The phone used to belong to the house. It hung on the kitchen wall, everybody answered it, and nobody carried it farther than the next room over (if the cord was that long).
Now, nearly everyone has a phone in their pocket—except younger children, who may not yet have their own device or much experience with phone etiquette. And when an emergency happens, it’s important for everyone in the household to know how to call for help.
Some families are reconsidering the home phone. Is it time for yours, too?
Who Still Has a Home Phone?
More households keep home phones than you might expect. According to a 2023 survey from the National Center for Health Statistics, roughly 45 percent still have a phone at home. Households outside metro areas keep theirs at a higher rate than city households do.
At the same time, landline use has declined significantly. In the first half of 2020, 62.5 percent of adults lived in homes without a landline. By the second half of 2023, that figure had reached 75.2 percent.
So while traditional landlines are less common than they once were, some families are taking another look at what a phone for the whole household could offer.
A Return to Home Phones
Child development experts have discussed how landlines may benefit children by giving them opportunities to practice communication skills without needing a smartphone. As parents look for ways to limit screen time while helping kids stay connected with friends and family, a home phone can be one option worth considering.
Parents who use them say their kids are practicing phone manners again. They answer without knowing who’s calling, say hello, and introduce themselves when making a call. They might even chat with somebody’s mom for a moment before being passed along to their friend.
Those are the small skills many of us learned standing in the kitchen with the cord stretched around the corner—and today’s kids may have fewer opportunities to practice them. For more on the trend, read why some parents are bringing back landlines and how parents are swapping smartphones for kid-friendly landlines.
Another Thing to Consider: Emergency Preparedness
A phone that’s easy for everyone in the household to access can be helpful in an emergency. For families with young children, having a designated phone and teaching kids how and when to call 911 may provide an additional layer of preparedness.
But not all home phones work the same way, especially when it comes to emergency calls.
Traditional landlines and internet-based home phone services have different requirements. Internet-based phone service may depend on power and internet connectivity, and the emergency address registered with the provider needs to be accurate and updated if you move. The FCC’s guide to VoIP and 911 service explains how emergency calling works with internet-based phone services.
If you use Wi-Fi calling because cell service is weak at home, check your carrier’s emergency address settings and make sure they’re current. The exact steps vary by device and carrier, so consult your phone’s settings or carrier instructions.
No matter which type of phone you use, make sure everyone in your household knows how to call for help, can access a working phone, and understands what to do if the power or internet goes out.
A Home Phone in the Age of Cell Phones
A home phone doesn’t have to be the traditional landline from grandma’s house.
Some families add a separate line through their local provider and put a corded handset in the kitchen. Others choose a cordless system that pairs with a cell phone over Bluetooth, like Panasonic’s Link2Cell models. Calls to your mobile can ring on handsets throughout the house, without adding a separate phone number or monthly phone-service bill.
There are also internet-connected phones designed specifically for children, such as Tin Can, which lets parents limit calls to approved contacts. If you’re considering a phone for your child, review the product’s current features and emergency-calling capabilities before choosing one.
Each option works a little differently, so think about what matters most to your household: a dedicated home number, easy access for kids, fewer screens, or a way to answer calls from your cell phone throughout the house.
And remember, internet-connected phone options rely on your home internet connection, so it’s worth understanding what happens during a power or internet outage.
Adding a Home Phone Line With DFN
If you’d like a dedicated home phone number, DFN may be able to help you explore the options available at your address.
With home phone service from a local provider, you can enjoy the convenience of a phone for the whole household without relying on cell reception alone. Depending on the service and plan available, features may include long-distance calling, voicemail, call management options, or the ability to keep an existing phone number.
Contact DFN to learn more about available home phone service, features, and pricing.
Is It Time to Bring Back the Home Phone?
It might be if you want your children to have a way to call friends without needing a smartphone.
It might be if you’d like a designated phone that everyone in the household knows how to use.
And it might be if you miss picking up a phone and having a conversation without a screen lighting up in your hand.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right choice depends on your household, the features you need, and the type of phone service that works best for you.
Curious about home phone options? Give DFN a call at (541) 673-4242, and we’ll help you explore what’s available for your home.