Phone Number Formatter
Paste a list of phone numbers or open a CSV and get every number in one consistent format: E.164 for CRMs and SMS tools, international, national or tel: links. Each number is validated against Google's libphonenumber rules for its country, with invalid and duplicate numbers flagged.
Last updated:
Loading phone number metadata…
How to use the Phone Number Formatter
- Paste your phone numbers, one per line, or open a CSV file that has a phone column.
- Choose the default country used for numbers written without a country code, such as United States (+1).
- Pick the output format: E.164 for databases and SMS tools, international for display, national for local use, or tel: links for websites.
- Decide what happens to invalid numbers: keep the original text, leave the cell empty or write INVALID.
- Copy or download the formatted list, or for CSV input download the file with the formatted column added.
One number in every output format
| Format | US example | UK example | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| E.164 | +12015550123 | +441212345678 | Databases, CRMs, SMS and messaging APIs |
| International | +1 201 555 0123 | +44 121 234 5678 | Websites, email signatures, business cards for a global audience |
| National | (201) 555-0123 | 0121 234 5678 | Lists used only inside one country |
| tel: link (RFC 3966) | tel:+1-201-555-0123 | tel:+44-121-234-5678 | <a href> click-to-call links on web pages |
| Digits only | 12015550123 | 441212345678 | Systems that reject the plus sign; WhatsApp wa.me links |
How local numbers are converted
- Remove formatting: spaces, dots, dashes, brackets and the "(0)" sometimes written in international numbers are dropped.
- Find the country: a leading +, 00 or 011 means the next digits are the country code (1 to 3 digits). Otherwise the default country is used.
- Drop the trunk prefix: the national dialing prefix (0 in the UK, Germany, France, India, Australia; 1 in the US and Canada) is not part of the international number, so 07400 123456 becomes 7400 123456. Italy is an exception: its leading 0 is kept.
- Validate the remaining national number against the country's length and number-range rules, and detect its type.
Tips for clean contact lists
- Store E.164, display national. Save numbers in E.164 so every system can read them, and format them for people only when showing them.
- Numbers buried in text? Pull them out of emails, PDFs or notes first with Extract Phone Numbers, then format them here.
- Tidy the rest of the file (stray spaces, empty rows, duplicate records) with the CSV Cleaner, and look up dialing codes in the Country Codes List.
Frequently asked questions
What is the E.164 phone number format?
E.164 is the international numbering standard of the ITU. An E.164 number starts with a plus sign followed by the country code and the national number, with no spaces, dashes, brackets or trunk zero, and has at most 15 digits. For example, the US number (201) 555-0123 becomes +12015550123 and the UK number 0121 234 5678 becomes +441212345678. Most CRMs, SMS gateways and messaging APIs expect this format.
How does the formatter know the country of a local number?
Numbers that start with + or an international prefix (00, or 011 from the US and Canada) carry their own country code. Numbers without one are read as local numbers of the default country you choose, so 07400 123456 with United Kingdom selected becomes +447400123456. Pick the country your list mostly comes from.
What is the difference between valid and possible?
A possible number has a plausible length for its country. A valid number also matches the ranges that are actually assigned by that country's numbering plan, for example a real area code or mobile prefix. Possible-but-not-valid numbers are shown in amber; tick Treat possible numbers as invalid to reject them.
Does valid mean the phone number is in service?
No. Validation checks the number against each country's numbering plan, so it tells you the number could exist and what type it is. It cannot tell whether a specific line is connected or who owns it; that requires a paid carrier lookup.
Can I format a phone column in a CSV file?
Yes. Open the CSV (or paste it with its header row). The phone column is detected from its name, such as Phone or Mobile, and you can change it. Download CSV then returns your original file with a formatted column and a status column added next to it, or with the original column replaced.
Which library is used for validation?
The tool uses libphonenumber-js, a JavaScript port of Google's libphonenumber with its full metadata, loaded into your browser. If that file cannot be downloaded (for example because of a content blocker), a basic mode checks country codes and lengths for 60 common countries instead, and the status line says so.
Are my phone numbers uploaded?
No. Parsing and formatting happen entirely in your browser; the numbers are never sent to a server.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.