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CostHelper > Consumer Electronics  > Phones & Communication > Phone Line

Phone Line Cost


How Much Does a Phone Line Cost?

 
low costLocal calling plan: $15-$30/monthaverage costLocal and long distance plans: $45-$75/monthhigh costBusiness lines: $25-$60/month for one line

While many households are choosing to rely solely on cell phones, landlines remain useful tools for accessing Internet DSL connections and 911 emergency services.

Typical costs:

  • Basic phone service that includes unlimited local calls generally cost $15-$30 per month, depending on additional features. For example, AT&T[1] charges $23 for a home residential line that includes a few additional basic features such as caller ID, call waiting and voicemail.
  • Home phone service plans that include local and long-distance calling cost $30-$45 per month. For example. Comcast XFINITY calling plans[2] with unlimited nationwide calls start at $30. Plans typically include other calling features such as caller ID and call waiting.
  • Some phone companies connect calls on high-speed Internet connections. The plans allow both long distance and local calls for about $10-$30 a month. For example, Vonage[3] offers international calling plans that start at $26 per month with a one-year commitment and a three-month introductory price of $10 per month.
  • Single-line business calling plans typically cost $25-$60 per month. For example, Verizon business lines[4] with local calling only start at $25 per month; plans with long distance calling as well start at $50 per month. Multi-lines plans cost more. For example, Charter Communications[5] charges $25 per phone line and additional features are billed separately.
Related articles: Long Distance Phone Calls, Internet Phone Service, Internet Access, Cordless Phone, Cell Phone Plan

