What is the country code for the United Kingdom?

The UK country code is +44, assigned by the ITU under the E.164 standard. It covers England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

What exit code do I dial from Canada to call internationally?

Canada's international exit code is 011. On a mobile phone, you can use the + symbol instead, which automatically replaces the exit code.

How much does Sayfone charge to call the UK from Canada?

Sayfone offers calls to the United Kingdom at $0.08/min with transparent per-minute pricing. You can call directly from your browser with no app download required.

How do I call a UK mobile number from Canada?

Dial 011 44 (or +44) followed by the mobile number without the leading 0. UK mobile numbers start with 7 after the country code, so a domestic 07911 123456 becomes +44 7911 123456.

What is the time difference between Canada and the UK?

It depends on your Canadian time zone. Eastern Canada (Toronto, Ottawa) is 5 hours behind the UK during summer (EDT/BST). Pacific Canada (Vancouver) is 8 hours behind. The offset can shift briefly in March when Canada and the UK switch to daylight saving on different dates.

Can I call UK freephone (0800) numbers from Canada?

Some special numbers may not work internationally. UK 0800 and 0808 freephone numbers are often restricted to domestic callers. Contact the business for a geographic or mobile alternative.

Why does my call to the UK fail even though I dialed +44?

The most common error is including the leading 0 after +44. For example, dialing +44 020 7946 0123 is incorrect — it should be +44 20 7946 0123. Also verify that your Canadian carrier has international calling enabled.

What are the main UK area codes I should know for business calls?

Common UK area codes include: London (20), Birmingham (121), Manchester (161), Edinburgh (131), Glasgow (141), and Liverpool (151). Remember to omit the leading 0 when dialing from Canada.

Quick Answer

How to Call the United Kingdom from Canada

To call the UK from Canada: dial 011 (exit code), then 44 (UK country code), then the local number without the leading 0. On a mobile phone, use +44 instead of 011-44. Sayfone offers this route at $0.08/min from your browser.

Start calling

Cost tools

🇨🇦From Canada

To United Kingdom🇬🇧

$0.08

Per minute

+44

Country code

Call quality

Landline rate

$0.08/min

Mobile rate

$0.08/min

Same per-minute Sayfone rate for landline and mobile.

Average call quality

Canada and the UK share strong business ties, making this a high-traffic corridor. Whether you're reaching a London office, a Manchester supplier, or a mobile contact anywhere in the UK, the dialing format is consistent.

Steps at a glance

Dial 011 (Canada's exit code) or use + on a mobile
Dial 44 (United Kingdom country code)
Drop the leading 0 from the UK number
Enter the area code and local number
Press call — or use Sayfone at $0.08/min from your browser

Sources

1
ITU E.164 – United Kingdom country code +44
Confirms UK country code +44 and mobile number structure
2
Ofcom – UK telephone numbering plan
Official UK area code reference

STEP-BY-STEP

How to Dial a UK Number from Canada

Follow these steps to connect to any United Kingdom landline or mobile number from Canada.

1
Dial Canada's exit code
From a Canadian landline, dial 011 to access the international network. On a mobile phone, you can press and hold 0 or use the + symbol instead, which replaces the exit code automatically.
```
011 …
```
2
Enter the UK country code
Dial 44, the country code assigned to the United Kingdom by the ITU. This routes your call to the UK telephone network covering England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
```
011 44 …
```
3
Drop the leading 0 and enter the area or mobile code
UK numbers displayed domestically start with a trunk prefix 0 (e.g., 020 for London, 07 for mobile). When calling internationally, omit this leading 0 and dial the remaining digits directly after 44.
```
011 44 20 … (London) or 011 44 7XXX … (mobile)
```
4
Dial the local subscriber number
Complete the number with the remaining local digits. The total UK number after the country code is typically 10 digits for both landlines and mobiles.
```
011 44 20 7946 0123 (London landline) or 011 44 7911 123456 (mobile)
```
Place the call
Press call on your phone, or use Sayfone to call from your browser at $0.08/min with transparent per-minute pricing. No app download is required.

Dialing format reference

+44

Use these patterns when entering a full international number to +44.

Mobile

+44 7XXX XXXXXX

Landline

+44 [area code] [local number]

+44 20 7946 0123
+44 161 496 0000
+44 7911 123456

Major city area codes

London20

Birmingham121

Manchester161

Edinburgh131

Glasgow141

Liverpool151

Sources

1
ITU E.164 – UK numbering (Ofcom allocation)
UK mobile number length and format
2
International calling codes – Canada exit code 011
Confirms Canada IDD exit code is 011

DIALING RULES

Key Dialing Rules for Calling the UK from Canada

Avoid common mistakes by keeping these UK-specific dialing rules in mind.

