1300 Numbers Australia: Cost, Rules, and Setup Guide

What Is a 1300 Number?

This guide explains everything Australian small businesses need to know about 1300 numbers: how they work, what they cost, ACMA regulations, and whether one is actually worth it for your business. Written by an independent editorial team, not by a number provider. By the end, you will know the real costs (not just the advertised ones), the regulatory rules you must follow, and how to set up a 1300 number on a modern VoIP phone system.Technically, 1300 numbers are classified as 'Local Rate Numbers' under Australian telecommunications regulation administered by the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority). The number itself does not have a physical location. It is a routing number that forwards calls to a nominated destination, which can be a landline, VoIP number, or mobile.

1300 vs 1800 Numbers: What Is the Difference?

For most Australian small businesses, 1300 numbers offer the best balance of caller experience and cost. 1800 numbers are more appropriate for businesses that want to maximise inbound call volume and can absorb the higher per-minute termination costs.

How 1300 Number Calls Are Charged

When someone calls your 1300 number, the call is forwarded to your nominated destination number (your VoIP extension, office landline, or mobile). You as the business pay the call forwarding charges. These charges vary by provider and destination type.The key cost components are: the monthly number rental fee, the per-minute or per-call forwarding charges to your nominated destination, and optionally call management features like time-based routing or IVR menus (which may incur additional fees). Calls forwarded to VoIP numbers are typically cheaper than those forwarded to mobile numbers.

How to Get a 1300 Number

1300 numbers are supplied by Australian telecommunications carriers and resellers. You can obtain one through: a cloud phone system company (many include 1300 numbers in their plans or offer them as an add-on), a dedicated inbound number provider, or directly through a carrier. If you are setting up a cloud phone system phone system, check whether 1300 number support is included before choosing a provider.The number assignment process involves: choosing a number from available stock (some providers let you select a memorable or 'smart' number for a higher fee), nominating the destination number where calls will be forwarded, and configuring any call routing rules (time-of-day routing, overflow to voicemail, etc.). If a custom number pattern matters for your brand, see our guide to vanity 1300 numbers for options, costs and how to get one.

For a step-by-step walkthrough of the full application and setup process, see our guide to how to get a 1300 number in Australia.

If you are setting up a cloud phone system system, ask your provider whether 1300 numbers are included in standard plans or available as an add-on. Some specialist business phone companies handle number provisioning and routing during onboarding; confirm the process with your provider. You choose a number from available stock, and they manage the setup and routing to your service. This is simpler than applying directly and means your 1300 number is configured to work with your phone system from day one.

1300 Numbers and VoIP Phone Systems

Modern cloud phone system and VoIP systems integrate well with 1300 numbers. When a 1300 number is forwarded to a VoIP extension, it arrives like any other inbound call. Supported auto-attendant, ring-group and call-recording features can work with 1300 calls when the provider and routing are configured accordingly. The 1300 number is simply a public-facing number that routes into your VoIP system.This also means you can use the same 1300 number with multiple VoIP extensions across different locations or remote workers. Time-of-day routing can forward calls to your office extension during business hours and to voicemail or a mobile outside of hours. See our cloud phone system guide for more on how inbound number routing works.

Can You Port an Existing 1300 Number?

Yes. Australian 1300 numbers can be ported between providers, but they follow the Inbound Number Portability Code rather than the Local Number Portability Code used for geographic numbers. If you have an existing 1300 number with a current provider and want to move it to a new cloud phone system company, the new provider can initiate a port request. Porting timelines vary by provider and circumstances; ask the receiving provider for its current expected timeframe. During porting, your existing 1300 number continues to forward calls until the port is complete. If you are still deciding between VoIP and your current phone setup, our VoIP vs traditional phone comparison covers the full trade-offs.

1300 Number Pricing in Australia: What You Will Actually Pay

Costs can include a monthly number fee, inbound usage, setup or porting charges, and optional feature fees, depending on the provider and plan. Unlike calling a standard geographic number where the caller bears the cost, 1300 inbound calls are charged partly or wholly to the business receiving the call. Understanding this structure before you commit to a plan is important, because the total monthly cost depends heavily on your inbound call volume.

