Lucky phone numbers: 8, 888 and what sellers charge
Lucky phone numbers pack in 8, a digit that sounds like the Chinese word for prosper, while 4, which sounds like death, is avoided; US sellers list Lucky 8s numbers priced from $9 through $1,499.
What gives a phone number its lucky label
Digits that a culture connects with good fortune, 8 most of all, fill up Lucky phone numbers. In Chinese, 8 sounds similar to the word meaning "to prosper", and endings like 88, 888 and 8888 are prized for this reason. In Cantonese, 4 comes close to the sound of "death", so people often avoid it. US sellers file these numbers under labels such as "Lucky 8s" and "Lucky 7s", and they charge more than for plain numbers.
Lucky number 8, plus the other digits
Below, the meanings come from Chinese number lore, in which a digit's luck depends on how it sounds.
| Digit | What it sounds like | Seen as |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | "To prosper" | Lucky |
| 6 | It reads as "smooth" in Mandarin, and as "good fortune" or "happiness" in Cantonese. | Lucky |
| 2 | Good things come in pairs, and in Cantonese the sound is "easy" and "bright". | Lucky |
| 7 | "Arise" and "life essence" in Mandarin | Good |
| 4 | Nearly the same as "death" in Cantonese | Unlucky |
Pairs of digits carry meaning as well. In Cantonese, 28 sounds like "easy prosper". In Mandarin, the number 58 sounds like "me prosper", though in Cantonese it sounds like "no prosperity"; 54 sounds like "my death" in Mandarin. An unlucky mobile number usually carries plenty of 4s, while a good choice for a business opening relies on 8s and 6s.
The draw of 8 reaches well past phone numbers. On 8/8/08, the 2008 Beijing Olympics opened with 8 minutes and 8 seconds gone past 8 in the evening. According to Wikipedia, which cites the BBC, the +86 28 8888 8888 number went to Sichuan Airlines for CN¥2.33 million in 2003, about US$280,000.
What sellers charge for lucky phone numbers
Exclusive Digits sorts its listings into pattern collections, including Lucky 8s and Lucky 7s. Prices on its homepage listings:
| Number | Where | Label | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 702-8887 | Dale City, VA | Lucky 8s, daily special | $9 (regularly $49) |
| 750-8882 | Alexandria, VA | Lucky 8s, daily special | $9 (regularly $49) |
| 840-8888 | Washington, DC | Lucky 8s | $499 |
| 497-7777 | Bethesda, MD | Lucky 7s | $889 |
| 478-8888 | Washington, DC | Lucky 8s | $1,499 |
Listings shift as numbers sell. The pattern drives the price more than the digit: RingBoost's cost guide names repeaters such as XXX-222-2222 among the most expensive numbers, and NumberBarn's broker page uses (555) 444-4444 at $25,000 as its example of an ultra-premium number, even though 4 is the digit many buyers avoid. Compare other tiers of premium phone numbers.
And 888 numbers themselves?
The 888 prefix is toll-free and has been in service since 1996. You cannot buy a toll-free number: FCC rule 47 CFR 52.107 forbids selling one for a fee. A provider can assign you an 888 number, or you can license one from a broker. For more, read about 888 area code and toll-free vanity numbers.
How a lucky number gets scored by the appraisal rubric
The appraisal rubric gives 8 no points of its own. What it scores is the shape of a number, so an 8888 ending and a 2222 ending each earn 32 pattern points. For 840-8888, the last 4 digits repeat (32 points) and 3 different digits aid recall (7 points), giving 39 before any area code is added. Take an original big-city code from 1947: 202 is worth 30, so the total comes to 69: Premium. Whatever luck premium a seller asks for comes on top of that.
No official lucky phone number calculator exists. Numerology tools assign a meaning to a number, while the phone number appraisal rates how easy a number is to remember.
Finding a lucky number in your area code
- Choose your area code. Look yours up on area codes.
- Search using a pattern. NumberBarn search accepts patterns and "*" wildcards, RingBoost looks up numbers by pattern and Exclusive Digits sorts lucky numbers by area code. Try endings such as 8888, 888 and 88.
- Look for 4s. If a buyer cares about luck, keep 4 out of the whole number, not only at the end.
- Score your shortlist. Put each one through the phone number appraisal, then compare the price against the tier.
- Port the number. After you buy, the seller sends account details and your carrier brings the number over. Learn how to port a phone number.
Questions
What makes 8 lucky?
In Chinese, 8 sounds like a word that means "to prosper". That is the reason numbers with many 8s sell at higher prices to buyers focused on luck.
Is 4 an unlucky digit in a phone number?
Yes, for many Chinese-speaking buyers. In Cantonese, 4 comes out almost like "death", which is why numbers packed with 4s get avoided.
How much does a lucky phone number cost?
At Exclusive Digits, Lucky 8s numbers run from $9 for a daily special up to $1,499 for a number in Washington, DC that ends 8888.
Can I get an 888 number that has lots of 8s?
A provider or a license is the only route. Selling a toll-free 888 number is banned under 47 CFR 52.107.