0161 Area Code — Manchester, Salford & Stockport
0161 is the UK dialling code for Manchester, also serving Salford, Stockport and Manchester City Centre, allocated by Ofcom under the National Telephone Numbering Plan. Our database has tracked 8,586 distinct 0161 numbers across 20,498 public lookups.
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Quick facts
Area code
0161
Location
Manchester
County
Manchester
Region
North West England
Number type
Geographic landline
Number format
0161 XXX XXXX
Operators serving
8+
Call cost
Standard rate
About the 0161 dialling code
0161 is the UK geographic dialling code for Manchester, allocated by Ofcom under the National Telephone Numbering Plan. It is used by landlines — and increasingly VoIP lines — registered to the Manchester area.
A full Manchester number is normally written as 0161 XXX XXXX. You can dial the local part on its own from within the same area, or the full number from anywhere in the UK.
Because of UK number portability and internet calling, a 0161 number no longer guarantees the caller is physically in Manchester. Fraudsters also "spoof" local codes like 0161 so an unknown call looks like a nearby business or neighbour — so treat an unexpected call on what is actually said, not on the area code alone.
Map of the 0161 dialling area
The marker shows Manchester; the shaded circle is an approximate indication of the area the 0161 code serves — exact Ofcom charging-area boundaries are irregular and don't follow a neat radius.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. View larger map
Areas typically served by 0161
Settlements in and around the Manchester dialling area that typically use 0161 numbers. Approximate — Ofcom charging-area boundaries don't follow town or county lines exactly, and properties near a boundary may take a neighbouring code.
Calling 0161 from abroad
From outside the UK, dial your international access prefix, then the UK country code 44, then 161 (the area code without its leading zero) and the local number.
| Calling from | Dial |
|---|---|
| United States & Canada | 011 44 161 … |
| Europe / most of the world | 00 44 161 … |
| Australia | 0011 44 161 … |
| Any mobile phone | +44 161 … |
History of the 0161 code
Manchester moved from 061 to 0161 on PhONEday, 16 April 1995.
Top searched 0161 numbers
These are the 0161 numbers most-looked-up by visitors to our number checker. Click any number to see its full lookup page with risk-level, range holder, and community reports.
| Number | Searches | Last looked up |
|---|---|---|
| 0161 826 0136 | 81 | 21 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 568 4984 | 66 | 21 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 567 1224 | 61 | 21 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 532 1365 | 55 | 20 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 457 0683 | 52 | 20 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 870 9205 | 51 | 17 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 482 7597 | 48 | 21 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 710 4278 | 46 | 21 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 568 1314 | 39 | 12 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 239 7345 | 37 | 16 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 814 7924 | 36 | 21 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 457 0620 | 36 | 15 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 394 6175 | 35 | 17 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 239 7348 | 35 | 22 Jun 2026 |
| 0161 457 0684 | 34 | 20 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 239 7353 | 34 | 26 Jun 2026 |
| 0161 802 3811 | 33 | 12 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 568 4071 | 33 | 12 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 826 1154 | 32 | 18 Jul 2026 |
| 0161 565 3716 | 32 | 18 Jul 2026 |
Is a call from 0161 safe?
Most 0161 calls are ordinary local calls from Manchester homes and businesses. The main risk to be aware of is "neighbour spoofing", where a scammer fakes a local 0161 prefix so you are more likely to answer. Never share bank details, passwords or one-time security codes with an unexpected caller, even when the number looks local — hang up and call the organisation back on a number you have verified yourself.
To call a 0161 (Manchester) number from outside the UK, drop the leading zero and dial +44 161 followed by the local number.
Operators serving Manchester
These UK communications providers have been allocated 0161 number blocks by Ofcom. The number of blocks per operator gives a rough sense of how widely each provider serves this area.
| Provider (Ofcom-allocated) | Allocated blocks |
|---|---|
| BT | 273 |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 65 |
| 1XXXX | 52 |
| Virgin Media Limited | 48 |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 32 |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 21 |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 18 |
| Sky UK Limited | 16 |
Ofcom number ranges on 0161
Ofcom's National Numbering Plan lists 1,000 number blocks under 0161, of which 707 are allocated to 189 communications providers. The first allocated blocks are shown below — look up any full number with the number checker to see its exact range holder.
| Number block | Status | Range holder (Ofcom-allocated) |
|---|---|---|
0161000… | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
0161007… | Allocated | Virgin Media Limited |
0161010… | Allocated | Adepteo Limited |
0161011… | Allocated | Telet Research (NI) Limited |
0161100… | Allocated | Internet of Things Limited |
0161115… | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
0161116… | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
0161117… | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
0161124… | Allocated | BT |
0161131… | Allocated | BT |
0161132… | Allocated | BT |
0161133… | Allocated | Colt Technology Services |
Showing 12 of 707 allocated blocks. Source: Ofcom telephone numbering data, updated weekly.
Common scam patterns reported in Manchester
Categories most-commonly tagged on user-submitted reports for 0161 numbers in our community comments.
- scam — 22 reports
- silent — 14 reports
- spam — 14 reports
- telemarketing — 4 reports
- legit — 2 reports
How to block and report 0161 spam calls
Block or report 0161
- You can block 0161 directly from your recent-calls list on iPhone or Android, and forward scam texts free to 7726.
- Scam or fraud calls should be reported to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040) or Police Scotland (101); persistent marketing calls to the ICO / TPS.
Full step-by-step instructions for every phone, network-level blocking and all UK reporting routes are in our guide: How to block and report unwanted calls in the UK.
How to stop unwanted calls for good
Blocking 0161 numbers stops that one number, but determined nuisance callers simply switch numbers. Silencing unknown callers, enabling your network's free spam shield and registering with the TPS cut the volume across the board — our canonical guide walks through each step: How to block and report unwanted calls in the UK.
Frequently asked questions about the 0161 code
Where is the 0161 area code?
The 0161 area code is allocated by Ofcom to Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a geographic UK landline dialling code under the National Telephone Numbering Plan. The surrounding dialling area also takes in Salford, Stockport, Manchester City Centre and nearby villages.
Is 0161 always a Manchester number?
Numbers with the 0161 prefix were originally allocated by Ofcom to Manchester. With UK number portability and VoIP allowing geographic relocation while keeping the same number, the call origin can differ from the original area, but the prefix's official assigned location remains Manchester.
How do I block 0161 spam calls?
On iPhone, tap the (i) next to the number in Recents and choose Block this Caller. On Android, long-press the number in Recents and choose Block. To prevent unknown 0161 numbers ringing, enable Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers (iPhone) or your dialler's spam filter (Android). Forward spam texts to 7726 free of charge.
How much does a 0161 call cost?
Calls to UK 0161 geographic numbers are charged at your provider's standard rate and are usually included in inclusive minutes on any modern landline or mobile plan.
Neighbouring dialling codes
Codes covering areas around Manchester — useful when a caller is nearby but outside the 0161 boundary.
Living in or moving to Manchester?
Our free postcode reports cover house prices, crime, broadband and schools for the districts around Manchester.
Check another UK number
Have the full 10- or 11-digit number? The UK Phone Number Checker shows the Ofcom range holder, risk level, and any community reports for that specific number.