What Are 0845 Numbers and Should Your Business Use One?

0845 numbers are UK non-geographic service numbers. Calling them usually means paying two parts: an Access Charge set by your phone provider and a Service Charge of up to 7p per minute set by the business, so they can cost more than standard 01 or 02 numbers.

That sounds simple enough until you try to work out what it means in real life. A caller wants to know, “Will this cost me extra?” A small business owner wants to know, “Does this number still make sense, or am I putting people off before they even speak to us?” Both questions matter because the value of a phone number isn't just how it looks on a website. It's whether people feel comfortable using it.

Introduction

An 0845 number is a UK non-geographic service number. That means it isn't tied to a city or town in the way a normal 01 or 02 number is, and callers pay a two-part charge made up of a Service Charge and an Access Charge, which can make it more expensive than a standard geographic call.

If you run a small business, the easiest way to think about it is this: an 0845 number works a bit like a national PO Box for calls. Customers ring one number, and you can route that call wherever you need it to go. That flexibility was a big reason these numbers became popular after the 0845 prefix was introduced in 1996, replacing older 0345 and 0645 ranges that had been set up in the 1980s, as outlined in this history of 0845 numbers in the UK.

The confusion starts because many people still remember 0845 numbers being described as “local rate”. That language belongs to an older phone-pricing world. Today, what matters is the actual charging model, the rules around customer service use, and whether the number helps or hurts trust when someone is deciding whether to call you.

Practical rule: If a caller has to stop and wonder what your number will cost, that hesitation can become a missed enquiry.

What Exactly Is an 0845 Number?

An 0845 number is a non-geographic inbound service number. “Non-geographic” means it doesn't point to a specific place like London, Manchester, Cardiff, or Glasgow.

Why businesses used them

For years, 0845 numbers gave organisations one national contact number instead of separate local lines. According to this explanation of how 0845 numbers work as UK-wide inbound service numbers, they're used exclusively for inbound calls, they aren't tied to a city or region, and they can represent a single contact point across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

That's useful if your calls need to ring on different mobiles, desk phones, or locations. A plumbing firm with engineers on the road, for example, might want one advertised number even if calls ultimately route to different people during the day.

What non-geographic really means

A standard 01 or 02 number tells people something about location. An 020 number signals London. A 0161 number signals Manchester. An 0845 number doesn't do that.

Think of it as a front door that isn't attached to one building. The customer uses the same entrance, but behind that entrance you can send the call where it needs to go.

That flexibility still has limits:

• Inbound only: These numbers are used for receiving calls, not as a normal outbound identity in the same way a standard local number might be used.
• Routable: Calls can be diverted to a landline or mobile.
• Less useful internationally: They're not reliably callable from outside the UK, which can be a problem if you deal with overseas customers.

Why the old “local rate” label confuses people

0845 numbers were once marketed as “local rate” or “lo-call”. That made sense in an older landline market. It doesn't describe modern pricing well.

The label survived long after the pricing model changed, which is why so many callers still assume 0845 and 0345 mean roughly the same thing. They don't.

For a small business owner, that misunderstanding matters. A number can be technically convenient but still create friction if callers think it looks costly, formal, or dated.

How Much Does Calling an 0845 Number Cost?

This is the part that often causes confusion, because the total price isn't one single rate.

The simple formula

Total call cost = Access Charge + Service Charge

That two-part model has applied since 2015. Under the charging structure described in this guide to 0845 call charges and the access plus service charge model, the Access Charge is set by the caller's phone provider and can range from about 13p per minute on landlines to up to 65p per minute on mobiles. The Service Charge is set by the business being called and is capped at 7p per minute or 7p per call.

The same source says the total is typically between 7p and 52p per minute, with some mobile calls reaching as high as 72p per minute when the highest access and service charges are combined.

An easy way to picture it

Use a concert ticket analogy.

You pay the ticket price for the event itself. Then you pay a booking fee charged by the seller. The final cost is both added together. An 0845 call works in a similar way. One part relates to the number you're calling. The other part comes from the network you use to place the call.

That's why two callers can ring the same 0845 number and pay different amounts.

Why callers get caught out

Many callers still assume phone charges should be straightforward. They expect either “included in my minutes” or “a normal call”. 0845 numbers don't fit neatly into that mental model.

The pain point is usually mobile cost. A landline caller and a mobile caller may have very different experiences. If your customers are mostly mobile-first, that difference matters more than the old benefits of a non-geographic number.

What a business owner should take from this

If you use an 0845 number, you're asking callers to understand a charging model they never chose to learn. That creates hesitation.

If you need to compare how call handling and minute-based setups work more broadly, fonea's pricing and minutes guide is useful reading. The main practical point is simpler: if your phone number adds friction before the conversation even starts, it can reduce the value of every marketing channel that sends people to call you.

0845 vs 0345 vs 0800 Which Number Is Right for You?

For most small businesses, this decision comes down to one thing: how easy does your number feel to call?

UK Business Number Comparison 0845 vs 0345 vs 0800

Why 0345 became the practical replacement

According to this explanation of why businesses moved from 0845 to 0345 numbers, 0345 numbers are legally required to be charged at the same rate as standard 01/02 numbers and must be included in inclusive minute bundles, while 0845 calls are typically excluded from free minutes and are perceived as business-rate or premium by callers.

That single difference explains most of the market shift.

A 0345 number keeps the non-geographic national feel without forcing the caller to decode a more awkward pricing structure. For many organisations, it does the same branding job with less resistance.

Where 0800 fits

An 0800 number removes the caller's cost question completely. That can be attractive for sales lines, first-contact enquiries, and audiences that are especially price-sensitive.

