540 area code — Roanoke, VA geographic
The 540 area code covers Roanoke, Virginia, Eastern time zone, and dates back to July 15, 1995. Together with 826 it forms the 540/826 overlay. Because of number portability and VoIP, the area code tells you where the number was issued, not where the caller is right now.
NANPA lists 786 active NXX prefixes in 540, assigned to 54 carriers. 628 of those prefixes are pooled — shared between carriers in thousands-number blocks. The code spans 117 rate centers (billing localities).
Official projections put exhaust for the 540/826 complex at 1Q 2053.
The dialing plan is 10D for home-NPA local calls and 10D across codes.
Worth noting: 540 is covers more rate centers (117) than any other Virginia area code.
Use this page to decode where 540 numbers come from — and remember that spoofing means the screen can lie about everything except your own caution.
Its parent code is 703, which it left in 1995. Later relief produced 276 (2001), 826 (2022) from its territory.
Largest localities in 540
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Also served by |
|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | 105 | 826 |
| Fredericksburg | 63 | 826 |
| Harrisonburg | 43 | 826 |
| Winchester | 38 | 826 |
| Culpeper | 33 | 826 |
| Staunton | 29 | 826 |
| Blacksburg | 21 | 826 |
| Warrenton | 18 | 826 |
| Radford | 18 | — |
| Stafford | 18 | 826 |
FAQ
Why am I getting spam calls from 540 numbers?
Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 540 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.
Where is a 540 number from?
540 is assigned to Roanoke and surrounding areas of Virginia in the Eastern time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.
Is 540 a toll-free number?
No. 540 is a geographic code; calls are billed like any other domestic call. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.