The 44 country code belongs to the United Kingdom, which includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Whether you're calling business contacts in London, family in Manchester, or friends in Edinburgh, the +44 prefix connects you to one of Europe's largest economies and most internationally connected nations.
Quick Answer: The country code +44 is for the United Kingdom. UK phone numbers have 10 digits after +44 (drop the leading 0). For example, a London number 020 7946 0958 becomes
+44 20 7946 0958.
How to Call the UK: Quick Reference
The key to calling the UK is remembering to drop the leading 0 from the domestic number. Here's a quick-reference table:
| Calling From | Dialing Format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada Mobile | +44 [number without leading 0] |
| US/Canada Landline | 011-44-[number without leading 0] |
| Germany | 00-44-[number without leading 0] |
| France | 00-44-[number without leading 0] |
| Australia | 0011-44-[number without leading 0] |
| India | 00-44-[number without leading 0] |
The UK has strong ties globally, with large diaspora communities in the US, Australia, Canada, and throughout Europe.
The Leading Zero: What You Need to Know
The most common mistake when calling the UK is forgetting to handle the trunk prefix (0):
- Domestic UK format: 020 7946 0958 (starts with 0)
- International format: +44 20 7946 0958 (drop the 0)
The leading 0 is only used for calls within the UK. When calling from abroad, always remove it.
Understanding UK Phone Numbers
UK phone numbers vary in format depending on whether they're mobile or landline, and which region they're from.
Mobile Numbers
UK mobile numbers all start with 07:
- Domestic format: 07XXX XXXXXX (11 digits, starts with 07)
- International format: +44 7XXX XXXXXX (10 digits after +44)
- Always start with 7 after +44
- Example: 07700 900123 becomes
+44 7700 900123
Landline Numbers
UK landline numbers have geographic area codes:
- London format: 020 XXXX XXXX (11 digits)
- Other cities: 01XX XXX XXXX or 011X XXX XXXX
- Always drop the leading 0 when dialing internationally
- Example: 0161 496 0000 (Manchester) becomes
+44 161 496 0000
UK Area Codes Reference Table
Major UK cities and their area codes:
| City | Area Code | International Format |
|---|---|---|
| London | 020 | +44 20 xxxx xxxx |
| Birmingham | 0121 | +44 121 xxx xxxx |
| Manchester | 0161 | +44 161 xxx xxxx |
| Glasgow | 0141 | +44 141 xxx xxxx |
| Edinburgh | 0131 | +44 131 xxx xxxx |
| Liverpool | 0151 | +44 151 xxx xxxx |
| Leeds | 0113 | +44 113 xxx xxxx |
| Bristol | 0117 | +44 117 xxx xxxx |
| Sheffield | 0114 | +44 114 xxx xxxx |
| Newcastle | 0191 | +44 191 xxx xxxx |
| Cardiff | 029 | +44 29 xxxx xxxx |
| Belfast | 028 | +44 28 xxxx xxxx |
Note: London and some other cities use 3-digit area codes (020, 029, 028) while most cities use 4-digit codes (0121, 0161, etc.).
Mobile vs. Landline: How to Tell the Difference
You can tell UK number types by the prefix:
- Starts with 07 (or +44 7): Mobile number
- Starts with 01 or 02 (or +44 1/2): Landline number
- Starts with 03: Non-geographic (charged at local rates)
- Starts with 08: Freephone or special rate
This distinction matters because calling rates to UK mobiles are typically higher than to landlines.
Dialing Examples
Here are practical examples for calling the UK from various locations:
Example 1: Calling a London Landline from the US
- UK Number: 020 7946 0958
- From a US Mobile:
+44 20 7946 0958 - From a US Landline:
011 44 20 7946 0958
Example 2: Calling a UK Mobile from the US
- UK Number: 07700 900123
- From a US Mobile:
+44 7700 900123 - From a US Landline:
011 44 7700 900123
Example 3: Calling Manchester from Germany
- UK Number: 0161 496 0000
- From Germany:
00 44 161 496 0000
Example 4: Calling Edinburgh from Australia
- UK Number: 0131 496 0000
- From Australia:
0011 44 131 496 0000
Best Times to Call the UK
The UK operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and British Summer Time (BST/UTC+1) from late March to late October.
| Your Location | Time Difference | Call UK 9 AM - 5 PM |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | UK is 5 hours ahead | 4 AM - 12 PM EST |
| US West Coast (PST) | UK is 8 hours ahead | 1 AM - 9 AM PST |
| Germany/France (CET) | UK is 1 hour behind | 10 AM - 6 PM CET |
| India (IST) | UK is 5.5 hours behind | 2:30 PM - 10:30 PM IST |
| Australia (AEDT) | UK is 11 hours behind | 8 PM - 4 AM AEDT |
Tip: For US callers, early morning calls work best to catch UK business hours. Late afternoon UK time (around 4-5 PM GMT) catches the US East Coast at 11 AM-12 PM.
UK vs. Ireland: Don't Confuse the Codes
A common source of confusion:
- +44: United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
- +353: Republic of Ireland (separate country, not part of UK)
Northern Ireland is part of the UK and uses +44, while the Republic of Ireland is an independent country using +353. Belfast uses +44 28; Dublin uses +353 1.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't let these errors prevent your call from connecting:
- Keeping the leading 0: Never dial +44 020... - the 0 must be removed.
- Wrong country code: Don't confuse +44 (UK) with +43 (Austria) or +45 (Denmark).
- Ireland confusion: Remember +353 is Ireland, +44 is UK. Belfast (+44) vs Dublin (+353).
- Forgetting time difference: The UK is 5-8 hours ahead of the US depending on your location.
Special UK Numbers
The UK has several special number ranges:
- 0800/0808: Freephone (free from UK landlines and mobiles)
- 0845/0870: Business rate numbers (may cost extra from mobiles)
- 03: Non-geographic numbers (same cost as calling 01/02 numbers)
- 09: Premium rate numbers (high cost, often blocked internationally)
- 999/112: Emergency services (UK only)
Note: Freephone numbers (0800) are typically not free when calling from abroad and may not work at all from some countries.
Cheapest Ways to Call +44 Numbers
International calls to the UK are competitively priced:
- VoIP Services: Services like CallSky.io offer rates from $0.01/minute to UK landlines and mobiles. Check our UK rates.
- Messaging Apps: WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Messenger are widely used in the UK for free calls over WiFi.
- International Plans: Many US and European carriers include UK calls in their international bundles. See our guide to calling the UK from the US.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What country has the +44 country code?
The +44 country code is for the United Kingdom, which includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It does not include the Republic of Ireland, which uses +353.
How many digits is a UK phone number?
UK phone numbers are typically 10 or 11 digits including the area code domestically, but after +44 you dial 10 digits (dropping the leading 0). Mobile numbers are always 10 digits after +44.
What is the area code for London?
The area code for London is 020. When calling internationally, drop the 0 and dial +44 20 followed by the 8-digit local number.
Do I need to drop the 0 when calling the UK?
Yes. UK numbers start with 0 domestically (trunk prefix), but when calling from abroad, you must drop the 0. For example, 020 7946 0958 becomes +44 20 7946 0958.
How do I call the UK from the USA?
From a US mobile, dial +44 followed by the UK number without the leading 0. From a US landline, dial 011-44 followed by the number without the leading 0.
How do I identify a UK mobile number?
UK mobile numbers start with 07 domestically, or +44 7 internationally. They are always 11 digits domestically (07XXX XXXXXX) or 10 digits after +44.
Is +44 UK or Ireland?
+44 is the country code for the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland uses +353. Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, uses +44.
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