Mobile Signal Coverage data for the whole of the UK

Our database contains mobile coverage information for EE, O2, Three and Vodafone.

Results show indoor and outdoor coverage for Voice calls, 3G data, 4G data and 5G data for every postcode in the UK for each mobile network.

What is mobile coverage / signal checking?

Before signing up for a mobile provider you want to know whether you can get coverage where you live, work or anywhere else you are likely to want to use your phone.

You need to be checking the mobile coverage in your area. Our database allows you to check the mobile signal strength in any postcode for all of the mobile networks in just one search, rather than having to visit each supplier individually, saving you time and effort.

Who provides mobile coverage in the UK?

 There are four actual mobile networks in the UK:

Three

O2

EE

Vodafone

These companies actually build and own their own physical mobile phone network including things such as the mobile phone masts you see dotted around the country.

What other mobile providers are there?

 There are many other mobile providers who don’t own their own physical mobile networks, they instead rent coverage from one or more of the four actual networks (EE, O2, Three & Vodafone). They are known as virtual network operators

Examples of well known virtual network operators are:

Asda Mobile - use Vodafone’s network

BT - use EE’s network

CMLink - use EE’s network

Ecotalk - use EE’s network

Extremeconnect - use EE’s network

FreedomPop - use Three’s network

Giffgaff - use O2’s network

iD Mobile - use Three’s network

Jump - use EE, O2, Three and Vodafone’s networks

KC Mobile - use O2’s network

Lebara - use Vodafone’s network

Lycamobile - use EE’s network

Now PAYG - use EE’s network

Plusnet Mobile - use EE’s network

SMARTY - use Three’s network

Sky Mobile - use O2’s network

Superdrug - use Three’s network

TalkTalk Mobile - use O2’s network (TalkTalk mobile no longer sells its own deals, but refers its customers to O2 directly)

Tesco Mobile - use O2’s network

T-Mobile - use EE’s network

Talkmobile - use Vodafone’s network

The Phone Co-op - use EE’s network

Truphone - use O2’s network

Utility Warehouse - TelecomPlus - use EE’s network

Virgin Mobile - use EE’s and Vodafone’s networks. Following the merger of Virgin Media and O2 in 2021 Virgin Mobile customers will be moved over to O2's network in the near future.

Voxi - use Vodafone’s network

What types of mobile coverage are there?

 Voice - Voice coverage is the simplest kind of coverage available (technically known as 2G), it’s really only useful for making telephone calls and sending text messages. You might if you have a very strong signal and plenty of patience be able to download a simple email, it’s really not much use at all for doing anything that needs data.

3G - This was first introduced into the UK in the early 2000’s. 3G provides much better data speeds (also known as mobile broadband). 3G typically provides for maximum download speeds of 7.2Mbps which is pretty good. As 4G and 5G have superseded 3G, all the networks are in the process of shutting down their 3G networks. This shutdown process should be completed by the end of 2025.

 4G - First introduced into the UK in 2012 4G provides a step change up in speeds when compared to previous generations. Download speeds of 150Mbps are theoretically possible and 75Mbps plus commonly reported by users in the UK. 4G rivals many fixed line broadband suppliers for pure download speed.

 5G - The next generation mobile broadband was introduced on May 30th 2019 by EE in selected areas of the UK. Vodafone launched their 5G service in the UK on July 3rd 2019. O2 Launched their 5G service in the UK on October 17th 2019. Last to the party is Three Mobile who launched their 5G mobile service on 28th February 2020. Expect to see speeds up to 1Gbps (that’s the same as 1000Mbps). We expect 5G to increase in availability over the next few years.

 Coverage can also vary significantly in some areas depending on whether you are indoors or outdoors, so our database contains information on both areas for every postcode.

What affects mobile signal coverage?

Mobile phone signal levels can be affected by a number of different things:

Your location - the further away you are from a mobile phone mast the weaker your signal will be, as the signal gets weaker this affects the signal quality which will reduce your data download speeds.

Your local environment - hills, buildings, being in a basement or underground will all affect your mobile signal.

Travelling - if you are in a car or train and moving fast you may find your signal will be affected as you move from strong signal areas to weak or no signal areas.

Your phone - some models of phones are just better at getting a signal than others, a phone with low battery can also affect the way your phone works depending on the model.

The Weather - believe it or not even the weather can interfere with your mobile signal, heavy rain and snow can degrade the signal temporarily.

How can I improve my mobile signal?

All is not lost if you find your signal is not great (or non-existent), try our following top tips to improve your mobile coverage:

Open a window - If you are inside just opening the nearest window, especially if it’s in the direction of your nearest mobile phone mast, can give you a boost in signal.

Get high up - As mobile signals require line of sight for the very best signal then getting yourself as high up as possible will improve your signal, if you are indoors then go to the top of your building, outdoors look for the highest piece of ground nearby.

Turn your phone off and on again - Your phone may not have connected to the nearest mast to you, by switching off your phone, or putting it in flight mode for a few moments, you will force your phone to reconnect to your network and this may put you on a closer mast with better signal.

Switch Networks - You may find (for example by using our postcode checker) that a different provider has better signal in your area. Switching to this supplier will give instant improvements in signal.

WiFi Calling - If you live in a really poor area for mobile signal but have a fixed line broadband supplier (or access to other WiFi) then most networks have apps you can download to your phone which allow you to make and receive calls over WiFi when you don’t have a mobile signal.

Mobile phone signal boosters - If you find that you can get signal in the garden but not indoors, or in one room of the house but not others, then you might find a signal booster to be the solution to your problems. These devices take the signal in the area that it’s available and then boosts it to widen its availability. We strongly recommend talking to your network provider when looking at this option as some of the third party signal boosters that you find for sale are illegal to use in the UK.

Will a new phone improve my mobile signal?

A common question that people ask when looking at new mobile phone deals is "will a new phone give me better coverage?". The surprising answer is that yes in many cases it can. The design of a phone and the size of it's antenna (these are usually hidden inside the case, so it's not always obvious what the difference is between device's antennas) will affect how good a signal you get in a location. The newer model phones tend on average to have better reception than older ones.

How do I check my mobile coverage?

The simplest way to check your mobile coverage is to pop your postcode in the search box at the top of this page, we’ll then be able to tell you what level of coverage you can expect in your area from all the UK’s network providers.

Where can I find a mobile phone coverage map?

You can quickly and easily see the mobile coverage map for any UK network by using the search box at the top of this page and then on the results page clicking the "See Coverage Map" link for each network.

International Mobile Coverage

To see details of mobile coverage internationally then we recommend:

Signalchecker.com for USA cellphone coverage.

Signalchecker.co.nz for New Zealand mobile coverage.

Mobilecoverageaustralia.com for Australia mobile coverage.

Mobilecoverageireland.com for Ireland mobile coverage.

Cellcoveragecanada.com for Canada cellphone coverage.

Couverturemobile.com for France mobile phone coverage.