A Guide for Website Owners In today's globalized world, businesses often interact with customers from different parts of the world. To ensure seamless communication, it's essential to display phone numbers in a way that your customers can understand, regardless of where they are located.
Implementing the correct phone number format on your website is not just a matter of correctness but a key factor in enhancing user experience. This, in turn, fosters better customer engagement, showing your audience that their experience is valued and prioritized.
In this blog, we'll explore how to use phone number formats on your website for some of the major countries, including the United States (10-digit format), the United Kingdom (11-digit format), Canada (10-digit format), and Australia (10-digit format).
Best Practices for Implementing Phone Number Formats on Your Website
- Auto-Formatting: Implement auto-formatting in your forms to automatically apply the format when users enter their phone numbers. This reduces errors and improves user experience.
- International Reach: If your business operates globally, always include the international dialing code (e.g., +1 for the US, +44 for the UK). This allows international customers to contact you quickly.
- Localizing Content: Consider localizing the phone number format based on the user's location. If a user is browsing from the UK, display the phone number in the UK format. This can be achieved by using geolocation services on your website.
- Consistency Across Platforms: Ensure the phone number format is consistent across all platforms, including your website, mobile app, and social media profiles. Consistency builds trust and makes it easier for customers to reach you.
- Use Clickable Links: Make phone numbers clickable, especially for mobile users. This allows users to tap on the number and dial it directly without copying and pasting it into their phone dialer.
United States (US)
- Format: (XXX) XXX-XXXX
- Example: (123) 456-7890
- How to Implement:
- For US-based websites, the most familiar format to customers is using parentheses for the area code followed by the number. This format is intuitive and recognized across the country.
- Tip: Consider adding a '+1' at the beginning if your website caters to international customers. Example: +1 (123) 456-7890.
United Kingdom (UK)
- Format: +44 XXXX XXXXXX (landline) or +44 XXXX XXXXXX (mobile)
- Example: +44 20 7946 0958 (landline) or +44 7712 345678 (mobile)
- How to Implement:
- When displaying UK numbers, it's essential to include the country code (+44) to make the number accessible for international customers. Drop the initial zero from the area code when the country code is included.
- Tip: Use spacing effectively to separate the area code from the main number, making it easy to read.
Canada
- Format: (XXX) XXX-XXXX
- Example: (123) 456-7890
- How to Implement:
- Canadian phone numbers share the same format as US numbers. Using the same format with parentheses around the area code is recommended, which is universally recognized in North America.
- Tip: If your website serves both US and Canadian customers, ensure the format is consistent and consider using +1 at the start to cater to international audiences.
Australia
- Format: +61 X XXXX XXXX (for mobile) or +61 X XXXX XXXX (for landline)
- Example: +61 4 1234 5678 (mobile) or +61 2 9876 5432 (landline)
- How to Implement:
- Australian numbers should include the country code (+61) and drop the leading zero from the area code when displayed for an international audience. The spacing in the number helps in easy reading.
- Tip: Clearly distinguish between mobile and landline numbers as they have different starting digits.
China
- Format: +86 XX-XXXX-XXXX (for mobile) or +86 XXXX XXXX (for landline)
- Example: +86 10-1234-5678 (landline) or +86 138 0013 8000 (mobile)
- How to Implement:
- Display Chinese phone numbers with the country code (+86) and appropriate spacing to differentiate between mobile and landline numbers. Ensure no spaces between the digits when showing mobile numbers.
- Tip: Consider using hyphens for landline numbers for better readability.
Germany
- Format: +49 XXXX XXXXXX (landline) or +49 XXXX XXXXXXX (mobile)
- Example: +49 30 123456 (landline) or +49 171 1234567 (mobile)
- How to Implement:
- German numbers should include the country code (+49) and be displayed without the initial zero in the area code. Use spacing to make the number easy to read.
- Tip: Always include the country code, especially if your site caters to international customers.
France
- Format: +33 X XX XX XX XX
- Example: +33 1 23 45 67 89
- How to Implement:
- French phone numbers should start with the country code (+33) and drop the leading zero. Space the digits for readability.
- Tip: Use a consistent format to distinguish between different types of numbers (landline vs. mobile).