What should be included:
  • All home phone landlines should include unlimited local calling and a listing in the local telephone directory as well as access to 911 emergency services.
  • Some plans include additional features such as caller ID, call waiting and voicemail.
Additional costs:
  • Additional charges such as federal and local taxes apply to phone lines. Typically, taxes account for less than 1% of the total bill.
  • Optional maintenance insurance (charged as a monthly premium) will cover any in-home wiring repairs and service. This costs about $5-$10 per month.
  • Some home phone plans require one-time fees for setup, activation, installation and equipment rental or purchase.
  • Phone lines require customers to purchase phones for various locations in the house or business. Cordless phones are popular for both uses and cost $10-$300, depending on the features.
Discounts:
  • In some states, such as California, low-income households can receive discounts on a basic home phone line. Expect to pay $6 to $10 monthly for the phone line plus unlimited local calling. Recipients of the discount are often required to provide proof of low-income, such as receiving aid from the country of residence.
  • Bundling phone service with other services such as Internet or cable television provides discounts. For example, Charter Communications[6] discounts business lines packaged with Internet service. Comcast[7] offers discounted deals for customers who combine multiple services as well, with packages for voice, Internet and TV channels starting at $100.
Shopping for a phone line:
  • Connect my phone[8] provides a search engine to find phone line providers in the local area.
  • When switching landline providers, users can often transfer the existing phone number to the new provider.
  • When selecting a phone line service, examine previous phone bills to get a clear idea of how many calls are made locally, in state and out-of-state.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
Landline phone
Amount: $15.00
Posted by: Dottie Brinkley in Harrisburg, PA.Posted: January 22nd, 2022 10:01PM
Carrier: XfinityFeatures:
Three ways call
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House phone
Amount: $159.00
Posted by: Dreama Kay Fisher in Charleston, WV.Posted: April 6th, 2020 05:04AM
Carrier: FrontierFeatures: Call waiting and id
I need a house phone bad but what will it cost me to get it
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New provider....stinks
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Joan Johnson in Prescorr, AZ.Posted: January 13th, 2020 07:01AM
Carrier: SparkiightFeatures: Land line & internet
This company bought Cableone, some time ago. Having the same problems.......keep loosing connections when talking & WiFi also. Have tried to get help & problems still happening.....Hope to find a great replacement soon,,,,,,,Please help..Joan
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Land line phone
Amount: $15.00
Posted by: Janice. Reeves in Odessa, TX.Posted: September 9th, 2019 03:09PM
Carrier: A TTFeatures: For home
Need it for my son
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Frontier Communications
Amount: $60.77
Posted by: Donnelly in Bellingham, WA.Posted: June 27th, 2019 04:06PM
Carrier: Frontier CommunicationsFeatures: Phone Line
Frontier Communications is the only landline available in the nursing home. The quote is $32.99 per month for just the landline. Nevertheless, there are hidden charges of $22.54 for recovery surcharges, state, and federal taxes. The monthly charge comes out to $60.77. Quite a large bill for a senior citizen on a fixed income.
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Bundle with celll service
Amount: $45.00
Posted by: Claud in Leb, NH.Posted: May 13th, 2019 07:05AM
Carrier: Straight talkFeatures:
What is the monthly fee since i already have straight talk cell and want to ad a home phone
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AT&T basic no long distance
Amount: $62.79
Posted by: AS Chernak in Manhattan, NY.Posted: April 19th, 2019 10:04AM
Carrier: AT&TFeatures: regional no frills
Local calls in NY means only those calls made within allowable areas. exchanges in your location....regional includes NYC to areas in Queens and brooklyn and long island and Westchester - aka North and south -but not upstate like Albany and Syracuse..that's a long distance and 'price per minute rates.
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Taxes & Surcharges Over 20% of Landline bill
Amount: $50.23
Posted by: Tim Lookingbill in New Braunfels, TX.Posted: April 2nd, 2019 01:04PM
Carrier: AT&TFeatures: $2.99 Long Distance Plan
$30.00 Base Rate Landline.
$12.48 Phone/Long Distance Surcharges & Fees
$4.55 Total Taxes
Calling long distance out of the US...
$3.50 to $4.75 per minute
Porting my landline to my DLS internet router involved conflicting instructions between CSR vs Packet instructions sent to me by UPS I was told would not be sent to me. CSR said it would be a simple activation procedure. Not so according to packet. Also fine print said no guarantees 911 will work as it does with landline.
I cancelled the order due to not trusting the claimed/promised $17 in reduced charges going off landline. A search on this indicates $50 is about what most are paying with other plans.
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Cox. Telecommunications landline
Amount: $30.00
Posted by: William P. Jr in San diego, CA.Posted: February 11th, 2019 09:02PM
Carrier: Cox cable san diego ca.Features: Basic
Landline lifeline is rediculous!! The carriers I was given to choose from was ridiculous.the carriers did not service my area#! I finally got one who did and it was a grewsome 1hour× on the phone to get the service and it was !15.00 but now they claim an additional $15.00 as a TAX. What kind of company taxes a $15.00 charge of $15.00?? Thats a 100% Tax fee.
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Cost for landline
Amount: $15.00
Posted by: Titina in Miami, FL.Posted: December 7th, 2018 03:12PM
Carrier: At&TFeatures:
I am terminating my service but I wanted to ask show questions about a recent promotion on landlines.
Why do they announce $15 - $30 a month if you cannot find where and how you can only pay $15?
For example: if you do not want any extra stuff and not even national or international calls, why charge you and, as in my case, allow to have another company get in your line and charge you the extra money?
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Land phonw service
Amount: $15.00
Posted by: Rebecca brown in Benton, MS.Posted: November 30th, 2018 09:11PM
Carrier: AtantFeatures: Local
Local service
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Cost of local Phone serviceinCentral Virginia
Amount: $89.00
Posted by: WoodinVirginia in Ladysmith, VA.Posted: May 23rd, 2018 01:05AM
Carrier: VerizonFeatures: Local + LD+Call ID
Phone service has gone up in PASt 5 years because Verizon now passes on $20 of Fe3es and taxes to the consumer each month. They have No List of Prices and won't provide you with any list at the billing or Customer service level. THey have a cheaper Regional & flat rate plan; but their people will NEVER tell you about it. They also are supposed to have measured service. You never hear about that either. Have friends paying over $100 per month for Landline service3. This is ridiculous when 5 years ago it only cost $55/-- This doesn't seem like a "REGULATED " company to me anymore Not in the Landline division in rural areas they are "gouging residents and businesses with this business plan where they have no competition. Why doesn't the FCC do something???
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Taxes and surcharges add to the price
Amount: $56.00
Posted by: SIOUXSPUR in San Antonio, TX.Posted: March 21st, 2018 07:03AM
Carrier: ATTFeatures: Basic with unpublished number
Oh yes $24 is the basic charge, then you add $8 for ATT long distance...then tax and other fees/surcharges brings you up to $56 a month. No where near the $24 you are saying in the article....Some people are going to get STICKER SHOCK for sure!
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AT&T
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: stmacduff in Calabasas, CA.Posted: June 14th, 2017 04:06PM
Carrier: N/AFeatures: N/A
When speaking with a representative (Which took some creative doing to locate!) the base line price was $38.00 a month - nowhere near $23.00 as indicated above. To me, in my situation, that is a pretty big difference
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External Resources:
  1.  /localization.att.com/loc/controller?appid=supern<ype=res&return-path=https://co...
  2.  wwwb.comcast.com/home-phone-service.html
  3.  www.vonage.com/world-calling-plans/?refer_id=WEBHO0706010001W
  4.  www.verizon.com/smallbusiness/products/business-phone-packages/
  5.  /www.charterbusiness.com/bundle/prices/customize.aspx?i=p&p=phone
  6.  /www.charterbusiness.com/online-order/charter-business-bundles.aspx
  7.  wwwb.comcast.com/Corporate/Learn/Bundles/bundles.html
  8.  www.connectmyphone.com/local-phone-service/
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