"How much is a business phone line?" sounds like it should have a simple answer, but the bill is usually made up of several parts - and the numbers are moving fast as the copper network is retired. Here's a clear breakdown so you can budget and spot when you're paying too much.

The parts of a phone line bill

Before comparing prices, it helps to know what you're actually paying for:

  • Line rental - the fixed monthly (or quarterly) charge for keeping the line active. This is the part rising steeply on legacy lines.
  • Call charges - what you pay per minute or per call, unless you have an inclusive bundle.
  • Number and feature charges - extra numbers, DDI ranges, call divert and similar.
  • Setup/installation - a one-off for new lines or an engineer visit.
  • Phone system - if you run a PBX or hosted system, that's a separate cost on top.

We dig into the rental element specifically in business line rental explained.

Rough costs as a guide

Exact prices vary by provider, location and contract, so treat these as ballpark figures rather than quotes:

  • Traditional analogue line rental has typically sat in the region of £15-£25 per line per month - but legacy wholesale prices are rising through 2026 (see below), so retail prices are climbing with them.
  • Call charges on legacy lines are usually pay-as-you-go per minute unless you buy a bundle.
  • Digital lines and hosted seats are often quoted per user/per month, frequently with inclusive UK calls included.

Because the picture is changing so quickly, the only reliable number is a current quote for your setup. The trend, though, is clear: copper is getting more expensive while digital is getting cheaper.

The 2026 price rises you need to know about

This is the headline cost story. Openreach is increasing the wholesale price of its legacy line products (Wholesale Line Rental) to push the final migration off copper:

  • +20% from 1 April 2026
  • a further rise to +40% above current levels from 1 July 2026
  • and again from 1 October 2026 - roughly doubling wholesale costs within the year.

Those are wholesale increases that providers pass on, so if you're still on an old analogue line, expect your bill to climb noticeably during 2026. We cover this in detail in the WLR withdrawal price rises.

How digital changes the maths

Moving to a digital line or hosted telephony usually reshapes the bill:

  • No separate copper line rental - voice rides over your internet connection.
  • Inclusive UK calls are common, so call charges shrink or disappear.
  • Features included - voicemail-to-email, divert, auto-attendant and more come as standard rather than as paid extras.
  • Per-user pricing that scales up and down without engineer visits.

For a full hosted-system breakdown, see how much hosted telephony costs. If you also need internet, a combined deal can help - see phone and broadband bundles.

How to avoid overpaying

  • Check what you're actually using - paying line rental on lines nobody calls is pure waste.
  • Don't ride out the 2026 rises on legacy lines if you can migrate sooner.
  • Compare like for like - a cheap line plus expensive calls can beat a "free calls" deal, or vice versa, depending on your usage.
  • Bundle sensibly - sometimes phone + broadband together is cheaper; sometimes it isn't.

The bottom line

A business phone line costs more than a single headline figure suggests, and legacy copper lines are getting pricier by the quarter. For most businesses, moving to a digital line or hosted system both cuts the per-line cost and removes the rising line rental. Want a tailored figure? Get a no-obligation quote or request a callback.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a business phone line cost in the UK?

It depends on line rental, call charges and any system costs. Traditional analogue line rental has typically been around £15-£25 per line per month, but legacy prices are rising through 2026. Digital lines and hosted seats are usually priced per user with inclusive UK calls.

Why is my business line rental going up in 2026?

Openreach is raising the wholesale price of legacy line products by 20% in April 2026 and to around 40% above current levels by July and October 2026, to encourage businesses to migrate off the copper network before the switch-off. Providers pass these increases on.

Is a digital phone line cheaper than a traditional landline?

Usually, yes. Digital lines remove separate copper line rental, often include UK calls, and bundle features that used to cost extra, so the total cost per line tends to be lower.

What's the cheapest way to run business phone lines?

For most businesses it's a hosted or digital phone service sized to the number of users you actually have, with inclusive calls, rather than paying rising rental on multiple legacy copper lines.