Always drop the leading 0

UK numbers start with 0 when dialed domestically (e.g., 020 for London, 07 for mobile). When dialing from Canada, replace that 0 with +44 or 011 44. Dialing +44 0… will result in a failed connection.

UK mobile numbers start with 7 after +44

All UK mobile numbers follow the pattern +44 7XXX XXXXXX (10 digits after the country code). Common mobile prefixes include 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, and 79.

UK area codes vary in length

UK geographic area codes can be 2 to 5 digits long (after removing the trunk 0). London uses 20, Birmingham uses 121, and smaller towns may use 4- or 5-digit codes. The area code plus local number always totals 10 digits.

Canada's exit code is 011

From a Canadian landline, you must dial 011 before the UK country code 44. On a mobile, the + symbol substitutes for the exit code. Both methods route identically through the international network.

Some UK special numbers may not work internationally

UK freephone numbers (0800, 0808) and premium-rate numbers (09XX) may not be reachable from Canada, or may incur different charges. If you need to reach a UK business, request their geographic or mobile number instead.

TIMING TIPS

Best Times to Call the UK from Canada

Canada spans six time zones while the UK observes a single zone (GMT/BST). Plan your calls to align with UK business hours or evenings depending on your purpose.

🇬🇧

The UK is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0) in winter and British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) from late March to late October. Canada and the UK switch to daylight saving on different dates — Canada moves clocks forward on the second Sunday of March, while the UK changes on the last Sunday of March — so the offset shifts briefly each spring and autumn.

Time & windows

Eastern Canada → UK

UK is 5 hours ahead (EDT/BST)

9 AM in Toronto = 2 PM in London

Central Canada → UK

UK is 6 hours ahead (CDT/BST)

8 AM in Winnipeg = 2 PM in London

Pacific Canada → UK

UK is 8 hours ahead (PDT/BST)

6 AM in Vancouver = 2 PM in London

Atlantic Canada → UK

UK is 4 hours ahead (ADT/BST)

10 AM in Halifax = 2 PM in London

🇨🇦UK business hours (9 AM–5 PM)

4 AM–12 PM Eastern / 1 AM–9 AM PacificDuring BST (late March–late October)

🇨🇦UK evening (6 PM–9 PM)

1 PM–4 PM Eastern / 10 AM–1 PM PacificGood window for personal calls

🇨🇦Overlapping business hours

9 AM–12 PM Eastern / 2 PM–5 PM UKThe most practical window for business calls from Eastern Canada

Calling tips

The 3-hour overlap between 9 AM–12 PM Eastern and 2 PM–5 PM UK time is the most productive window for business calls.
From Pacific Canada, you may need to call early morning (6–9 AM) to reach UK offices before they close.
During the brief DST transition gap (usually 2–3 weeks in March), offsets shift by one hour — double-check the current difference.
Weekday mornings UK time are generally best for reaching businesses; avoid calling during UK bank holidays.

Business etiquette

UK business culture generally favours punctuality — call at the agreed time.
If calling a UK office for the first time, a brief email introduction beforehand is common practice.
When leaving a voicemail, clearly state your name, Canadian callback number in international format (+1 …), and reason for calling.
UK business hours are typically Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5:30 PM. Many offices close early on Fridays.

Sources

1
timeanddate.com – Toronto to London time converter
Live time zone comparison

TROUBLESHOOTING

Common Issues When Calling the UK from Canada

If your call isn't connecting, check these frequent problems before redialing.

Call fails immediately after dialing

The most common cause is including the leading 0 from the UK domestic number. Dial +44 followed by the number without the 0. For example, 020 7946 0123 becomes +44 20 7946 0123.

"Number not in service" message

Verify you have the correct area code. UK area codes range from 2 to 5 digits and vary by city. A mismatched area code will route to the wrong exchange or fail entirely.

Call connects but immediately disconnects

Your Canadian carrier may not have international calling enabled by default. Check with your provider that outbound international calls are permitted on your plan.

Unable to reach a UK 0800 freephone number

Some special numbers may not work internationally. UK freephone numbers (0800/0808) are often restricted to domestic callers. Ask your UK contact for an alternative geographic or mobile number.

Poor audio quality or delays

If calling via a browser-based service like Sayfone, ensure you have a stable internet connection. Use a wired connection or strong Wi-Fi for the best experience. Close bandwidth-heavy applications during the call.

Savings

See what you could save

Adjust the tools below to compare Sayfone with typical retail pricing for calls to United Kingdom. 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 United Kingdom — 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.