Provider hosting fees vary. A Smartnumber may also carry a separate one-off allocation charge based on its classification and memorability. The rental fee covers the number assignment and routing rights. On top of this, you pay a per-minute inbound call charge for calls received on the number. Inbound rates vary by provider, plan, call origin and answer-point destination. Check the provider's current rate card for fixed, mobile and SIP destinations. Some plans bundle a set number of included minutes per month before the per-minute rate applies.

To calculate your realistic monthly cost, estimate your inbound call volume (number of calls per month multiplied by average call duration in minutes) and apply the per-minute rate to that figure. Add the rental fee. For a business receiving 200 calls per month averaging three minutes each, the inbound charge at $0.10 per minute would be $60 per month, plus the rental fee. At $200 calls: $60 plus $20 rental equals $80 per month total. This is a manageable cost for most businesses, and should be weighed against the professional credibility and national reach a 1300 number delivers.

Vanity 1300 Numbers: Are They Worth the Cost?

A vanity 1300 number is a number that spells a word or phrase on a telephone keypad: 1300 PLUMBER (1300 758 623), 1300 LAWYER (1300 529 937), or similar. These numbers command a premium because they are memorable, easy to advertise, and directly communicate your service category. The premium varies depending on how desirable the word is and whether the number is already in use and available for purchase from its current owner.

Acquiring a vanity number typically involves searching a number broker or carrier's available inventory, or approaching the current owner of a desired number if it is already registered. Prices for desirable vanity numbers range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands for the most sought-after combinations. The annual rental fee on a vanity number is usually no different from a standard 1300 number once it is in your name. The premium is the acquisition cost, not the ongoing cost.

Whether a vanity number is worth the investment depends on your marketing context. For businesses that advertise on radio, outdoor signage, or in print where a memorable phone number has direct conversion value, a vanity number can pay for itself quickly. For businesses where customers primarily find you through Google search and click-to-call, the memorability advantage of a vanity number is less significant. If you are evaluating a vanity number, consider whether your customers are likely to remember and manually dial your number versus finding you digitally and calling from a search result or website.

1300 Numbers for Multi-Location and Remote Businesses

One of the most underappreciated advantages of a 1300 number for Australian businesses is the ability to route inbound calls flexibly regardless of where your staff are located. A 1300 number is not tied to a physical location or a single phone line. It is a virtual overlay number that can be configured to route to supported destinations, such as a cloud phone system, geographic number, mobile, or multiple destinations where the provider offers that feature.

For a business with staff across multiple locations, a single 1300 number can present a unified front to callers while routing internally based on time of day, caller location, or IVR selection. A customer calling from Brisbane routes to the Queensland office during business hours and failovers to the Sydney team if the Brisbane office does not answer. After hours, the call routes to a voicemail-to-email box monitored by whoever is on call. This level of sophistication is available without complex IT infrastructure, because it is managed through your cloud phone system company's call routing configuration.

For businesses where staff work from home or from different locations, a 1300 number integrated with a cloud phone system means the caller experience is seamless regardless of where your team physically is. The business number rings all extensions simultaneously, or in a round-robin pattern, or through an auto attendant. The caller has no visibility into the distributed nature of your operation. This is a meaningful operational advantage for small businesses competing against larger organisations with established physical presence.

Common Mistakes When Setting Up a 1300 Number

The most common mistake is setting up a 1300 number without a proper phone system behind it. Some businesses acquire a 1300 number and route it directly to a single mobile phone or geographic number. This works, but defeats most of the purpose. Call handling depends on the mobile service and 1300-provider configuration. Voicemail, failover and messaging may be available, while queueing and transfers require supporting features. A 1300 number is most effective as the inbound layer of a properly configured cloud phone system, not a simple forward to a mobile.

The second common mistake is choosing a carrier without checking porting rules. Contracts may impose exit or port-out charges, but a losing telco must not refuse or delay an authorised port of an active 1300 number. If your business grows, changes direction, or you find a better provider, you want the flexibility to move your 1300 number without paying a significant exit fee or fighting a porting dispute. Ask any provider about their porting terms before committing to a contract. Under ACMA rules, 1300 numbers are portable, but contract exit fees are a separate commercial matter.

The third mistake is not testing the routing thoroughly before going live. A 1300 number with misconfigured routing can present customers with a dead number, an endless ring, or an unexpected voicemail box. Test inbound calls from both landlines and mobile phones, at different times of day, including after-hours. Test what happens when all extensions are busy. Test the failover path. Document your routing configuration so that if something changes (a staff member leaves, an extension is removed), you know exactly what needs to be updated.

