The +45 country code is for Denmark. If you've received a call from a number starting with +45 or need to reach someone in Copenhagen, Aarhus, or elsewhere in the country, this guide explains how to dial it. Denmark's phone system is about as simple as it gets: 8 digits, no area codes, no trunk prefix.
One thing worth noting up front: +45 covers mainland Denmark only. Greenland uses +299 and the Faroe Islands use +298, even though both are part of the Kingdom of Denmark. If you're trying to reach someone in Nuuk or Tórshavn, you need a different country code.
Quick answer: Dial +45 followed by the 8-digit number. Denmark has no area codes and no trunk prefix. From a US landline, dial 011-45 then the 8 digits. From anywhere in Europe, dial 00-45 then the 8 digits.
How to call Denmark: quick reference
Denmark uses flat 8-digit numbering with no area codes. The only thing you need to know is your international exit code: 00 from most of Europe, 011 from the US/Canada on a landline, or just + on any mobile phone.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +45 XX XX XX XX |
| US/Canada landline | 011-45-XX-XX-XX-XX |
| Germany | 00-45-XX-XX-XX-XX |
| Sweden | 00-45-XX-XX-XX-XX |
| UK | 00-45-XX-XX-XX-XX |
Understanding Denmark phone numbers
All Danish phone numbers are 8 digits. Denmark eliminated geographic area codes decades ago and moved to flat numbering. There is no trunk prefix (no 0 to drop or add). The format is XX XX XX XX.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers are 8 digits and generally start with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, though some of these ranges also contain landline numbers. The most common mobile ranges are:
- 20-29, 30-31, 40-42, 50-53, 60-61, 71-73, 91-93
In practice, you usually can't tell a Danish mobile from a landline just by looking at the number. Number portability means people keep their numbers when switching carriers or even switching between mobile and landline service. If you need to know whether a number is mobile, you'll have to ask.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers are also 8 digits. Common landline prefixes include ranges starting with 3 (Copenhagen area), 4 (greater Zealand), 6 (Funen and southern Jutland), 7 and 8 (Jutland), and 9 (northern Jutland). But these geographic associations are historical, not current rules. A number starting with 33 was probably originally a Copenhagen landline, but it could have been ported anywhere.
No area codes, no trunk prefix
Denmark's system is completely flat. No area codes, no 0 prefix for domestic calls, no distinction between local and long-distance. You dial exactly 8 digits whether you're calling across the street in Copenhagen or from Copenhagen to a farmhouse in northern Jutland.
Mobile carriers in Denmark
Denmark has four network operators and a competitive MVNO market. Prices are low by European standards and coverage is excellent across the country.
TDC / Nuuday (~35-40% market share)
TDC is Denmark's incumbent telecom, the old state monopoly privatized in the 1990s. Its consumer brand operates under Nuuday, with sub-brands including YouSee (TV/broadband bundled with mobile) and Telmore (budget mobile). TDC has the most extensive network infrastructure, including the best rural coverage. If you're calling a Danish landline, there's a decent chance it's on TDC's copper or fiber network.
Telenor (~25% market share)
Telenor Denmark is part of the Norwegian Telenor Group. They're strong in the consumer market with competitive prepaid and postpaid plans. Telenor merged its Danish network with Telia's in a 50/50 joint venture called TT-Netværket, meaning Telenor and Telia subscribers share the same physical network.
Telia (~15-20% market share)
Telia, the Swedish operator, shares network infrastructure with Telenor through TT-Netværket. Their retail operations are separate, but calls to either carrier use the same towers. Telia tends to target the mid-range consumer market.
3 (Hi3G / Three) (~15% market share)
3 Denmark, part of CK Hutchison's Three network, was the last entrant into the Danish market. They built their reputation on aggressive data pricing and were early to push unlimited data plans. Coverage is good in urban areas but historically weaker in rural parts of Jutland, though this has improved.
MVNOs
Denmark has a busy MVNO market. CBB, Lebara, Lycamobile, and others resell on the major networks. Lebara and Lycamobile specifically target immigrant communities with cheap international calling bundles, which is relevant if you're trying to reach someone who uses one of these services.