Russia
- Format: +7 XXX XXX-XX-XX
- Example: +7 495 123-45-67
- How to Implement:
- Russian phone numbers should include the country code (+7) and be formatted with hyphens for clarity.
- Tip: Use hyphens to separate sections of the number for better readability.
Japan
- Format: +81 XX-XXXX-XXXX
- Example: +81 3-1234-5678
- How to Implement:
- Japanese phone numbers should include the country code (+81) and drop the leading zero from the area code. Hyphens should be used for readability.
- Tip: Ensure mobile numbers are distinguishable by their prefixes (e.g., +81 90 for mobile).
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Format: +971 X XXX XXXX (mobile) or +971 X XXX XXXX (landline)
- Example: +971 50 123 4567 (mobile) or +971 4 123 4567 (landline)
- How to Implement:
- UAE numbers should start with the country code (+971) and drop the leading zero. Use spacing for better readability.
- Tip: Clearly indicate whether the number is for a mobile or landline to avoid confusion.
Saudi Arabia
- Format: +966 X XXX XXXX
- Example: +966 5 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- Saudi Arabian numbers should include the country code (+966) and use appropriate spacing to separate the digits.
- Tip: Differentiate between mobile and landline numbers by their prefixes.
Italy
- Format: +39 XXX XXXX XXX
- Example: +39 347 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- Italian phone numbers should include the country code (+39) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Israel
- Format: +972 X-XXX-XXXX (landline) or +972 X-XXX-XXXX (mobile)
- Example: +972 3-123-4567 (landline) or +972 50-123-4567 (mobile)
- How to Implement:
- Israeli phone numbers should include the country code (+972) and use hyphens to separate sections of the number.
- Tip: Indicate whether the number is for a mobile or landline by using the correct prefixes.
South Korea
- Format: +82 XX-XXXX-XXXX
- Example: +82 2-1234-5678
- How to Implement:
- South Korean phone numbers should include the country code (+82) and use hyphens to break up the number for readability.
- Tip: Distinguish between mobile and landline numbers by their prefixes.
Spain
- Format: +34 XXX XXX XXX
- Example: +34 612 345 678
- How to Implement:
- Spanish phone numbers should start with the country code (+34) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
India
- Format: +91 XXXXX-XXXXX
- Example: +91 98765-43210
- How to Implement:
- Indian phone numbers should include the country code (+91) and be separated by a hyphen in the middle for readability.
- Tip: Ensure the mobile numbers are distinct by starting with a '9', '8', or '7'.
Turkey
- Format: +90 XXX XXX XXXX
- Example: +90 212 345 6789
- How to Implement:
- Turkish phone numbers should include the country code (+90) and be formatted with spaces for better readability.
- Tip: Clearly differentiate between mobile and landline numbers by their prefixes.
Greece
- Format: +30 XXX XXX XXXX
- Example: +30 210 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- Greek phone numbers should include the country code (+30) and use spaces to separate the digits.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Brazil
- Format: +55 XX XXXX XXXX (landline) or +55 XX XXXXX XXXX (mobile)
- Example: +55 11 2345 6789 (landline) or +55 11 91234 5678 (mobile)
- How to Implement:
- Brazilian phone numbers should include the country code (+55) and use appropriate spacing for readability.
- Tip: Ensure mobile numbers are easily identifiable by their format and prefix.
Sweden
- Format: +46 XX XXX XX XX
- Example: +46 8 123 45 67
- How to Implement:
- Swedish phone numbers should include the country code (+46) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Switzerland
- Format: +41 XX XXX XX XX
- Example: +41 31 123 45 67
- How to Implement:
- Swiss phone numbers should include the country code (+41) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Always drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Netherlands
- Format: +31 XX XXX XXXX
- Example: +31 20 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- Dutch phone numbers should include the country code (+31) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Ukraine
- Format: +380 XX XXX XXXX
- Example: +380 44 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- Ukrainian phone numbers should include the country code (+380) and use appropriate spacing for clarity.
- Tip: Ensure correct spacing for easier readability and correct dialing.
Egypt
- Format: +20 X XXX XXXX
- Example: +20 2 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- Egyptian phone numbers should include the country code (+20) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Clearly indicate whether it's a mobile or landline number to avoid confusion.
