Area Code 602

About Area Code 602

Area code 602 is a geographic telephone area code assigned to Phoenix, Arizona. It operates in the Mountain time zone and was first introduced in 1947. Original NANP code. Central Phoenix. Overlay 480, 602 split multiple times.

Within Arizona, area code 602 shares numbering capacity with 4 other area codes. The state's 7,431,344-person population (2023 Census Bureau estimate) is served by a combined 5 active codes, with 602 primarily responsible for the Phoenix region. Arizona's state capital is Phoenix, and its largest city is Phoenix.

When you receive a call from a 602 number on your Caller ID, the call originated from a phone number assigned to the 602 area code — but be aware that Local Number Portability (in effect since 2003) means the caller could be physically located anywhere in the US or Canada. Area code 602 only confirms where the number was originally assigned.

Where is the 602 area code located?

Area code 602 is assigned to Phoenix, Arizona, in the Mountain time zone. The state of Arizona uses 5 active area codes, and 602 is one of them. Calls placed from the 602 area code originate from numbers assigned by NANPA — the North American Numbering Plan Administrator — and the 602 prefix appears on Caller ID for both landline and wireless calls placed from this region.

The Mountain time zone observes Daylight Saving Time, shifting from UTC-7 to UTC-6 in summer. The local time shown above is always current, so you can quickly check whether it's a reasonable hour to call back.

What cities and counties use the 602 area code?

The 602 area code serves 11 notable cities, listed below in order of population. The largest city in the 602 territory is Phoenix (1,608,139 residents in Maricopa County).

• Phoenix, AZ — 1,608,139 residents (37.2% of 602 numbers)
• Tucson, AZ — 542,629 residents (12.6% of 602 numbers)
• Mesa, AZ — 511,648 residents (11.8% of 602 numbers)
• Chandler, AZ — 279,458 residents (6.5% of 602 numbers)
• Gilbert, AZ — 275,346 residents (6.4% of 602 numbers)
• Glendale, AZ — 248,715 residents (5.8% of 602 numbers)
• Scottsdale, AZ — 242,753 residents (5.6% of 602 numbers)
• Peoria, AZ — 190,985 residents (4.4% of 602 numbers)
• Tempe, AZ — 184,118 residents (4.3% of 602 numbers)
• Surprise, AZ — 143,228 residents (3.3% of 602 numbers)

Phone number format in area code 602

All phone numbers within area code 602 follow the standard North American 10-digit format:(602) NXX-XXXX. The NXX is the central office prefix (also called an "exchange") and XXXX is the subscriber line number. For long-distance calls within the NANP, dial 1 + 602 + NXX + XXXX. From outside North America, dial your country's international access code, then 1 (the NANP country code), then the 10-digit number.

If you need to verify whether a specific 602 number is wireless, landline, or VoIP, you can use our reverse phone lookup tool. Be aware that number portability means the area code no longer guarantees the caller's physical location — only where the number was first assigned.

History of area code 602

Original NANP code. Central Phoenix. Overlay 480, 602 split multiple times.

The original 86 area codes were assigned by AT&T and Bell Labs in 1947 as part of the North American Numbering Plan. At the time, rotary-dial phones meant codes with lower digits (like 212 for NYC, 213 for LA, 312 for Chicago) were given to the largest cities because they took less time to dial. Today's area code assignments still reflect those early choices, even though touch-tone and cell phones made the original reason obsolete.

Is the 602 area code safe to answer?

Area code 602 itself is a normal geographic code with no elevated spam risk. That said, scammers can spoof any area code — including 602 — so if you don't recognize the full number, let it go to voicemail and verify the caller's identity before calling back.