Don't confuse +45 with nearby codes
The Scandinavian country codes are sequential, which causes frequent mix-ups.
| Code | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| +45 | Denmark | 8-digit numbers |
| +46 | Sweden | Variable length (7-10 digits after area code) |
| +47 | Norway | 8-digit numbers, similar to Denmark |
| +354 | Iceland | 7-digit numbers |
| +358 | Finland | Variable length |
The +45/+46 confusion is the most common, especially for people doing business across the Øresund. Denmark is +45, Sweden is +46. If you accidentally dial +46 with a Danish number, you'll probably get a Swedish subscriber or an error. One way to remember: Denmark comes first alphabetically, and 45 comes before 46.
+47 Norway also trips people up. Norway and Denmark both use 8-digit flat numbering with no area codes, which makes the systems feel identical. The only difference is the country code itself.
Also watch out for Denmark's territories: Greenland is +299 and the Faroe Islands are +298. These are separate country codes, not extensions of +45.
Time zone considerations
Denmark uses Central European Time (CET), which is UTC+1 in winter and UTC+2 in summer (CEST). Denmark observes EU daylight saving time, switching clocks on the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.
| Your location | Denmark time | When it's noon in Denmark |
|---|---|---|
| US Eastern (EST/EDT) | 6 hours ahead (winter) / 6 hours ahead (summer) | 6:00 AM your time |
| US Pacific (PST/PDT) | 9 hours ahead (winter) / 9 hours ahead (summer) | 3:00 AM your time |
| UK (GMT/BST) | 1 hour ahead year-round | 11:00 AM your time |
| Germany / France | Same time zone | 12:00 PM your time |
| India (IST) | 4.5 hours behind (winter) / 3.5 hours behind (summer) | 4:30 PM / 3:30 PM your time |
For callers from the US East Coast, Denmark is 6 hours ahead. When it's 9 AM in New York, it's 3 PM in Copenhagen. That gives you a narrow window for business calls: roughly 9 AM to noon Eastern time catches Danes during their afternoon. By 11 AM Eastern, it's already 5 PM in Denmark and people start leaving work. From the US West Coast, the window is even tighter: 6 AM to 9 AM Pacific.
Communication in Denmark
Business hours
Danish business hours are typically 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM or 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Danes value work-life balance and tend to leave the office on time. Friday afternoons are often shorter, with many offices effectively closing by 3:00 PM. Calling a Danish business after 4:30 PM on a weekday is unlikely to reach anyone.
Lunch is usually 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Meetings are punctual; if you have a scheduled call at 2:00 PM Danish time, the Dane will be ready at 2:00 PM sharp.
Language
Danish is the official language, but practically every Dane under 60 speaks fluent English. Business calls in English are completely normal, even between two people in Denmark if one isn't a native speaker. You won't have a language barrier calling a Danish company or most individuals. Automated phone systems (IVR menus) are usually in Danish, though larger companies offer an English option.
Network quality
Denmark has some of the best mobile network coverage in Europe. The country is small and flat, which makes coverage easy. 4G LTE covers virtually 100% of the population, and 5G is rolling out in Copenhagen and major cities. Dropped calls are rare. You're not going to have trouble reaching someone due to network issues.
Danes use a mix of regular calls, iMessage, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger. Unlike many countries where WhatsApp dominates, Denmark doesn't have a single default messaging app. For business contacts, a regular phone call or email is standard. For personal contacts, ask which app they prefer.
The Denmark diaspora
Denmark is a wealthy country with low emigration, so the "diaspora" story is different from most countries on this site. Rather than large communities abroad calling home, the main calling patterns involve foreigners living in Denmark staying in touch with their home countries, business calls to/from Denmark, and the relatively small number of Danish expats abroad.
Immigrants and residents calling into Denmark
About 14% of Denmark's population has an immigrant background, with the largest groups coming from Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Poland, Romania, and Pakistan. Families in these countries regularly call relatives in Denmark. If you're calling a Dane who originally came from one of these countries, they may prefer WhatsApp or Viber for international calls since those are free on WiFi.
