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This free German phone number checker shows whether a number is valid.

A German phone number checker tells you whether a number is real, which means it follows Germany's numbering rules and is assigned. Enter a +49 number above and 1Lookup's free checker returns valid or invalid in seconds, with the line type and country, checked against Germany's numbering plan.

Country code
+49
Mobile numbers
10 to 11 digits after +49, starting 01
Landlines
5 to 15 digits after +49, starting 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08 or 09, such as +49 30 XXXXXXXX
Written at home
01512 3456789
Written for apps and SMS
+4915123456789
Dialed from the US
011 49 1512 3456789

A German mobile number is +49 followed by 10 to 11 digits, and the first one is 1.

How a German mobile number is built

Written with the country code

  1. +49Country code
  2. 1Mobile start
  3. 512 345678910 more digits

Written at home

  1. 0Replaces +49
  2. 1Mobile start
  3. 512 345678910 more digits

The +49 and the 0 do the same job, so a number is never written with both.

A German phone number checker reads a number's format first and then checks it against Germany's numbering plan.

This is the path one check takes. A number can be written correctly and still not be assigned to anyone, so the format check alone is not the answer.

What one German phone number check does
  1. You enter the numberType it the way it is written at home, such as 01512 3456789, or paste it with +49.
  2. Its format is checkedEach type of number has its own rules. A mobile needs 10 to 11 digits after +49 and starts with 01 at home.
  3. It is checked against the numbering planNumbers outside the US and Canada are checked against the numbering plan of their country, which for this page is Germany's.Nothing is sent to the number, so it never rings and its owner is never told.
  4. You see valid or invalidWith the line type and country in a few seconds, and the carrier or network where one is listed.

A German mobile number has 10 to 11 digits after +49 and starts with 01, so any other length is not a valid mobile.

These lengths come from the numbering data for Germany. German area codes run from two to five digits, so the length of a landline depends on its area code.

Number typeStarts with at homeDigits after +49Written at home
Mobile0110 to 1101512 3456789
Landline02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08 or 095 to 15030 XXXXXXXX

Three common mistakes make a German number fail the check, and each one is quick to fix.

  1. Keeping the 0 after +49 adds a digit.

    The 0 is only for dialing inside Germany, so +49 01512 3456789 is wrong. Drop the 0 and write +49 1512 3456789.

  2. Typing too few or too many digits makes a number invalid.

    A mobile number has 10 to 11 digits after +49. With fewer than 10 or more than 11 it cannot be a valid mobile, and inside that range the first digits decide how many are needed, so look for a missing or doubled digit.

  3. Leaving the wrong country selected changes how the number is read.

    The checker reads a number by the rules of the country selected above, so keep Germany selected for a +49 number. Paste a number with its + and country code and the country is read from the number itself.

These are the questions people ask most about checking German phone numbers.

How do I check if a German phone number is valid?

Enter the number in the box above with Germany selected. The free checker returns valid or invalid in seconds, with the line type and country. Type it the way it is written at home, such as 01512 3456789, or in full as +49 1512 3456789.

How many digits is a German phone number?

A mobile number has 10 to 11 digits after +49. A landline has 5 to 15 digits after +49, such as +49 30 XXXXXXXX.

What does a German mobile number start with?

Mobile numbers start with 01 at home, which is 1 after +49. The next digit is 5, 6 or 7.

How do I write a German number for an app or an SMS tool?

Use the E.164 form: a plus sign, 49, then the number without its leading 0 and no spaces, such as +4915123456789.

Does the German phone number checker show the carrier?

It shows the carrier or network where one is listed. Numbers outside the US and Canada are checked against the numbering plan of their country rather than live carrier data, so some come back with no carrier name.

Does valid mean the German number is active?

No. Valid means the number is real, correctly written for Germany and assigned. Whether a line is switched on and reachable right now is a different question, and the free HLR lookup answers it.

Can I check a whole list of German phone numbers?

Yes. This free tool checks one number at a time. A 7-day free trial opens CSV upload and the API, at 1 credit a number.

Does the person know I checked their number?

No. The check reads records only. No call or text goes to the number, so its owner is never told.

What are the landline area codes of Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt?

At home the codes are 030 for Berlin, 040 for Hamburg, 089 for Munich and 069 for Frankfurt. From abroad the 0 is dropped, so Berlin is +49 30. The area code is part of a landline's digits, and a mobile number has none.

You can check numbers from other countries on their own pages.

Sources: Google's libphonenumber numbering data for lengths, mobile starts and landline starts, as of September 24, 2026; the ITU list of country codes.

You can check a whole list of numbers with a 7-day free trial.

This free tool checks one number at a time. A 7-day free trial opens CSV upload and the API, at 1 credit a number.