Laos Area Codes
Phone dialing reference for Laos (+856). Country code, number format, and calling guide.
How to dial Laos
To call Laos from abroad, dial the exit code for your country, then the country code +856, then the local phone number (without the leading 0).
Example: +856 21 123 456
Phone number details
How to read a Laos phone number
A Laos number is +856 followed by 8 digits. Knowing which of those digits mark a mobile is what tells you what the call will cost before you place it.
Inside Laos, numbers are dialled with a leading 0. Drop it when calling from abroad — keeping it is the single most common reason an international call fails.
Mobile prefixes
Landline prefixes
Prefix ranges still identify a line as mobile or fixed even where a number has been ported between operators, because the mobile and fixed blocks are separate and numbers do not move between them. Operator identification from a prefix, by contrast, stopped being reliable once portability arrived.
When to call Laos
What the clock reads in Laos when it is mid-morning, early afternoon and evening where you are. Highlighted cells fall between 9:00 and 21:00 local time at the other end.
| Calling from | Offset | 09:00 | 13:00 | 19:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | +12:00 | 21:00 | 01:00 | 07:00 |
| Los Angeles | +15:00 | 00:00 | 04:00 | 10:00 |
| London | +7:00 | 16:00 | 20:00 | 02:00 |
| Dubai | +3:00 | 12:00 | 16:00 | 22:00 |
| Sydney | −4:00 | 05:00 | 09:00 | 15:00 |
Offsets calculated for mid-January. Countries that observe daylight saving shift by an hour for part of the year — the planner works out today's offset from your own device.
Other Asian destinations, cheapest first
Rates vary by more than a factor of ten inside a single region, because each one is set by what the operator at the far end charges to accept the call. Taiwan is currently the cheapest place we publish a rate for near Laos.
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All toolsFrequently asked questions
What is the country code for Laos?
The country code for Laos is +856. Dial this after the exit code (or use + on a mobile).
What does a Laos phone number look like?
A Laos number is written as +856 21 123 456: the country code +856 followed by 8 digits. That total is fixed by the national numbering plan, so a number with one digit missing is a typo rather than a shorter valid number.
How can I tell if a Laos number is a mobile?
By its leading digits. In Laos, a national number of 8 digits beginning with 20 is a mobile. That still works after a number has been ported between operators, because mobile and fixed-line blocks are separate ranges and numbers do not move between them.
Do I need to drop the leading 0 when calling Laos?
Yes. Laos uses 0 as a trunk prefix for domestic calls. When dialing internationally, drop the leading 0 from the local number.
