The 01246 area code: Chesterfield

01246 is the UK dialling code for Chesterfield, in Derbyshire. It is a geographic landline code, so calling it costs the same as any other UK landline number and is usually included in call allowances.

Built from Ofcom numbering data, last refreshed 2026-07-24.

01246 at a glance

Area
Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England
Number format
(01246) XXX XXX, 6-digit local numbers
Calling from abroad
+44 1246 then the local number, dropping the first 0
Call cost
Standard UK landline rate, usually included in call allowances

Where 01246 reaches

The 01246 code serves Chesterfield, Dronfield, Staveley, Clay Cross, Bolsover and the surrounding area.

Chesterfield town had a population of around 76,000 at the 2021 census, with around 104,000 in the wider borough.

On the old letter dial CH gave 24, following the standard scheme where a town's first two letters set the digits of its code, which is how CHesterfield came to be 0246, now 01246.

Getting calls from a 01246 number?

01246 is a legitimate geographic code, so most calls from it are ordinary: local businesses, surgeries, schools, councils and households in the Chesterfield area. Two things are worth knowing before you call back.

First, caller display can be faked. Scammers spoof real UK area codes to look local, so a 01246 number on your screen is not proof the call came from Chesterfield. Second, the safe habit is simple: if a caller you were not expecting asks for personal or payment details, hang up and ring the organisation back on a number you found independently.

Checking a full number rather than just the code? Try our free UK phone number checker, which identifies the area and original provider of any UK number from Ofcom data.

Who issues 01246 numbers?

Ofcom allocates 01246 numbers to communications providers in blocks. These providers currently hold the most number blocks in the Chesterfield area:

  • BT - 37 number blocks
  • Vodafone Ltd (C&W) - 12 number blocks
  • Barritel Limited - 12 number blocks
  • TalkTalk Communications Limited - 11 number blocks
  • Sky UK Limited - 10 number blocks

236 blocks allocated in total. The provider a number was first issued to is not necessarily who serves it today, because numbers move between providers when ported.

Get a 01246 number for your business

A Chesterfield number makes your business local to the people searching for it, wherever you actually answer the phone. ONSIM supplies 01246 numbers two ways: a virtual number that diverts to any phone from £5 a month, or on a Landline SIM from £10 a month so your mobile rings and dials as the 01246 number, with call recording available for regulated trades.

Already have a 01246 number? You can bring it with you. Porting in is included on Landline SIM plans, or a one-off £20 + VAT on Virtual Landline.

Get a quote Virtual landline → Landline SIM →

Not sure which number type fits? Two minutes with the business number chooser will tell you.

01246 area code questions

Where is the 01246 area code?

01246 is the dialling code for Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, England. It serves Chesterfield, Dronfield, Staveley, Clay Cross, Bolsover and the surrounding area. The code and the areas it serves are set by Ofcom, the UK communications regulator.

How much does it cost to call a 01246 number?

01246 numbers are standard UK geographic landline numbers, charged at the same rate as any other 01 or 02 number. Most mobile and landline tariffs include them in inclusive minutes, so the call usually costs nothing extra. From abroad, dial +44 1246 followed by the local number, charged at your provider's international rate to the UK.

Why am I getting calls from a 01246 number?

Most calls from 01246 numbers are exactly what they look like: a business, GP surgery, school or household in the Chesterfield area. But caller display can be faked, a practice called spoofing, so an unexpected call showing 01246 is not proof the caller is really local. If a caller asks for personal or payment details, hang up and call the organisation back on a number you found yourself, for example from its website or a bill.

Can I get a 01246 number for my business?

Yes. You do not need an office in Chesterfield or a phone line from the dominant local provider. ONSIM can supply a 01246 number that diverts to any phone from £5 a month, or put it on a business SIM so your mobile makes and receives calls as the 01246 number. Existing 01246 numbers can be ported in: porting is included on Landline SIM plans, or a one-off £20 + VAT on Virtual Landline.

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