or forms, always include +1 prefix.

Why does Canada have the same country code as the United States?

Canada and the United States share country code +1 because they both use the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), established in 1947 before separate country codes existed. NANP also includes Caribbean nations.

They're distinguished by area codes:

• US: 212 (NYC), 415 (San Francisco), 310 (Los Angeles)
• Canada: 416 (Toronto), 604 (Vancouver), 514 (Montreal)

The shared +1 code simplifies dialing between these countries, but they're separate nations with distinct area code ranges.

How to format a phone number to include the country code?

To format any phone number to include country code:

1. Identify your country code (+1 US/Canada, +44 UK, +61 Australia, +91 India, etc.)
2. Add + and country code at the start
3. Remove any leading zero from the local number
4. Add remaining digits

Examples:

• US (415) 555-1234 → +14155551234
• UK 07700 900123 → +447700900123
• France 06 12 34 56 78 → +33612345678

Tip: Use our tool above for automatic formatting of any country's numbers!

How do I format a UK phone number to fit a US format?

Important: You cannot directly convert a UK number to US format as they're different numbering systems. UK numbers should stay in UK format.

However, you can write a UK number in a way US systems accept: Use international E.164 format: +447700900123

If a US form requires exactly 10 digits (US-only format), it won't accept UK numbers - contact the form administrator.

For international compatibility, UK number +447700900123 works in any country including US phone systems.

US phone numbers not formatting correctly in phone app

If US phone numbers aren't formatting correctly in your phone app:

1. Ensure they include country code: +14155551234
2. Check your phone's region settings match your location
3. Save contacts in E.164 format (+1XXXXXXXXXX)
4. Remove extra characters (only + and digits)
5. Update your phone's OS

For iPhones:

Settings → General → Language & Region

For Android:

Settings → System → Languages & Input

Properly formatted +1 numbers work universally.

Can you format a telephone number in Excel?

Yes! To format phone numbers in Excel:

Method 1: Custom Format

1. Select cells
2. Right-click → Format Cells → Custom
3. Enter: +1 (###) ###-#### for US or +44 #### #### for UK

Method 2: Formula

• =CONCATENATE("+1",A1) or
• ="+1"&TEXT(A1,"(###) ###-####")

Method 3: TEXT function

• =TEXT(A1,"+1 (###) ###-####")

For international E.164:

=CONCATENATE("+1",SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A1,"(",")"),")","")," ",""))

Pro tip: Our online tool is faster for bulk conversion - format one number, then apply the pattern in Excel!

What is the E.164 phone number format?

E.164 is the international standard for phone number formatting established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Format: +[CountryCode][AreaCode][Number]

• Maximum 15 digits
• No spaces or special characters
• Starts with +

Examples:

• US: +14155551234
• UK: +447700900123
• Australia: +61212345678

E.164 ensures global compatibility, works with all phone systems, enables international dialing, and is the recommended format for databases, CRM systems, and applications.

Why should I use a phone number formatter?

Phone number formatters provide critical benefits:

• Data Consistency - Standardizes all numbers in your database
• Prevents Errors - Validates numbers before storage
• CRM Integration - Eliminates duplicate contacts from format variations
• Click-to-Dial - Enables auto-dial features in apps
• International Compatibility - Ensures numbers work globally
• Compliance - Meets international telecommunication standards
• Data Migration - Simplifies transfers between platforms
• User Experience - Displays numbers in familiar local formats while storing E.164

Do I need to include the country code?

Yes, including the country code is essential for:

• International compatibility - Numbers work from any country
• E.164 compliance - The global standard requires it
• System integration - Most CRMs and databases expect country codes
• Mobile apps - Modern apps require international format
• Future-proofing - You can call/text from anywhere

Common country codes:

• +1 (US/Canada)
• +44 (UK)
• +91 (India)
• +86 (China)
• +61 (Australia)

Without country codes, numbers are ambiguous and may fail in applications. Always use international format: +[Country][Number]

What formats does this tool support?

Our formatter provides four essential formats:

1. E.164 Standard - +14155551234 (international database format)
2. International - +1 415 555 1234 (human-readable with spaces)
3. National - (415) 555-1234 (local format for the country)
4. RFC3966 - tel:+1-415-555-1234 (for HTML clickable links)

Each serves different purposes:

• E.164 for storage
• International for display
• National for local users
• RFC3966 for web/mobile click-to-dial functionality

Is my data stored or shared?

No, absolutely not. All phone number formatting happens entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript.

We don't:

• Store phone numbers
• Transmit data to servers
• Log your inputs
• Share data with third parties
• Use cookies for tracking
• Collect analytics on your inputs

This is a 100% client-side tool for maximum privacy and security. Your phone numbers are yours alone.

Which countries are supported?

All 195 countries worldwide are supported, plus territories. We use Google's libphonenumber-js library with comprehensive formatting rules for every country:

Popular countries:

• US/Canada (+1)
• UK (+44)
• Germany (+49)
• France (+33)
• Italy (+39)
• Spain (+34)
• Australia (+61)
• India (+91)
• China (+86)
• Japan (+81)
• Brazil (+55)
• Mexico (+52)
• Russia (+7)
• ...and 180+ more

Each country has specific validation rules, area code structures, and format conventions.

What if my phone number isn't being recognized?

If your phone number isn't recognized, try these steps:

1. Include the country code (+1, +44, etc.)
2. Select your country manually from dropdown
3. Remove formatting (parentheses, dashes, spaces)
4. Ensure correct digit count for your country
   • US: 10 digits
   • UK: 10-11 digits
   • India: 10 digits
5. Don't include 00 or 011 international prefixes, just +
6. Verify it's a valid number (not too short/long)

Examples of correct input:

• UK: 07700900123 or +447700900123
• US: 4155551234 or +14155551234

Can I use this tool on mobile devices?

Yes! Our phone number formatter is fully responsive and optimized for mobile devices - smartphones and tablets.

Features on mobile:

• Touch-friendly interface
• One-tap copy to clipboard
• Auto-focus on input field
• Numeric keyboard auto-opens
• Dropdown menus optimized for touch
• Real-time formatting as you type
• Works offline after first load
• Fast performance on all devices

Perfect for formatting numbers on-the-go, on iOS, Android, or any mobile browser.

How do I copy a formatted number?

Copying formatted numbers is instant:

1. Enter your phone number and wait for results
2. Click/tap any formatted result card
3. The number automatically copies to clipboard
4. You'll see visual confirmation ("✓ COPIED!")
5. Paste anywhere (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V)

Works with all formats: E.164, International, National, RFC3966. The copy function works on desktop and mobile browsers using the Clipboard API with automatic fallback for older browsers.

No manual selection needed - just click and paste!