How much does it cost to call 0345 numbers?
Calling an 0345 number costs the same as a normal landline call and comes out of inclusive minutes - so for most people it is effectively free. Banks and large institutions use 0345 heavily because it replaced their old 0845 numbers: same final digits, but without the service charge that made 0845 unpopular.
Verified against Ofcom rules and provider tariff guides, August 2026.
Same as calling a landline - usually free within your allowance
Ofcom requires 03 numbers to cost no more than calls to geographic 01 and 02 numbers, and they count towards inclusive minutes. If your plan has inclusive minutes, the call is covered. There is never a premium on an 03 number.
If you remember being wary of 0845, that caution does not transfer: 0345 is in the Ofcom-protected 03 range where a premium is impossible. The similarity of the digits is deliberate - organisations moved from 0845 to 0345 so their numbers stayed memorable while the pricing became fair.
0345 cost questions
Are 0345 numbers free to call?
Effectively yes for most people: 0345 calls are charged like calls to a normal landline and count towards inclusive minutes, so with an allowance the call costs nothing extra. Without inclusive minutes you pay your standard landline call rate.
Do inclusive minutes cover 0345 numbers?
Yes, on virtually all UK mobile and landline tariffs. This is an Ofcom rule for the 03 and geographic ranges, not a provider choice.
How much is a 10 minute call to an 0345 number?
With inclusive minutes: nothing. Without: ten minutes at your standard landline rate, typically well under £2 in total.
Why is an organisation using an 0345 number?
03 numbers give a national, non-geographic identity while being fair to callers - Ofcom reserves 0300 for public bodies and charities, while 0330/0333/0345 serve businesses. They replaced the mistrusted 084/087 ranges for most reputable organisations.