The memorable tier of 1800
1800 Vanity Numbers: Words on the Keypad
A vanity number is an 1800 number whose last six digits spell a word — 1800 REPAIR rather than 1800 737 247. Same toll-free behaviour, premium lease for the memorability. Here is what the format allows and what it costs.
- Six digits to spell with
- Lease from $40/month
- Same routing as any 1800
Vanity number questions
How many letters can an 1800 vanity number spell?
Six — an Australian 1800 number is 1800 plus six digits, so a full word-number carries six letters. Shorter words work too, padded with digits you choose, and over-dialling can present a longer brand word than the number strictly spells.
What does a 1800 vanity number cost?
Two layers: the standard 1800 plan from $10 a month, plus the premium word lease from $40 a month that scales with how commercial the word is. The strongest patterns pass through an auction process rather than a fixed lease.
Does a vanity number change how calls work?
No. Behind the memorable pattern it is an ordinary 1800 number — free to callers from standard fixed lines, routed to your answer points, reported per call. The vanity layer is presentation, not plumbing.
A 1800 vanity number is the toll-free range's memorable tier: 1800 followed by six digits that spell a word on the keypad, so advertising says "1800 REPAIR" instead of "1800 737 247". Functionally it is an ordinary 1800 number; commercially it is a premium lease on a pattern people remember. This page covers what the format lets you spell, what the lease costs, and how to find one that fits your brand.
What the format lets you spell
The constraint is arithmetic: 1800 plus six digits, so a full word-number spells six letters. That fits plenty of brand words — PLUMBER, REPAIR, LAWYER — and shorter words pad naturally with chosen digits. Two tactics extend the vocabulary:
- Over-dialling. Present a longer word than the number spells: 1800 4PAINT, printed as "1800 4 PAINT", while callers dial 1800 472 468. The prefix digits (4 and 0 are the classics) widen the field considerably.
- Partial words. A stem like 1800 FLOWE plus a chosen digit can still read cleanly in print, where you control the presentation.
The keypad-to-letter mapping and the broader concept are in what phonewords are; choosing between candidates is brand work, set out in 1300 number names — the same logic applies on the 1800 side.
What a vanity number costs
Two charges stack, the same structure as 1300 phonewords:
| Layer | What it is | From | |---|---|---| | Plan | Hosting, routing, reporting, features | $10/month | | Word lease | The premium for the mnemonic pattern | $40/month |
The lease scales with how commercial the word is, and the strongest patterns change hands through an auction process that typically takes a couple of weeks. Full rates are on the pricing page.
Finding one
The availability search lists the phonewords currently available to connect, with lease prices where they apply — free, no account needed: available numbers. If your exact word is taken, try the prefix variants and partial-word searches before giving up; if it is owned by another business, it is sometimes available by lease, which is a conversation with the carrier rather than a search result. Once connected, the vanity number routes and reports exactly as described in how 1800 numbers work — and existing numbers, vanity or not, can usually be ported rather than abandoned.
Spell your brand
Search the 1800 pool free
Standard patterns and available phonewords, live and searchable — see lease prices upfront.