Network & carriers
Sweden's telecom market is regulated by PTS; Telia, Tele2, Telenor and Tre (Hi3G) run the mobile networks.
+46 · SE · UTC+1
Sweden
Country Code & Virtual Numbers
Sweden's +46 code covers one of Europe's most digitally advanced markets, regulated by PTS. Capital: Stockholm · Business hours: 3:00 AM–11:00 AM EST.
// The Basics
What is the +46 country code?
Numbering in Sweden is administered by Post- och telestyrelsen (PTS).
Numbering format
Swedish numbers drop the leading 0 internationally — a Stockholm number written domestically as 08 plus the subscriber number becomes +46 8 plus the same digits.
Calling culture
Swedish business culture values consensus and calm, understated communication — decisions are often discussed thoroughly rather than made unilaterally on a single call.
Did you know
From 1 August 2026, PTS opened the 078 range for mobile numbers, alongside the existing 070, 072, 073, 076 and 079 ranges.
// Quick Facts
A quick read on Sweden numbers.
Swedish numbers drop the leading 0 internationally — a domestic 08 number becomes +46 8 when dialed from abroad.
From the US: 011 46 8 followed by the 6–8 digit subscriber number (Stockholm)
// Reference
Dialing +46: numbers, codes and rules
- Trunk prefix
- 0 — used domestically, dropped after the country code.
- Number length
- 7–13 digits (geographic numbers 7–9 digits; mobile 9 digits)
- Mobile numbers
- 9 digits; mobile prefixes 70, 72, 73, 76, 79, and 78 from 1 August 2026 (domestically 07X), e.g. +46 7X XXX XX XX
- Landlines
- Variable length: area code (1–3 digits after the 0) plus subscriber number, 7–9 digits in total, e.g. Stockholm +46 8 XXX XXX XX
- Major area codes
- Stockholm 8
- Gothenburg 31
- Malmö 40
- Dialing in
- From the US: 011 46 8 followed by the 6–8 digit subscriber number (Stockholm)
- Dialing out
- 00 is the international prefix from Sweden.
- Useful numbers
- Emergency: 112
- Toll-free prefix: 020
- Regulator
- Post- och telestyrelsen (PTS)
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1); CEST (UTC+2) in summer
- Daylight saving
- Clocks go forward on the last Sunday of March and back on the last Sunday of October (EU rule).
- Geographic numbers use an open plan: within the same area code you can dial only the subscriber number.
- From 1 August 2026 the 078 range is used for mobile numbers (0 + 9 digits) under a PTS decision.
Sources
- PTS: The Swedish numbering plan for telephony according to ITU-T E.164 (2024-01-08)
- PTS guidance on numbers (Vägledning – nummer, 2025-09-01)
- PTS decision amending the numbering plan for the 078 series (mobile from 1 Aug 2026)
- ITU dialling procedures annex to OB 994 (international prefix 00, trunk prefix 0)
- Lag (1989:253) om allmänna helgdagar (Swedish public holidays act)
- EU Directive 2000/84/EC on summer-time arrangements
- Opensignal: Sweden mobile network experience (four MNOs incl. Tre), Dec 2025 (archived copy)
Best time to call Sweden from the US
Sweden is on UTC+1 · Business hours = – EST · Mon–Fri
// Why a Virtual Number
Why get a Sweden virtual number?
A +46 virtual number gives your business instant local presence in Sweden — without the overhead.
Local caller ID in Sweden
When you call from your virtual Sweden number, contacts see a local +46 number — dramatically improving answer rates.
No office needed
Establish a local presence in Sweden without renting space, hiring locally, or installing any hardware.
Instant credibility
Swedish business contacts value calm, straightforward communication — a local number is a small but meaningful signal of genuine market presence.
Routes to any device
Calls to your Sweden number ring your team on mobile, desktop, or desk phone — wherever they work.
Free tools
Look up a number from Sweden
Phone number checkerCheck the country and format of a number from Sweden instantly.Phone number validatorValidate a number against its country's formatting rules (E.164).Carrier lookupCheck a number's country and format for free; live carrier data comes with the Lookup API.All country codesDialing codes, time zones and calling guides for every country.
Frequently Asked
Sweden questions answered.
Answers about Sweden's PTS-regulated carriers, consensus-driven business culture, and getting a local +46 virtual number.
Dial 011 (the US exit code), then 46, then the national number, leaving out the leading 0 used for domestic calls. Number length: 7–13 digits (geographic numbers 7–9 digits; mobile 9 digits).
Start calling Sweden, not tomorrow.
Get a virtual Sweden number or make direct international calls to +46 — active in under ten minutes.