Format phone numbers in text
Stay organized with collections
Save and categorize content based on your preferences.
This page describes how to use and format phone numbers in technical documentation. This page
doesn't provide guidance on how to enter or use phone numbers in Google or third-party products.
If you need information about entering phone numbers in a specific product, consult the
product documentation or contact product support.
Use example phone numbers
Most phone numbers in our documentation are examples. To show an example phone number, use a US
number in the range 800‑555‑0100 through 800‑555‑0199. That range is
reserved for use in examples and in fiction.
Never use a real phone number in examples.
To ensure that a phone number is displayed on the same line, use a nonbreaking hyphen
(‑) where appropriate in HTML or Markdown.
HTML
415‑555‑0132
Markdown
415‑555‑0132
Format North American phone numbers
To format a real phone number in the US, Canada, and other NANP
(North American Numbering Plan) countries, use a nonbreaking hyphen to separate the area code,
three-digit exchange code, and four-digit number.
Recommended: 415‑555‑0132
Format international phone numbers
To format a real phone number in non-NANP countries, include the country and area
codes. Insert a plus sign
immediately before the country code (no space); the plus sign stands in for a
prefix known as an exit code, which lets you dial out of a country. Each
country has a different exit code.
For more information, see the ITU document about
standardized formatting for phone numbers.
Recommended: +1‑415‑555‑0132
Format phone numbers that include an extension
To specify a phone extension, follow the phone number with the word extension, and then
specify the extension number.
Recommended: 415‑555‑0132, extension 987
Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, and code samples are licensed under the Apache 2.0 License. For details, see the Google Developers Site Policies. Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.
Last updated 2025-04-17 UTC.
[null,null,["Last updated 2025-04-17 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eThis guide provides formatting instructions for phone numbers in technical documentation, using HTML or Markdown.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eUse non-breaking spaces and hyphens (\u003ccode\u003e \u003c/code\u003e, \u003ccode\u003e‑\u003c/code\u003e) to ensure phone numbers are displayed on a single line.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eFor example phone numbers, utilize the reserved range (800) 555‑0100 through (800) 555‑0199 and avoid real numbers.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eAdhere to specific formatting guidelines for North American and international phone numbers, including country and area codes when applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eWhen including extensions, follow the phone number with the word "extension" and the corresponding number.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],["Technical documentation should use example US phone numbers within the 800-555-0100 to 800-555-0199 range, avoiding real numbers. Format numbers using nonbreaking hyphens (‑) in HTML/Markdown. For North American numbers, separate area code, exchange code, and number with nonbreaking hyphens. For international numbers, prefix the country code with a plus sign (+). Include extensions after the number, preceded by the word \"extension.\"\n"],null,["# Format phone numbers in text\n\nThis page describes how to use and format phone numbers in technical documentation. This page\ndoesn't provide guidance on how to enter or use phone numbers in Google or third-party products.\nIf you need information about entering phone numbers in a specific product, consult the\nproduct documentation or contact product support.\n\nUse example phone numbers\n-------------------------\n\nMost phone numbers in our documentation are examples. To show an example phone number, use a US\nnumber in the range 800‑555‑0100 through 800‑555‑0199. That range is\nreserved for use in examples and in fiction.\n\nNever use a real phone number in examples.\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nFormat phone numbers in HTML or Markdown\n----------------------------------------\n\nTo ensure that a phone number is displayed on the same line, use a nonbreaking hyphen\n(`‑`) where appropriate in HTML or Markdown. \n\n### Example\n\n415‑555‑0132\n\n### HTML\n\n`415‑555‑0132`\n\n### Markdown\n\n`415‑555‑0132`\n\nFormat North American phone numbers\n-----------------------------------\n\nTo format a real phone number in the US, Canada, and other [NANP](https://wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Numbering_Plan)\n(North American Numbering Plan) countries, use a nonbreaking hyphen to separate the area code,\nthree-digit exchange code, and four-digit number.\n\nRecommended: 415‑555‑0132\n\nFormat international phone numbers\n----------------------------------\n\nTo format a real phone number in non-NANP countries, include the country and area\ncodes. Insert a plus sign\nimmediately before the country code (no space); the plus sign stands in for a\nprefix known as an *exit code*, which lets you dial out of a country. Each\ncountry has a different exit code.\n\nFor more information, see the [ITU document about\nstandardized formatting for phone numbers](https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-E.123-200102-I/en).\n\nRecommended: +1‑415‑555‑0132\n\nFormat phone numbers that include an extension\n----------------------------------------------\n\nTo specify a phone extension, follow the phone number with the word *extension*, and then\nspecify the extension number.\n\nRecommended: 415‑555‑0132, extension 987"]]
