The basic structure
A Canadian number is ten digits in the pattern NXX-NXX-XXXX. Here N is any digit from 2 to 9 and X is any digit from 0 to 9. The first three digits are the area code, the next three are the exchange code and the last four are the line number.
Two practical consequences of this rule: area codes and exchange codes never begin with 0 or 1, and codes of the form N11 (such as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, 811 and 911) are reserved for special services and are not used as normal area or exchange codes.
Common ways to write a Canadian number
| Style | Example | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| E.164 (international, no spaces) | +14165550123 | Databases, APIs, SMS services |
| International with spaces | +1 416 555 0123 | Print, websites, business cards |
| National with brackets | (416) 555-0123 | Forms and display in North America |
| National with dashes | 416-555-0123 | Informal use, text messages |
| Dotted | 416.555.0123 | Design and branding |
| Long-distance dialling | 1-416-555-0123 | Dialling from a landline within North America |
What is E.164?
E.164 is the international standard for phone numbers. It starts with a plus sign, followed by the country code and the national number, with no spaces, brackets or dashes, and with a maximum of 15 digits. For Canada that is always +1 followed by ten digits.
Store phone numbers in E.164 and format them only when displaying. This avoids duplicates such as "416-555-0123" and "(416) 555 0123" being treated as different numbers.
Do you need to dial 1 first?
For long-distance calls inside Canada and the US, landline users historically dial 1 before the area code. On mobile phones the leading 1 is usually optional. When dialling from another country, you drop the 1 as a trunk prefix and use the full international form: your country's exit code, then 1, then the ten digits, or simply +1 on a mobile.
Ten-digit dialling
Because of overlay area codes, you generally must include the area code for every call, even to a neighbour. This is called ten-digit dialling. Forms that ask for a local seven-digit number are out of date.
Extensions
Business lines often have an extension. Common styles are +1 416 555 0123 ext. 204 and 416-555-0123 x204. Store the extension in a separate field rather than inside the number, because E.164 does not include extensions.
Common mistakes
- Storing numbers with formatting characters, which makes searching and de-duplication difficult
- Assuming the first digit after +1 can be 0 or 1
- Forgetting that +1 is shared with the US, so a +1 number is not necessarily Canadian
- Limiting the input field to 10 characters and cutting off users who type +1 or brackets
- Rejecting valid numbers because of a spacing or dash style you did not expect
Where to go next
Learn how to check these rules in code in our validation guide, or browse area codes by province on the area codes page.