What is a phone number property in Notion?

A phone number property in Notion is a specialized database field designed specifically for storing telephone numbers with built-in formatting and functionality that goes beyond simple text storage. This dedicated property type transforms your contact information into actionable data by enabling click-to-call features on mobile devices and maintaining consistent display formatting across your workspace. Unlike regular text fields, phone properties are optimized for communication workflows, making them particularly valuable for customer relationship management, team directories, and event planning databases. Understanding how this property works can significantly streamline your contact management and improve your team's communication efficiency.

The phone property accepts any string of numbers, including international dialing codes, area codes, and extensions, storing them as plain text while rendering them with improved readability. When you tap or click a phone number on mobile devices or supported desktop platforms, Notion automatically launches your device's dialer or VOIP application, eliminating the need to manually copy and dial numbers. This click-to-call functionality proves especially useful when managing client databases or coordinating with team members on the go.

Setting up a phone property is straightforward—simply open any database, click "Add a property," select "Phone" from the type list, and assign a descriptive column name. You can then input numbers manually or through copy-paste, and Notion will maintain consistent styling across all entries. The property integrates seamlessly with linked databases, templates, and filters, allowing you to build comprehensive contact systems that scale with your needs.

However, the phone property does have notable limitations that you should consider. Notion doesn't validate phone number accuracy or format, meaning you'll need to manually ensure entries are correct and consistently formatted. The system also doesn't support automatic formatting for national standards like (123) 456-7890, nor does it offer numeric sorting or mathematical operations since numbers are treated as text. Additionally, you can't set custom display formats or validation rules, which might be frustrating if you're managing large international contact lists.

Despite these constraints, the phone property excels in practical applications like CRM systems, support logs, and team directories where quick communication access matters more than rigid formatting. By combining phone properties with related fields such as names, companies, and email addresses, you can create powerful, actionable contact databases that enhance your workflow efficiency while maintaining the flexibility that makes Notion so valuable for diverse organizational needs.