How to Call a Number With Letters? Steps for iPhone & Android

A phone number with letters, often called a vanity number, is a number that includes letters to spell out a word, phrase, or brand name instead of using only digits. These numbers are designed to be memorable and easy to recognize, helping businesses create stronger brand recall.

For example, companies often use vanity numbers like 1-800-FLOWERS or 1-888-CONTACTS. When customers see these numbers, they instantly associate them with the business or service, making it easier to remember and dial later.

Each letter in a vanity number corresponds to a specific digit on a standard phone keypad, as shown below:

Using this mapping, you can easily convert any letter-based number into its numeric equivalent.

In short, you just match each letter to its corresponding number on your phone’s keypad. When you press the lettered keys, your phone automatically enters the numeric digits that those letters represent.

You can simply use the dialpad to type the corresponding numbers for each letter or reference the Notes app to copy-paste the number. Alternatively, you can use voice commands with Siri or Google Assistant for a hands-free solution. Moreover, there are online letter-to-number converters available that can instantly translate vanity numbers into their numeric form for easy dialing.

Both iPhones and Android phones display letters under each number on the keypad. Use these to convert the letters in the phone number to digits.

Here’s how to enter letters on a phone keypad for calls:

1. Open the Phone app on your device.
2. Tap the Dial Pad (the keypad icon).
3. Type the number exactly as shown.
4. As you tap each letter, the keypad automatically enters the corresponding numbers.
5. Press the Call button to place the call.

If you’re unsure of the letter-to-number conversion, you can use your phone’s Notes or text app.

Here’s how to call a number with letters with the help of Notes on your device:

1. Open your Notes app (or any text editor).
2. Type the number with letters.
3. Select the phone number and copy it.
4. Open your phone’s dialer and paste the number. Your phone will automatically convert the letters to numbers.
5. Tap the Call icon.

You can also use voice commands to make the process even faster. Both Siri (on iPhones) and Google Assistant (on Android) can dial vanity numbers directly.

For iPhone (Siri):

1. Activate Siri by saying, “Hey Siri.”
2. Then say, “Call 1-800-FLOWERS.”
3. Siri will automatically convert and dial the correct number.

For Android (Google Assistant):

1. Activate the assistant by saying, “Hey Google.”
2. Then say, “Call 1-800-FLOWERS.”
3. The assistant will identify the number and place the call for you.

If you prefer not to figure out the letter-to-number conversion manually, using an online converter tool is a quick and accurate solution. These tools instantly translate letters into their numeric equivalents based on a standard phone keypad layout.

Here’s how to use an online converter:

1. Open your browser (Safari or Chrome).
2. Search for “phone number letter to number converter.”
3. Select any reliable tool from the search results.
4. Type or paste the vanity number (for example, 1-800-CONTACTS) into the conversion box.
5. The tool will instantly display the numeric version of the number.
6. Copy the converted number, open your phone’s dialer, and press Call.

When dialing a number with letters, avoid common mistakes like misinterpreting the letter-to-number mapping, overlooking keypad variations, or including unnecessary spaces and special characters. Also, ensure you convert the entire vanity number and double-check for any similar-looking letters or numbers.

1. Misinterpreting the Letters: Many people mistakenly assume that the letters correspond directly to their position in the alphabet (e.g., A = 1, B = 2). However, phone numbers use a standard alphanumeric mapping.
2. Overlooking Keypad Variation or a Customized Dialer App: Not all dialer apps or keypads are the same. Some may have a different layout or custom settings that do not follow the standard alphanumeric mapping. Double-check your device's keypad to ensure it matches the standard.
3. Using Special Characters or Spaces: Dashes and spaces in toll-free numbers are used for visual clarity only. So, when dialing a toll-free phone number with letters, ignore them. For example, a number like 1-800-FLOWERS should be dialed as 18003569377.
4. Mixing Up Letters and Numbers: It’s easy to confuse letters that look similar to numbers, such as the letter O and the number 0, the letter I and the number 1. Always double-check your typing before pressing the call button to make sure the digits match the intended word.
5. Entering an Incomplete Vanity Number: Sometimes people convert only part of the number and forget to replace every letter with its corresponding digit. For instance, typing only “FLOWERS” instead of “1-800-FLOWERS” will result in an incomplete number. Always convert and enter the full sequence before placing your call.

Calling a number with letters is simpler than it seems once you understand the letter-to-number mapping on your phone’s keypad. By converting each letter to its corresponding digit, you can easily dial numbers like 1-800-FLOWERS or 1-800-PIZZA without errors. Just remember to avoid common mistakes, such as misreading letters, including spaces or special characters, or entering an incomplete sequence.