Fix: TypeError ‘list’ object is not callable in Python

TypeError: 'list' object is not callable in Python means you put parentheses after something that’s a list, so Python tried to call it like a function. Usually you named a variable list, or used () where indexing needs []:

prices = [19.99, 4.50]
prices(0)    # TypeError: 'list' object is not callable
prices[0]    # 19.99

Every traceback below is real output from Python 3.12.5, with the fix right after it.

We’ll go through the four usual causes: shadowing the built-in list, round brackets for indexing, a variable that replaced a function, and calling something that isn’t a method.

Cause 1: You named a variable list

In my experience this is the most common one. Assigning to list hides the built-in list() function for the rest of the file, so a later list(...) calls your list instead:

list = ["Austin", "Denver", "Boston"]      # this hides the built-in list() function
print(list)

cities = list(("Tampa", "Reno"))            # now "list" is your list, not the type

Output:

['Austin', 'Denver', 'Boston']
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\pyguides\list_shadow.py", line 4, in <module>
    cities = list(("Tampa", "Reno"))            # now "list" is your list, not the type
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
TypeError: 'list' object is not callable

The fix is to rename the variable, then remove the bad one if your session still has it. In a notebook or REPL, del list brings the built-in back:

cities = ["Austin", "Denver", "Boston"]     # use a descriptive name instead
print(list(("Tampa", "Reno")))

list = ["oops"]
del list                                    # removes your variable, the built-in is back
print(list("abc"))

import builtins
print(builtins.list(range(3)))              # the original is always here too

Output:

['Tampa', 'Reno']
['a', 'b', 'c']
[0, 1, 2]

In Jupyter, the bad variable survives until you delete it or restart the kernel, even after you fix the cell that created it.

Cause 2: Calling a list with () instead of indexing with []

Indexing uses []. Writing prices(0) asks Python to call the list with the argument 0:

prices = [19.99, 4.50, 102.00]
print(prices[0])                            # square brackets: indexing
print(prices(0))                            # parentheses: tries to call the list

Output:

19.99
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\pyguides\list_parens.py", line 3, in <module>
    print(prices(0))                            # parentheses: tries to call the list
          ^^^^^^^^^
TypeError: 'list' object is not callable

Out-of-range square brackets give a different error; see IndexError: list index out of range.

Cause 3: A list variable replaced a function

If a function returns a list and you assign the result to the function’s own name, the function is gone. The next call tries to call the list:

def totals():
    return [42.50, 18.00, 120.25]

totals = totals()           # the name now points at the result, not the function
print(totals)
print(totals())             # calling the list fails

Output:

[42.5, 18.0, 120.25]
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\pyguides\list_function.py", line 6, in <module>
    print(totals())             # calling the list fails
          ^^^^^^^^
TypeError: 'list' object is not callable

Use different names, like order_totals = get_totals(). The same mistake gives 'tuple' object is not callable for tuples; see tuple object is not callable.

Cause 4: Calling something that isn’t a list method

Lists have methods like append() and count(), but not everything is a method. The length comes from the len() function:

orders = [101, 102, 103]

print(len(orders))              # len() is a function, not a list method
print(orders.count(102))         # count IS a method, so call it with ()

try:
    orders.length()              # lists have no .length
except AttributeError as err:
    print("AttributeError:", err)

Output:

3
1
AttributeError: 'list' object has no attribute 'length'

For more on len(), see the len() function in Python.

How do you find which built-in list or dict you shadowed?

Compare names against the builtins module. This quick check lists any common built-ins your code has replaced:

list = [1, 2, 3]
import builtins

print("list is the built-in?", list is builtins.list)
shadowed = [name for name in ("list", "dict", "str", "sum", "max") if globals().get(name) is not None
            and globals()[name] is not getattr(builtins, name)]
print("shadowed built-ins:", shadowed)

Output:

list is the built-in? False
shadowed built-ins: ['list']

I rely on linters such as Ruff and Pylint, which warn about shadowing built-ins as you type, which stops this error before it happens.

Quick fixes for ‘list’ object is not callable

If your code has	Change it to
list = [...]	cities = [...], then del list in notebooks
items(0)	items[0]
result = result()	data = result()
items.length()	len(items)

Other Python error guides you may need:

• Types of errors in Python
• Print a stack trace in Python
• TypeError: string indices must be integers
• List of lists in Python

Frequently asked questions