Qatar
- Format: +974 XXXX XXXX
- Example: +974 1234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Qatari phone numbers should include the country code (+974) and be formatted without any spaces or hyphens for clarity.
- Tip: Use consistent spacing to make the number easy to read.
Belgium
- Format: +32 XXX XX XX XX
- Example: +32 2 123 45 67
- How to Implement:
- Belgian phone numbers should include the country code (+32) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Denmark
- Format: +45 XX XX XX XX
- Example: +45 12 34 56 78
- How to Implement:
- Danish phone numbers should include the country code (+45) and be formatted with spaces for easy readability.
- Tip: Use consistent spacing for clarity.
Mexico
- Format: +52 XX XXXX XXXX
- Example: +52 55 1234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Mexican phone numbers should include the country code (+52) and be formatted with spaces for better readability.
- Tip: Ensure the correct dialing pattern for international calls.
Austria
- Format: +43 X XXX XXXX
- Example: +43 1 234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Austrian phone numbers should include the country code (+43) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Poland
- Format: +48 XXX XXX XXX
- Example: +48 123 456 789
- How to Implement:
- Polish phone numbers should include the country code (+48) and be formatted with spaces for clarity.
- Tip: Use consistent formatting to make dialing easier.
Portugal
- Format: +351 XXX XXX XXX
- Example: +351 912 345 678
- How to Implement:
- Portuguese phone numbers should include the country code (+351) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Singapore
- Format: +65 XXXX XXXX
- Example: +65 1234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Singaporean phone numbers should include the country code (+65) and be formatted without any spaces or hyphens for clarity.
- Tip: Clearly differentiate between landline and mobile numbers by their prefixes.
Norway
- Format: +47 XXXX XXXX
- Example: +47 1234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Norwegian phone numbers should include the country code (+47) and be formatted without any spaces or hyphens.
- Tip: Use consistent spacing for clarity.
Ireland
- Format: +353 XX XXX XXXX
- Example: +353 1 234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Irish phone numbers should include the country code (+353) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
New Zealand
- Format: +64 X XXX XXXX
- Example: +64 3 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- New Zealand phone numbers should include the country code (+64) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
South Africa
- Format: +27 XX XXX XXXX
- Example: +27 21 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- South African phone numbers should include the country code (+27) and be formatted with spaces for clarity.
- Tip: Clearly indicate whether the number is for a mobile or landline to avoid confusion.
Finland
- Format: +358 XX XXX XXXX
- Example: +358 9 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- Finnish phone numbers should include the country code (+358) and be formatted with spaces for better readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Thailand
- Format: +66 XX XXXX XXXX
- Example: +66 2 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- Thai phone numbers should include the country code (+66) and be formatted with spaces for clarity.
- Tip: Clearly distinguish between mobile and landline numbers by their prefixes.
Iran
- Format: +98 XXX XXX XXXX
- Example: +98 21 1234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Iranian phone numbers should include the country code (+98) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Luxembourg
- Format: +352 XXXX XXXX
- Example: +352 1234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Luxembourgish phone numbers should include the country code (+352) and be formatted without spaces or hyphens for clarity.
- Tip: Ensure consistent formatting to make dialing easier.
Argentina
- Format: +54 XX XXXX XXXX
- Example: +54 11 1234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Argentine phone numbers should include the country code (+54) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Clearly distinguish between mobile and landline numbers by their prefixes.
Morocco
- Format: +212 XXX XXX XXX
- Example: +212 522 123 456
- How to Implement:
- Moroccan phone numbers should include the country code (+212) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Hungary
- Format: +36 X XXX XXXX
- Example: +36 1 234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Hungarian phone numbers should include the country code (+36) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Czechia
- Format: +420 XXX XXX XXX
- Example: +420 123 456 789
- How to Implement:
- Czech phone numbers should include the country code (+420) and be formatted with spaces for clarity.
- Tip: Ensure consistent spacing to make dialing easier.
Indonesia
- Format: +62 X XXXX XXXX (landline) or +62 XXX-XXXX-XXXX (mobile)
- Example: +62 21 1234 5678 (landline) or +62 812-3456-7890 (mobile)
- How to Implement:
- Indonesian phone numbers should include the country code (+62) and be formatted with spaces or hyphens for readability.
- Tip: Clearly distinguish between mobile and landline numbers by their prefixes.
