About the Random Phone Number Generator
What is a random phone number generator?
A random phone number generator makes fake phone numbers for test data, forms and examples.
Our generator builds each number from the numbering rules in Google's libphonenumber, the phone number library that Android uses. Every realistic number is valid for its country and type, and it's written the way that country writes it.
The generator also makes fictional numbers. The US, Canada, the UK and Australia each reserve numbers that aren't given to any phone line, which makes them the safe choice for a book, a show or an ad.
What should you know before you use a random phone number?
- Realistic numbers can belong to someone. A number that is valid for its country may be in service, so never call or text one. Use Fictional for anything that will be published.
- Realistic numbers pass libphonenumber. Across all 244 countries and territories, libphonenumber reads each number as valid, with the same country, type and formatting the generator shows.
- US and Canadian area codes are in service. Each one comes from the area codes of its state or province. In realistic numbers, the three digits after it are never 555 or a service code such as 911 or 411.
- No number is longer than 15 digits. That is the limit in E.164, the international numbering standard, and it counts the country code.
- Nothing you type leaves your device. The numbers are made in the page, and the checker runs there too.
How do you generate random phone numbers?
- Pick a country. Choose Any country for a mix from around the world.
- Choose Realistic or Fictional. Fictional works for the US, Canada, the UK and Australia.
- Set the type and area. Pick mobile, landline or toll-free, and for the US and Canada a state or province and an area code.
- Generate, then copy or download. Ask for up to 10,000 numbers in a format such as E.164 or CSV.
Which phone numbers are fictional?
Fictional phone numbers are numbers a numbering authority reserves for films, TV and other fiction. NANPA, Ofcom and ACMA publish them for four countries, and the generator's Fictional setting uses only these.
Phone numbers reserved for fiction in four countries
| Country | Reserved numbers | Reserved by |
|---|
| United States and Canada | 555-0100 to 555-0199 in every area code except toll-free ones, such as (212) 555-0123 | NANPA |
| United Kingdom | Landlines such as 020 7946 0000 to 0999 in London and 0161 496 0000 to 0999 in Manchester, mobiles 07700 900000 to 900999, and freephone 08081 570000 to 570999 | Ofcom |
| Australia | Landlines (02), (03), (07) and (08) 5550 xxxx and 7010 xxxx, 30 listed mobile numbers such as 0491 570 006, and 11 freephone and local rate numbers such as 1800 160 401 | ACMA |
Google's libphonenumber reports three of Ofcom's ranges as invalid, 07700 900xxx, 01632 960xxx and 0115 496 0xxx. A form that checks numbers with libphonenumber rejects them, so pick another UK range when a test has to pass validation.
Why do fake phone numbers start with 555?
Fake US phone numbers use 555 because the 555 exchange was traditionally used only for directory assistance, at 555-1212.
Phone companies were steering TV and film producers to 555 by the 1960s. In 2016 the industry's numbering committee ended the 555 assignment rules with the FCC's approval, and the unused 555 numbers went back to NANPA, which runs the North American numbering plan.
Only 555-0100 to 555-0199 stay reserved for films, TV and ads, so a number such as 555-2368 is not guaranteed to be fictional. Toll-free numbers aren't covered either, so (800) 555-0199 can belong to someone.
What makes a phone number valid?
A valid phone number has the right length and the right starting digits for its country.
In the US and Canada that means a 3-digit area code in service, then 7 digits that start with 2 to 9, for 10 digits in all.
Our phone number checker applies libphonenumber's rules, so a number it calls valid also passes forms that use libphonenumber. It also flags numbers that libphonenumber accepts but no phone company can issue, such as one with 911 as its middle three digits.
How are phone numbers written?
The same phone number is written differently for people in the country, for people abroad and for software. The table shows four of the formats the generator offers, with two fictional numbers.
Phone number formats with a US and a UK example
| Format | US example | UK example | Used for |
|---|
| National | (212) 555-0123 | 020 7946 0123 | Dialing within the country |
| International | +1 212 555 0123 | +44 20 7946 0123 | Printing a number for readers abroad |
| E.164 | +12125550123 | +442079460123 | Databases, APIs and text message services |
| tel: link | tel:+12125550123 | tel:+442079460123 | Tap-to-call links in a web page |
The 0 at the start of a UK or Australian national number is a trunk prefix, used only for calls within the country. It is dropped after the country code, so 020 7946 0123 becomes +44 20 7946 0123, never +44 020 7946 0123. A tel: link takes the E.164 form.
Common mistakes
These mistakes with random phone numbers are easy to make and easy to avoid.
- A UK number reads +44 07700 900123. The trunk 0 is only dialed inside the UK, so it doesn't belong after the country code. Drop it and write +44 7700 900123.
- Numbers lose their + or leading 0 in a spreadsheet. Excel reads +12125550123 and 07700900123 as plain numbers. Import the columns as text, or use the JSON output.
- A number printed in a demo gets real calls. Realistic numbers can be in service. Switch to Fictional for books, videos, ads and demos.
Common Use Cases
People use random phone numbers wherever they need a real-looking number without a real person behind it.
- Testing forms. Check that a sign-up or checkout form accepts numbers from many countries and in every format.
- Sample data. Fill a database, a spreadsheet or a demo with CSV or JSON rows that carry the country, type and area.
- Scripts, books and ads. Print a fictional number that won't ring anyone.
- Validation code. Compare your own phone number checks with numbers that libphonenumber accepts.
For US ZIP codes to go with the numbers, use the Random ZIP Code Generator, and to read a long CSV of numbers in a table, use the CSV Viewer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are random phone numbers real?
Realistic random phone numbers can be real, because a number valid for its country may belong to someone. Fictional numbers from the US, Canada, the UK and Australia are reserved, so they never reach a real person.
What is a valid US dummy phone number?
A number such as (212) 555-0123 is a valid dummy, because NANPA reserves 555-0100 to 555-0199 for fiction. Numbers in that range pass libphonenumber with nearly every US area code.
Is 555-0100 a real number?
No, 555-0100 is fictional with any US or Canadian area code except a toll-free one. NANPA reserves 555-0100 through 555-0199 for films, TV and ads, so none of them reach a phone.
Which UK phone numbers are safe to use in fiction?
Ofcom's drama numbers are safe, such as 020 7946 0123 for London or 07700 900123 for a mobile. Ofcom does not give these ranges to any phone company.
Is every +1 phone number from the US?
No, the US shares +1 with Canada and 23 other countries and territories. The area code after +1 tells them apart, so +1 416 is Toronto, Canada.
How many phone numbers can you generate at once?
Our generator makes up to 10,000 phone numbers at a time. With No repeats on, a small range gives you every number it has, such as all 30 of Australia's fictional mobile numbers.
The number patterns and formats come from Google's libphonenumber metadata, as packaged in libphonenumber-js 1.13.14 (Apache License 2.0). US and Canadian area codes are those in service in each state and province that libphonenumber accepts.