Directory enquiries in the UK
Directory enquiries services find a phone number for you when you know the name of the person or business. In the UK they all use numbers beginning 118, and they can be some of the most expensive calls you'll make.
Before you dial one, it's worth knowing the free alternatives, and the fact that no directory service can look up an unlisted mobile number.
What 118 numbers cost
118 calls are charged at a premium. Ofcom limits how much they can cost, currently a maximum of £3.65 for every 90 seconds, but that is still far more than a normal call. Some services also charge to connect you to the number they find. The price must be stated at the start of the call, so listen for it and hang up if it's more than you want to pay.
Free ways to find a number
- For a business: its own website, usually on the Contact page, or its listing on a map app.
- For your bank, energy supplier or council: your card, a bill or a letter. These are the safest numbers to use.
- For a person with a listed landline: the online phone book from your landline provider. Mobiles aren't listed.
- If you have a disability that makes using a phone book difficult: ask your landline provider whether it offers free directory enquiries for disabled customers.
Directory enquiries in reverse
Directory enquiries starts with a name and finds the number. If you already have a number and want to know who it belongs to, you need the opposite: a reverse phone lookup. It shows what kind of line the number is, where it's registered and what other people say about the caller, free of charge.
Watch out for look-alike numbers
Searching online for a company's phone number sometimes turns up "call connection" services that put you through for a hefty fee. If the number starts with 118 or 09, or the website isn't the company's own, look for the official number instead.
Common questions
What number is directory enquiries in the UK?
There isn't a single one. Several companies run directory enquiries, and all their numbers start with 118.
How much do 118 calls cost?
They're premium-rate calls. Ofcom caps them at £3.65 per 90 seconds, and some services add a charge to connect you.
Can directory enquiries find a mobile number?
Generally not. There's no public directory of UK mobile numbers.
Is there a free directory enquiries service?
Online phone books and company websites are free. Some landline providers offer free directory enquiries to customers who find a printed directory hard to use because of a disability.
How do I find out who a phone number belongs to?
That's a reverse lookup rather than directory enquiries. Search the number on our reverse phone lookup to see its type, location and caller reports.