What is the country code for France?

France's international country code is +33 (or 0033). When dialing from the UK, use +33 followed by the local number without the leading zero.

How much does it cost to call France from the UK?

On Sayfone, calls to France cost 30¢ per minute. Rates vary by service provider; check your calling service for exact pricing before placing a call.

Can I call French mobile numbers?

Yes. French mobile numbers begin with 06 or 07. Use the full mobile number (without a leading zero) after the country code +33.

What's the time difference between the UK and France?

France is typically one hour ahead of the UK. In winter, France is UTC+1 and the UK is UTC+0. In summer, France is UTC+2 and the UK is UTC+1. Always check current time before calling.

Do I need an app to call France from the UK?

No. You can call France from the UK using your regular phone, or via a browser-based calling service like Sayfone. No app download is required.

Are there any restrictions on calling France?

No special restrictions. Calls to standard landlines and mobile numbers are available. Some special numbers (emergency services, toll-free lines, or premium-rate services) may have limitations; check before calling if unsure.

What if the number I'm calling isn't working?

Verify the number is correct and active. Confirm the area code matches the city you're trying to reach. If still failing, try again at a different time, as temporary network issues or outages are rare but possible.

Can I call French businesses during lunch?

Many French businesses close or reduce staff availability during lunch (typically 12–2 PM Paris time). Plan important business calls for mid-morning or mid-afternoon for better chances of reaching someone.

Quick Start

How to Call France from the UK

Dial +33 followed by the French number (without the leading zero). A typical call costs 30¢ per minute on Sayfone.

Start calling

Cost tools

🇬🇧From United Kingdom

To France🇫🇷

$0.30

Per minute

+33

Country code

Call quality

Landline rate

$0.30/min

Mobile rate

$0.30/min

Same per-minute Sayfone rate for landline and mobile.

Average call quality

Steps at a glance

Dial +33 (country code)
Enter the local French number
Press call

Sources

1
ITU-T E.164 International Numbering Plan
International dialing format reference

DIALING INSTRUCTIONS

Step-by-Step Dialing Guide

Follow these steps to dial a French number from the United Kingdom.

1
Dial the international access code
From any UK phone (landline or mobile), dial 00 to initiate an international call.
```
00
```
2
Enter France's country code
After the international access code, dial 33 (France's country code).
```
00 33
```
3
Dial the local French number
Enter the French phone number. Drop the leading zero from the local number if present. French landlines typically have 9 digits after the country code.
```
00 33 1 42 34 56 78 (for Paris)
```
Press call
Complete the dialing sequence and press the call button.

Dialing format reference

+33

Use these patterns when entering a full international number to +33.

Mobile

06 or 07 followed by 8 digits

Landline

Fixed first digit (1–5) followed by 8 digits

+33 1 42 34 56 78
+33 6 12 34 56 78

Major city area codes

Paris1

Lyon4

Marseille4

Sources

1
Agence Nationale de la Sécurité des Systèmes d'Information (ANSSI)
French telecom infrastructure

IMPORTANT RULES

French Dialing Rules

Understand key formatting and access rules when calling France from the UK.

Drop the leading zero

French local numbers often include a leading zero when dialed domestically. When calling from abroad, omit this zero and use only the country code +33 followed by the remaining digits.

Mobile numbers begin with 06 or 07

French mobile numbers start with 06 or 07 followed by 8 digits. Include these digits in full after the country code.

Landline area codes are fixed digits

French landlines start with 1–5 (the first digit represents a region). This is part of the number; do not drop it when calling internationally.

Use +33 or 0033

You can dial +33 (plus 33) or 0033 (double-zero 33) as the country code. Both are equivalent from the UK.

TIMING & ETIQUETTE

Best Times to Call & Calling Tips

Timing matters when calling internationally. Use this guide to reach contacts at convenient times and follow practical calling etiquette.

Time & windows

Best for reaching offices

9 AM–5 PM Paris time

Roughly 8 AM–4 PM UK time

Best for personal calls

7 PM–10 PM Paris time

Roughly 6 PM–9 PM UK time

🇬🇧UK working hours (9 AM–5 PM)

Overlap with Paris: 9 AM–5 PM UTC+1 (winter) or 9 AM–5 PM UTC+2 (summer)Best window for business calls; minimal time difference.

🇬🇧UK evening (6 PM–9 PM)

Paris 7 PM–10 PM (winter) or 7 PM–10 PM (summer)Good for personal calls; both regions in evening hours.

🇬🇧UK early morning (6 AM–8 AM)

Paris 7 AM–9 AM (winter) or 7 AM–9 AM (summer)Avoid; France likely still sleeping.

Calling tips

Keep calls brief during business hours to respect recipient's schedule.
Plan longer conversations for evening or weekend times when both regions are less busy.
Remember France observes a one-hour time difference from the UK (UTC+1 in winter, UTC+2 in summer).
Monday–Friday calls during mid-morning (10 AM–11 AM UK time) typically reach professionals at their desk.

Business etiquette

Greet in French if possible; start with 'Bonjour' and introduce yourself clearly.
Be aware that lunch hours (12–2 PM Paris time) may not be ideal for business calls.
Confirm the person's preferred contact time if scheduling in advance.
Use formal 'vous' rather than 'tu' unless explicitly invited to do otherwise.

Sources

1
World Time Zone Reference
Time zone and DST information

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues & Solutions

Solutions for typical problems when calling France from the UK.

Call drops or poor connection

Check your internet connection if using VoIP. Ensure you have strong signal (4G/LTE or broadband). Try calling from a different device or network. Some older landlines may have connection delays; allow extra time for setup.

Number won't connect

Verify you've entered the correct country code (+33) and dropped the leading zero from the local number. Check that the number you're dialing is active; disconnected or invalid numbers will fail. If dialing a business, confirm the number during business hours.

High call cost or unexpected charges

Confirm you're using a service with transparent per-minute rates (Sayfone shows costs upfront). Avoid using your mobile carrier's international roaming rates for calls; use a dedicated calling service or VoIP instead for better rates.

Recipient can't hear you clearly

Move away from background noise and use a headset with a microphone if possible. Request the recipient use a landline or stronger mobile signal. Audio quality depends on both caller and recipient's connection.

Savings

See what you could save

Adjust the tools below to compare Sayfone with typical retail pricing for calls to France. Start with one call, then layer on monthly volume to see the bigger picture.

How to use these tools

Sayfone uses your live rate for calls to France — the same basis as the rest of this page.
First, estimate savings on a single call length. Then, model a full month of minutes versus typical retail benchmarks.
Retail competitor rows are illustrative — not a quote from any carrier.