Australia Phone Number Identification
How Australian business phone numbers are identified — 1300, 1800 and 13 prefixes plus Phoneword formats — and how to search numbers available now.
Identifying an Australian business phone number comes down to its prefix and its format. The published business numbers on this site are 1300 numbers, 1800 numbers and 13 numbers, each signalled by the prefix that starts the number, plus Phonewords, which present those same prefixes as a word spelled on the keypad. This page explains what each identifier tells you, and what number identification on this site can and cannot do.
What the prefixes identify
The prefix is the first thing that identifies the kind of number you are looking at:
- 1300 — a ten-digit shared-cost business number. The caller pays a local call cost and the business pays the remainder.
- 1800 — a ten-digit toll-free business number. Callers can call free in the stated Australian 1800-number context, and the business pays the call charges.
- 13 — the six-digit format described in the published FAQ, typically used by larger national companies.
A Phoneword uses any of these prefixes but identifies itself by a word: the digits after the prefix are chosen so the keypad letters spell something like a brand name. The published keypad mapping is 2 ABC, 3 DEF, 4 GHI, 5 JKL, 6 MNO, 7 PQRS, 8 TUV and 9 WXYZ — a bakery word such as BAKERY, for example, becomes 225379 on a 1300 base.
How to identify an available number
If you are trying to identify whether a business number is available rather than who owns it, the Find a Number search is the tool for the job. It lists available 1300 and 1800 Phonewords, and the published hint is to search the last six digits of the number or the word you have in mind, without the 1300 or 1800 prefix. A result shows what is listed as available today; it does not promise that a specific word or number is still available by the time you enquire.
What number identification cannot do here
This site is a business number retailer, not a directory, so there are limits worth stating plainly:
- There is no number-owner lookup. This site cannot identify who owns or operates an arbitrary Australian phone number.
- There is no carrier or network identification. The pages published here do not establish which carrier carries a given number.
- Search results are a snapshot. Availability changes, so treat any listing as a starting point and confirm with the team before relying on it.
Related reading: the Australian phone number prefix guide, Australia phone number digits, or Australian phone number examples.
Australian phone number identification questions
How can I tell a 1300 number from an 1800 number?
By the prefix. A 1300 number is a shared-cost business number, while an 1800 number is free for callers in the stated Australian 1800-number context with the business paying the call charges. Both are ten-digit numbers.
What does a Phoneword identify as?
A Phoneword is a 13, 1300 or 1800 number whose digits spell a word on the telephone keypad. It identifies a business by a memorable word rather than a string of digits.
Can I identify who owns a phone number here?
No. This site sells business numbers and lists available ones — it does not operate a directory or a number-owner lookup for arbitrary numbers.
How do I check if a number is available?
Use the Find a Number search with the last six digits or the word you want. Results reflect the current available listing and are confirmed with the team before connection.
Identify your number
Find the number your business will use
Search available 1300 and 1800 Phonewords, or ask the team about the format that suits your business.