Vietnam
- Format: +84 XX XXXX XXXX (landline) or +84 XXX XXXX XXXX (mobile)
- Example: +84 24 1234 5678 (landline) or +84 912 345 678 (mobile)
- How to Implement:
- Vietnamese phone numbers should include the country code (+84) and be spaced out for clarity.
- Tip: Clearly differentiate between mobile and landline numbers by their prefixes.
Malaysia
- Format: +60 X-XXX XXXX (landline) or +60 X-XXXX XXXX (mobile)
- Example: +60 3-123 4567 (landline) or +60 12-345 6789 (mobile)
- How to Implement:
- Malaysian phone numbers should include the country code (+60) and be formatted with hyphens for clarity.
- Tip: Distinguish between landline and mobile numbers by their format and prefixes.
Peru
- Format: +51 X XXX XXXX
- Example: +51 1 234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Peruvian phone numbers should include the country code (+51) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Colombia
- Format: +57 XXX XXX XXXX
- Example: +57 1 234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Colombian phone numbers should include the country code (+57) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Ensure consistent formatting to make dialing easier.
Romania
- Format: +40 XXX XXX XXX
- Example: +40 21 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- Romanian phone numbers should include the country code (+40) and be formatted with spaces for clarity.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Philippines
- Format: +63 XX XXX XXXX (landline) or +63 XXX XXX XXXX (mobile)
- Example: +63 2 123 4567 (landline) or +63 917 123 4567 (mobile)
- How to Implement:
- Filipino phone numbers should include the country code (+63) and be formatted with spaces for clarity.
- Tip: Clearly distinguish between mobile and landline numbers by their prefixes.
Croatia
- Format: +385 XX XXX XXX
- Example: +385 1 234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Croatian phone numbers should include the country code (+385) and be formatted with spaces for clarity.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Belarus
- Format: +375 XX XXX XXXX
- Example: +375 17 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- Belarusian phone numbers should include the country code (+375) and be formatted with spaces for readability.
- Tip: Ensure consistent formatting for clarity.
Jordan
- Format: +962 X XXX XXXX
- Example: +962 6 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- Jordanian phone numbers should include the country code (+962) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Clearly distinguish between mobile and landline numbers by their prefixes.
Bulgaria
- Format: +359 X XXX XXXX
- Example: +359 2 123 4567
- How to Implement:
- Bulgarian phone numbers should include the country code (+359) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Chile
- Format: +56 X XXXX XXXX
- Example: +56 2 1234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Chilean phone numbers should include the country code (+56) and be formatted with spaces for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Lebanon
- Format: +961 X XXX XXX
- Example: +961 1 234 567
- How to Implement:
- Lebanese phone numbers should include the country code (+961) and be formatted with spaces for clarity.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Azerbaijan
- Format: +994 XX XXX XX XX
- Example: +994 12 345 67 89
- How to Implement:
- Azerbaijani phone numbers should include the country code (+994) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Use consistent formatting for easier readability.
Tunisia
- Format: +216 XX XXX XXX
- Example: +216 71 234 567
- How to Implement:
- Tunisian phone numbers should include the country code (+216) and be spaced out for readability.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Oman
- Format: +968 XXXX XXXX
- Example: +968 1234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Omani phone numbers should include the country code (+968) and be formatted without spaces or hyphens.
- Tip: Use consistent formatting for clarity.
Bahrain
- Format: +973 XXXX XXXX
- Example: +973 1234 5678
- How to Implement:
- Bahraini phone numbers should include the country code (+973) and be formatted without spaces or hyphens.
- Tip: Clearly distinguish between mobile and landline numbers by their prefixes.
Zimbabwe
- Format: +263 XX XXX XXX
- Example: +263 4 123 456
- How to Implement:
- Zimbabwean phone numbers should include the country code (+263) and be spaced out for clarity.
- Tip: Drop the initial zero when using the country code.
Conclusion
Correctly formatting phone numbers on your website is a small detail that can significantly impact your business. By following the guidelines for each country and implementing best practices, you can enhance the user experience, improve accessibility, and ensure that customers worldwide can quickly get in touch with you. Remember, a well-formatted phone number is not just a contact detail; it's a gateway to building better customer relationships.