Your Next Steps

1. Decide if you need a 1300 or 1800 number. If your customers are other businesses (B2B), a 1300 number signals professionalism. If you serve consumers who expect free calling, consider 1800.
2. Choose a number. Activation and setup fees vary by provider; some include standard-number allocation while others charge a setup or connection fee. Vanity numbers are designed to be easier to remember and generally cost more to acquire.
3. Set up through your business phone company. If you already have a cloud phone system, your provider can usually provision a 1300 number and route it through your existing phone system. See our phone system guide for provider recommendations.
4. Configure call routing. Decide where 1300 calls go: ring group, auto-attendant, specific extension, or mobile fallback after hours.
5. Check ACMA advertising rules. Want help choosing between a 1300 number and other options? Get a free recommendation.

The rules governing 1300 numbers are set by ACMA (the Australian Communications and Media Authority). For a detailed breakdown of what those rules mean in practice, including advertising obligations, assignment vs ownership, and porting rights, see our guide to ACMA 1300 number regulations.

How much does a 1300 number cost in Australia?

1300-number pricing varies by provider and can include setup, monthly, usage and optional-feature charges. What the monthly fee includes varies by provider; call-management features may be included or charged separately. Forwarding charges vary by provider, plan and destination; check current rates for SIP, fixed-line and mobile answer points. Exact pricing varies significantly between providers.

Can callers from mobile phones call a 1300 number?

Yes, 1300 numbers can be called from any Australian phone including mobiles. The cost of calling a 1300 number from a mobile depends on the caller's plan; it may be included or charged separately. This is a common source of confusion. Only calls from fixed landlines are charged at local call rates. 1800 numbers are generally free from standard fixed lines and most Australian mobile services, subject to plan and service exclusions.

Can I choose my own 1300 number?

You can choose from available 1300 numbers in a provider's number pool. Most providers let you search for numbers and select from those available. 'Smart' or 'gold' numbers (e.g. 1300 FLORIST or sequences like 1300 123 456) attract a premium setup fee as they are in higher demand. If your current 1300 number is with another provider, you can port it rather than choosing a new one.

What happens to a 1300 number if I switch my phone system?

Depending on the provider, routing can be updated through a portal or support request; supported destinations, timing and fees may vary. If you change your phone system, you simply update the forwarding destination from your old system to your new VoIP extension or phone number. If you also switch 1300 number providers, you can initiate a port to transfer the number. You can usually keep the number when changing systems, provided the service remains active and any required port is accepted and completed.

Can a 1300 number receive SMS messages?

1300 numbers in Australia are not SMS-capable by default. The 1300 number format is designed for voice calls only. 1300 numbers are primarily voice services, but some providers offer optional SMS enablement. Availability and delivery limitations vary, so confirm support with the provider. Some businesses operate both: a 1300 number for inbound calls and a separate mobile number published for SMS enquiries. Confirm SMS requirements with your provider before assuming a 1300 number covers all inbound channels.

Is there a difference between a 1300 number and a 1800 number for a small business?

The key difference is who pays for the call. With a 1300 number, landline charges depend on the caller's plan and may be included or charged at a rate set by the telco, while the business pays a per-minute inbound charge for the call. With a 1800 number, calls are generally free from standard fixed lines and most Australian mobile services, while the business pays the inbound charges. For a small business with a primarily local or regional customer base, a 1300 number is usually sufficient. A 1800 number is more appropriate when you want to maximise inbound call conversion by eliminating any cost barrier for the caller, which matters more at scale.

How long does it take to get a 1300 number?

Activation times for new 1300 numbers vary by provider; confirm the current timeframe before ordering. The number becomes active and routable within that timeframe. Porting timeframes vary by provider and circumstances; ask the receiving provider for its current expected timeframe. You can begin using the new number as soon as it is assigned, well before any porting is required, and update your website and marketing materials from that point.

Related reading:

• number porting process
• VoIP costs for Australian businesses

Every business is different. Whether a 1300 number makes sense depends on your call volume, your customer locations, and whether you're already on a cloud phone system. Tell us those details and we'll give you a specific recommendation. We reply personally. Not a bot, not a form letter.