What UK numbers cost to call
The short version: 01, 02, 03 and 07 numbers come out of your inclusive minutes. 0800 and 0808 are free. Everything else deserves a look before you dial, because 084, 087 and 09 numbers split into a service charge (set by the company you're calling) plus an access charge (set by your phone provider, often 45p to 70p a minute).
Every range at a glance
| Range | Used for | Cost to call | Inclusive minutes? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 and 02 | Geographic landlines | Standard rate | Yes, on almost every plan |
| 03 (0300, 0330, 0333, 0345…) | Organisations, UK-wide | Same as 01/02 by regulation | Yes, by regulation |
| 055 / 056 | Corporate and internet calling | Varies by provider | Usually not |
| 07 mobiles | Mobile phones | Standard mobile rate | Yes, on almost every plan |
| 070 | Personal forwarding numbers | Capped in 2019, around mobile rate, some providers charge more | Sometimes |
| 0800 / 0808 | Freephone | Free from landlines and mobiles | Free |
| 084 (0844, 0845…) | Service numbers | Service charge up to 7p/min, plus your provider's access charge | Never |
| 087 (0870, 0871…) | Service numbers | Service charge up to 13p/min, plus access charge | Never |
| 09 | Premium rate | Service charge up to £3.60/min or £6/call, plus access charge | Never |
| 118 | Directory enquiries | Capped at £3.65 per 90 seconds | Never |
Charge caps are the regulated maximums under Ofcom's rules. Your provider's access charge is on your tariff page.
The questions everyone asks
Is 0330 free to call?
Effectively yes, if you have inclusive minutes. Ofcom requires 03 numbers to cost the same as calling a landline and to come out of your bundle. If you have no inclusive minutes left, you pay your standard landline rate. See 0330 numbers.
Is 0345 free to call?
Same answer as 0330: it's an 03 number, so it costs the same as a landline call and comes out of inclusive minutes. Banks moved to 0345 precisely so customers stopped paying 0845 charges.
Why did that 0845 call cost so much?
0845 carries a service charge of up to 7p a minute, and your provider adds its access charge on top. On a typical mobile tariff that stacks to 50p or more a minute, and inclusive minutes never apply.
Are 0800 numbers free from mobiles?
Yes. Since July 2015, 0800 and 0808 numbers are free from UK mobiles as well as landlines.