938 area code — Huntsville, AL geographic
If a call shows area code 938, the number was issued in the Huntsville area — a code active since 2010, on Central time. The same territory is also served by its overlay code (256/938 complex). Keep in mind the code identifies where the number was registered; the person calling may be elsewhere.
The code currently holds 170 working prefixes, held by 24 different carriers. Of these, 168 are pooled prefixes shared by multiple carriers. Numbers are anchored to 54 rate centers — billing localities that fix where each prefix belongs.
The current NANPA exhaust forecast for the 256/938 complex is 2Q 2043.
The code was carved out of 256 (2010).
Local calls inside 938 are dialed 10D; 1+10 digit permissible at service provider discretion.
To check where a specific 938 number was issued, look up its six-digit prefix; to check who is actually calling, ignore the display and verify through an official callback number — caller ID is assertable and routinely spoofed.
Largest localities in 938
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Also served by |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | 30 | 256 |
| Decatur | 16 | 256 |
| Cullman | 15 | 256 |
| Rogersville | 14 | 256 |
| Scottsboro | 12 | 256 |
| Childersburg | 5 | 256 |
| Athens | 4 | 256 |
| Anniston | 4 | 256 |
| Russellville | 3 | 256 |
| Florence | 3 | 256 |
FAQ
Why do 256 and 938 cover the same place?
They are overlays: when a code runs low on numbers, a new code is added over the same territory instead of splitting it. The 256/938 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.
Will 938 run out of numbers?
NANPA's current forecast projects exhaust in 2Q 2043 — decades of capacity remain.
Why am I getting spam calls from 938 numbers?
Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 938 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.
Where is a 938 number from?
938 is assigned to Huntsville and surrounding areas of Alabama in the Central time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.
Is 938 a toll-free number?
No. 938 is a geographic code; calls are billed like any other domestic call. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.