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

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

Q: How to Dial Letters on an Android Phone?

To dial letters on an Android phone, simply convert the letters into their corresponding digits based on the standard alphanumeric mapping (e.g., P = 7, L = 5). Then, enter the number into the dialer app and press the call button.

Daniel Andrews

4 min read28 May, 2025

Have you ever come across phone numbers like 1-800-FLOWERS or 1-800-PIZZA? These are called vanity phone numbers. They’re designed to be memorable by using letters instead of numbers. But if you’ve tried dialing them, you’ll find it tricky since your phone’s keypad is primarily set up for numbers.

Don’t worry, dialing these numbers is easier than it looks! You can dial a phone number with letters by aligning the letters with the numbers in your dialpad.

In this blog, we’ll guide you on how to call numbers with letters on iPhone, so that you never struggle with alphanumeric phone numbers again.

Key Highlights:

Vanity phone numbers use letters for easy memorability, but dialing them requires understanding the letter-to-number mapping.
Each number from 2 to 9 on your keypad corresponds to a set of letters (e.g., 2 = A, B, C; 3 = D, E, F).
You can use your dialpad to map the numbers, use the notes to copy, or use your digital assistant for voice command to dial the number with letters.
To avoid mistakes when dialing numbers with letters, do not misinterpret the letters and ignore spaces and special characters.

How to Dial Phone Numbers with Letters? [On iPhone & Android]

Understanding the Letter to Number Mapping on Dial Pad

Each number on the phone keypad 2 to 9 maps to a specific set of letters. For instance, ‘2’ corresponds to ‘abc’ and ‘3’ corresponds to ‘def’. This mapping is recognized universally and is the basis for dialing numbers with letters.

Numbers	Letters
2	A, B, C
3	D, E, F
4	G, H, I
5	J, K, L
6	M, N, O
7	P, Q, R, S
8	T, U, V
9	W, X, Y, Z

How to Call a Number with Letters on iPhones?

To call a number with letters on an iPhone, simply enter the corresponding numbers on the keypad using the standard letter-to-number mapping (e.g., FLOWERS = 3569377) and hit the dial button.

In addition to dialing directly through your dialpad, you can also use the “Notepad” app or your phone’s digital assistant - Siri to dial a phone number with letters on iPhones.

Direct Method via Dialpad

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

Open Your Phone App: Tap the dialer icon to open the keypad.
Convert the Letters to Numbers: Convert the letters in the vanity phone number to their corresponding digits.
For example: For 1-800-PLUMBER, convert:
P = 7, L = 5, U = 8, M = 6, B = 2, E = 3, R = 7
So, 1-800-PLUMBER becomes 1-800-758-6237.
Dial the Number: Type the converted number into the dialer.
Call: Hit the 'Call' button to connect.

Using Notes App

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

Open Notes: Go to your Notes app or any other application where you can type.
Type the Number: Write the vanity number with letters as it appears (e.g., 212-LAWYER).
Copy the Number: Select the phone number and copy it.
Paste in the Dialer: Open your phone’s dialer and paste the number. Your phone will automatically convert the letters to numbers.
Press Call: Tap the Call icon.

Leverage Your Phone's Digital Assistant

Here’s how you call numbers with letters using your phone’s digital assistant:

Access Your Digital Assistant: Say "Hey Siri" to activate Siri.
Ask Siri to Call the Number: Once the assistant is activated, say "Call 1-800-FLOWERS".
Complete the Call: Your online assistant will place the call for you.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid While You Call a Number with Letters

When dialing a phone number with letters, common mistakes include mixing up letters that look or sound similar, misinterpreting the standard letter-to-number mapping, or overlooking small details like spaces or special characters in the number.
common mistakes to avoid while calling a number with letters

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 typically use a standard alphanumeric mapping.
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.
Using Special Characters or Spaces: Dashes and spaces in the toll-free numbers are used for visual clarity only. When dialing a phone number with letters, ignore them. For example, a number like 1-800-FLOWERS should be dialed as 18003569377.

Wrapping Up

Dialing a phone number with letters may initially seem confusing, but it’s not that difficult once you understand the letter-to-number mapping on your keypad. Plus, you can always use your Notes app to type out the number or even ask a voice assistant like Siri or Google for help.

Now that you know the trick, the next time you see a number like 1-800-PIZZA or 1-800-HELP, you know exactly what to do. Happy Calling!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Dial Phone Numbers with Letters in All Phones?

Yes, you can dial phone numbers with letters on any phone, including mobile phones and landlines. Each letter corresponds to a specific number on the dialpad.