How to create a WhatsApp link for your number
- 1
Choose your country.
It starts on United Kingdom (+44) for UK visitors. Change it if your number is from another country.
- 2
Type your WhatsApp number
the way you'd normally write it, such as 07700 900123. We remove the spaces and the first 0 for you.
- 3
Add a message (optional).
Pick a preset or write your own. This text appears in the customer's chat box, ready to send.
- 4
Copy your link or download the QR code.
Tap Test link to check it opens a chat with the right number.
That's it. Anyone who taps the link, or scans the QR code, gets a WhatsApp chat with you, even if they haven't saved your number.
Restaurant presets
| Preset | Pre-filled message | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| I'd like to order | "Hi, I'd like to order" | Window stickers, flyers, Instagram bio |
| Collection order | "Hi, I'd like to place a collection order for [time]" | Busy takeaways |
| Book a table | "Hi, I'd like to book a table for [number] people on [day] at [time]" | Restaurants, cafés, pubs |
| See the menu | "Hi, can I see today's menu?" | Specials boards, social posts |
| Catering enquiry | "Hi, I'm asking about catering for [number] people on [date]" | Caterers, bakeries |
| Send "Hi" | "Hi" | Menuthere WhatsApp ordering (see below) |
Leave the [square brackets] in. Customers fill in their own details before they send.
How a WhatsApp link works
A WhatsApp click-to-chat link follows a simple pattern, set out in WhatsApp's own help pages: https://wa.me/<number>?text=<message>
- The number is in full international format, with no +, no leading zeros, no spaces, brackets or dashes. So the UK number 07700 900123 becomes 447700900123.
- The message is optional and must be URL-encoded. Spaces become %20, a new line becomes %0A, and emojis are encoded too. The generator does all of this for you.
- Message-only links (https://wa.me/?text=…) have no number. They let someone pick a contact to share your message with, which is handy for "send our menu to a friend".
- Opened on a laptop? They see a WhatsApp page offering to open WhatsApp Desktop or WhatsApp Web. See what happens when a WhatsApp link is opened on a laptop.
Turning UK numbers into WhatsApp format
| You write | Link uses | Example link |
|---|---|---|
| 07700 900123 (mobile) | 447700900123 | wa.me/447700900123 |
| +44 (0)7700 900123 | 447700900123 | wa.me/447700900123 |
| 020 7946 0123 (London landline) | 442079460123 | wa.me/442079460123 |
| 0113 496 0123 (Leeds landline) | 441134960123 | wa.me/441134960123 |
Example numbers are from Ofcom's ranges reserved for TV and drama.
The link works with any number registered on WhatsApp, including WhatsApp Business. A landline link only works if that landline is registered on WhatsApp Business. You can do that with the "Call me" option. See how to set up WhatsApp Business.
Your WhatsApp QR code
The QR code holds the same wa.me link. When a customer scans it with their phone camera, WhatsApp opens with your message ready to send.
- Download PNG for social posts and screens, or SVG for sharp printing at any size.
- Print it at least 3 cm wide and keep a white border around it. Bigger is better for windows.
- Test it before you print. Scan it from another phone and check the number and message.
- It won't expire. A wa.me QR code keeps working as long as your number is on WhatsApp.
Want a ready-to-print sticker with your name and colours? Use our WhatsApp QR sticker maker. For tables, try the table QR card.
Where restaurants use WhatsApp links
| Place | Link or QR | Suggested preset |
|---|---|---|
| Shop window and counter | QR sticker | I'd like to order |
| Takeaway bags, boxes and receipts | QR sticker | I'd like to order |
| Instagram, TikTok and Facebook bio | Link | See the menu |
| Google Business Profile | Link | Book a table / I'd like to order |
| Website "Chat on WhatsApp" button | Link | Book a table |
| Flyers and leaflet drops | QR | Collection order |
| Email signature and invoices | Link | Catering enquiry |
wa.me link, short link or order link: which do you need?
- wa.me link (this tool): free and works with any WhatsApp number. You choose the message. The customer must still press Send, and they still type their order.
- WhatsApp Business short link: made inside the WhatsApp Business app (Tools > Short link). It's handy, but you can't build it for another number, and the message is set in the app. See where to find your short link.
- Order link: opens your menu so customers order properly, with sizes, extras and payment. See WhatsApp order links.
Turn chats into orders
A link starts the chat, but on a busy night someone still has to read each order, add it up and reply. Menuthere's WhatsApp ordering system does that part:
- The customer scans your QR code and sends "Hi". Use the Send "Hi" preset.
- Your number replies with an Order Now button that opens your menu, already signed in.
- They order and pay by card or on collection.
- WhatsApp sends each update automatically: placed, accepted, ready, out for delivery and completed.
It's 0% commission, on your own number. WhatsApp ordering is part of Menuthere's Pro plan. Meta's per-message fees are separate: Meta bills your own WhatsApp account directly, and Menuthere adds no markup. Replies inside the 24-hour customer-service window, like the Order Now reply, are free for the first 1,000 a month per number.