What a tel: link is
A tel: link is a web link that dials a phone number instead of opening a page. On a phone, tapping it opens the dialler with the number in, ready to call. On a computer it opens a calling app, like FaceTime, Teams or Skype, if one is set up.
On a website it's an ordinary link with tel: in place of https://. Our tool writes it like this: <a href="tel:+442079460123">Call us</a>.
Why use the E.164 format
E.164 is the international phone number format: a +, the country code, then the number without its leading 0, with no spaces. +44 20 7946 0123 becomes +442079460123. It has 15 digits at most.
A number in this format dials correctly from any country, so a visitor abroad, or with a phone on another network, still gets through. Local formats like 020 7946 0123 only work from inside the same country.
- UK: 020 7946 0123 → +442079460123
- US: (555) 010-0199 → +15550100199
- France: 01 23 45 67 89 → +33123456789
- Italy keeps its 0: 06 1234 5678 → +390612345678
Extensions
To reach an extension, the link adds a comma and the extension: tel:+442079460123,204. The comma tells the phone to pause for about two seconds after the call connects, then dial 204.
Phones handle this well, but if your phone menu takes longer to answer, add another comma for a longer pause. Test it on your own phone first.
Where click-to-call links help
Most people visiting a local business on a phone want to call:
- The header and contact page of your website, as a Call us button.
- Your link-in-bio page, beside WhatsApp and email.
- Email signatures, so a tap on the phone number dials it.
- Flyers and signs, as a QR code that starts the call.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a phone number clickable in HTML?
Wrap it in a link with tel: and the number in international format: <a href="tel:+15550100199">Call us</a>. The tool writes the code for you.
Should a tel: link include the country code?
Yes. Use + and the country code, and drop the leading 0, so the link works from any country and any network.
Can I add spaces or dashes to a tel: link?
Phones usually ignore them, but the safest link has digits only after the +. Put the friendly, spaced-out number in the link text instead.
How do I add an extension to a tel: link?
Add a comma and the extension after the number, like tel:+15550100199,204. The phone pauses after connecting, then dials the extension.
What happens when someone clicks a tel: link on a computer?
The computer asks which app to use, like FaceTime on a Mac or Teams on Windows. If none is set up, nothing happens, so show the number as text too.