If you're weighing that route, this article on 0800 numbers for businesses is a helpful next read.

If your customer is comparing two businesses and one looks free to call while the other looks chargeable, the cheaper-looking option starts with an advantage.

A simple decision rule

Choose based on the kind of reassurance your callers need.

• Choose 0845 only if you've got a very specific reason and you've checked the compliance position for your use case.
• Choose 0345 if you want a national number without extra caller friction.
• Choose 0800 if removing call-cost anxiety is part of winning the enquiry.
• Choose a geographic 01 or 02 number if local identity matters more than national presentation.

For most SMBs, 0845 numbers now carry more downside than upside. They can still function. They just don't make the calling decision easier for the customer.

Should Your Business Keep an 0845 Number in 2026?

If you already have one, the fundamental question isn't “Can I keep it?” It's “What does it cost me in trust, compliance, and missed opportunities?”

The biggest regulatory issue

You can't treat an 0845 number like an all-purpose customer support line. As explained in this summary of Ofcom-related rules on using 0845 numbers for business, 0845 numbers are not allowed for post-sales customer service lines. Their use is limited to areas such as pre-sales information, booking services, or event ticketing, while still allowing non-geographic routing to landlines or mobiles.

That's a major practical limit for any business that handles follow-up calls, complaints, changes, warranty questions, or existing customer support.

Why the business case has weakened

The original appeal was straightforward. One national number. Flexible routing. A number that didn't tie the business to one town.

Those benefits still exist, but the trade-off is harder to justify now. Customers are more likely to call from mobiles. They're more aware of chargeable business numbers. And many buyers interpret unusual number prefixes as a warning sign, even when the business itself is legitimate.

A realistic pros and cons check

Reasons some businesses keep 0845 numbers

• Legacy familiarity: Existing customers may already know the number.
• National image: It doesn't tie you to one local area.
• Routing flexibility: Calls can still be redirected where needed.

Reasons many businesses move away

• Caller hesitation: People may assume the call will cost extra.
• Support restrictions: You can't use it freely for post-sales service.
• Mobile-first audience: A lot of your callers won't be using a landline.
• Perception problem: The number can feel dated or less transparent.

A phone number isn't just a telecom choice. It's part of the customer experience.

A simple three-step migration mindset

If you're unsure, don't think of this as a dramatic telecom overhaul. Think of it as reducing friction.

1. Audit how the number is used now. Is it for enquiries, support, bookings, or all three? 2. Choose the replacement based on customer behaviour. National but low-friction usually points to 0345. Cost-free calling may point to 0800. 3. Run a managed transition. Keep the old number reachable for a period while updating your website, vans, directories, and email signatures.

If constant coverage matters during that change, this piece on 24/7 call answering for small businesses shows why the bigger risk is often not the prefix itself, but the call that goes unanswered.

How to Switch from an 0845 Number and What to Use

Changing number strategy sounds technical. In practice, it's usually a business communication project more than a telecom one.

Pick the right replacement first

Most small businesses choosing a modern replacement end up deciding between:

• 0345, if they want a national number without the chargeable-image problem.
• 0800, if they want to remove caller cost completely.
• 01 or 02, if local trust is a stronger selling point than national branding.

That last point matters for trades, home services, clinics, and other businesses where sounding local can help.

Make the switch in stages

A smooth move usually looks like this:

1. Choose the new number and routing setup. 2. Keep the old number live during a transition period if possible. 3. Update every public touchpoint, including your website, invoices, printed materials, social profiles, and directory listings. 4. Tell existing customers directly, especially if they call you regularly.

A practical clue about changing expectations comes from public services. The UK government's call charges guidance notes a broader shift in expectations around non-geographic charging, and it's notable that NHS Direct closed its 0845 number in 2014 and replaced it with free 111, as reflected in this government information on call charges and number types.

Don't ignore the answering problem

Many businesses spend time debating the perfect number and very little time on what happens after the call starts. A cheaper, friendlier number only helps if someone answers.

Whatever number a business uses, it only wins work if calls are answered. An AI receptionist like fonea answers every call to any of your numbers, 24/7, instead of letting them ring out, and it can be set up in hours. If you want to see how that fits your budget, the pricing page lays it out clearly.

Frequently Asked Questions About 0845 Numbers

Are 0845 numbers ever free to call?

Sometimes they may be included on some plans, but that isn't consistent across providers. The practical answer for callers is simple: check your provider before you call rather than assuming it will be included like a normal 01, 02, or 03 number.

Can I call an 0845 number from outside the UK?

Not reliably. As noted earlier, 0845 numbers are mainly designed for UK inbound use, so they're a poor fit if overseas callers need a dependable way to reach you.

Are 0845 numbers premium rate?

They're often treated or classified alongside higher-charge service numbers, even though they are more accurately described as business rate rather than premium rate in the traditional sense. Consequently, some systems and guidance treat them more cautiously, as explained in this overview of how UK non-geographic numbers are classified.

Can a small business still get an 0845 number?

Yes, but that doesn't mean it's the best choice. Most SMBs are better served by a number that feels easier and more transparent to call.

If you want quick answers on call handling, setup, and practical use cases, fonea's FAQ page is a good place to start.

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Whatever number you use, missed calls still cost business. fonea gives small and medium-sized businesses an always-on phone presence with a multilingual AI receptionist that answers instantly, handles routine customer service, books appointments, qualifies leads, and supports human teams instead of replacing them. It's a practical way to make sure every call to your 0845, 0345, 0800, or local number gets answered properly.