Øresund commuters (Sweden-Denmark)
The Øresund Bridge connecting Copenhagen and Malmö created a cross-border commuter population. Thousands of Swedes live in Malmö and work in Copenhagen, or vice versa. Phone calls between +45 and +46 numbers are constant in this region. Both countries are in the EU, so roaming charges don't apply for EU plans, but calls between the two country codes may still be billed as international depending on the plan.
Danish expats
Roughly 250,000 Danes live abroad, with the largest populations in Sweden (border proximity), Norway, the UK, Germany, and the United States. The US Danish-American community is historically significant (Solvang, California was founded by Danish immigrants) but modern emigration to the US is minimal. Danish expats tend to be well-connected digitally and use a mix of calling apps rather than traditional phone calls.
Dialing examples
Calling a mobile in Copenhagen from a US cell phone
The number is 20 12 34 56.
You dial: +45 20 12 34 56
Hold 0 to get +, then 45, then the 8 digits. No area code, no trunk prefix to worry about.
Calling a landline in Copenhagen from a US landline
The number is 33 12 34 56 (a Copenhagen-area landline starting with 33).
You dial: 011-45-33-12-34-56
011 is the US exit code, 45 is Denmark's country code, then the full 8 digits.
Calling Denmark from Germany
The number is 86 12 34 56 (an Aarhus-area number starting with 86).
You dial: 00-45-86-12-34-56
00 is the standard European exit code. Then Denmark's country code and the 8 digits.
Calling within Denmark
Just dial the 8 digits: 20 12 34 56. No country code, no 0 prefix, nothing else. Whether you're calling from Aalborg to Copenhagen or across the hall, it's the same 8 digits.
Common mistakes to avoid
Dialing +46 (Sweden) instead of +45 (Denmark)
This is the classic Scandinavian mix-up. +45 is Denmark, +46 is Sweden. If you typed 46 and the call went somewhere unexpected, check the country code. The mnemonic: Denmark before Sweden alphabetically, 45 before 46 numerically.
Adding a 0 before the number
Many European countries use a trunk prefix (0) for domestic calls that you drop when dialing internationally. Denmark doesn't. There is no 0 to remove. If a Dane gives you the number 20 12 34 56, you dial +45 20 12 34 56 from abroad. Don't dial +45 0 20 12 34 56 (that's 9 digits and won't work).
Calling Greenland or the Faroe Islands with +45
Greenland (+299) and the Faroe Islands (+298) are self-governing territories within the Kingdom of Denmark, but they have their own country codes and their own phone systems. Dialing +45 followed by a Greenlandic number will not connect you to Greenland. You need +299 for Greenland and +298 for the Faroes.
Missing the time zone gap from the US
Denmark is 6 hours ahead of the US East Coast and 9 hours ahead of the West Coast. A casual "I'll call after dinner" at 7 PM Pacific means it's 4 AM in Denmark. For business calls, the usable window from the US is roughly 8 AM to noon Eastern time (2 PM to 6 PM Danish time).
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +45 code?
+45 is the country code for Denmark (mainland). Greenland uses +299 and the Faroe Islands use +298.
How many digits is a Danish phone number?
All Danish phone numbers are exactly 8 digits. There are no area codes and no trunk prefix. The format is XX XX XX XX.
How do I call Denmark from the US?
From a US mobile, dial +45 followed by the 8-digit number. From a US landline, dial 011-45 followed by the 8-digit number.
What is the difference between +45 and +46?
+45 is Denmark and +46 is Sweden. These are neighboring Scandinavian countries with sequential codes. Denmark uses flat 8-digit numbering, while Sweden uses area codes with variable-length numbers.
What time zone is Denmark in?
Denmark is in Central European Time (CET), UTC+1 in winter and UTC+2 in summer. It's 6 hours ahead of the US East Coast year-round.
Does Denmark have area codes?
No. Denmark uses flat 8-digit numbering with no area codes. Some number prefixes historically corresponded to geographic regions (33 for Copenhagen, 86 for Aarhus), but these are part of the number, not separate area codes.
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