Length

• The longer a phone cord, the more likely it is to get tangled. Simply answering the phone can cause enough movement to tangle the cord. If your phone cord gets tangled a lot and the cord is longer than 3 to 6 feet, consider buying a shorter cord at an electronics store.
  
  

Types

• Different types of phone cords are more likely to get tangled than others. Spiral cords often become tangled because the spiral in the cord can "catch" on itself when you answer the phone.
  
  

Pacing

• If you pace back and forth as you talk on the phone, your phone cord also can become tangled. This happens because the cord is constantly being stretched out and relaxed again as you walk. Also, the direction of the cord is constantly changing. The result is that part of the cord closest to the receiver can wrap around a part of the cord closer to the phone's base.