Alabama Area Codes

About Area Codes in Alabama

Alabama (AL) is the Heart of Dixie, located in the South region of the United States. With a 2023 population of 5,108,468 residents, Alabama is served by 6 active area codes. The state capital is Montgomery and the largest city is Huntsville.Alabama's official motto is "Audemus jura nostra defendere."

Area code assignments in Alabama follow the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), which has been in effect since 1947. As the state's population and demand for phone numbers grew — driven by the rise of cell phones, fax machines, pagers, and VoIP lines — regulators either split existing area codes geographically or added overlay codes that share the same territory. That's why Alabama now has 6 codes: 205, 251, 256, 334, 659, 938.

When you receive a call from a Alabama number, the area code tells you only where the number was originally assigned. Because of Local Number Portability (LNP), which took effect in 2003, callers can keep their phone numbers even when moving across state lines. So while a 205 number was once assigned in Alabama, the person calling you could be anywhere in the US today.

Time zones in Alabama

Alabama observes the Central time zone. Daylight Saving Time is observed from the second Sunday in March through the first Sunday in November, when clocks shift forward by one hour. When you call a Alabama number from outside the state, double-check the local time above each area code detail page to avoid calling at unreasonable hours.

Phone number format in Alabama

All Alabama phone numbers follow the standard 10-digit NANP format: (NPA) NXX-XXXX. For local calls within Alabama, you typically need to dial the full 10-digit number — even for calls within the same area code — because of mandatory 10-digit dialing imposed by the FCC for areas with overlay codes (most of Alabama's territory). For long-distance calls within the NANP, dial 1 + area code + 7-digit number.

Frequently asked questions about Alabama area codes

How many area codes does Alabama have?

Alabama currently has 6 active area codes: 205, 251, 256, 334, 659, 938.

What is Alabama's original area code?

The oldest area code(s) in Alabama were assigned in 1947 as part of the original 86 NANP codes. These legacy codes typically covered the entire state at first, then were split as demand grew.

What time zone is Alabama in?

Alabama is in the Central time zone.

Will Alabama get more area codes?

As Alabama's population and number demand grow, NANPA may assign additional overlay codes. When the current codes run out of available prefixes, regulators announce public hearings and propose new codes. The AreaCodeCentral team tracks these announcements and updates the directory within 24 hours of any new code activation.