Alabama area codes
The table below lists every active Alabama area code with its coverage, service date and prefix count. 6 of the 7 codes are overlays — added on top of existing territories as numbers ran short.
Geographically the map reads: 256 (Huntsville), 205 (Birmingham), 334 (Montgomery), 251 (Mobile), 659 (Birmingham), 938 (Huntsville). Each code page lists its full coverage down to individual rate centers.
Overlay territory: 205/659, 256/938, 334/483 — same geography, several codes, ten-digit local dialing.
Recent numbering history: 938 arrived in 2010, 659 arrived in 2019, 483 arrived in 2026 — overlays added as existing codes approached exhaust.
Time zone is uniform across the state's codes: Central.
Note that toll-free codes (800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888) sit outside this list — they have no geographic tie to Alabama or anywhere else, and are assigned individually from the national SMS/800 registry.
As everywhere in the NANP: these codes say where numbers were issued, not where callers are. Per-code pages break coverage down to rate centers and prefixes.
| Code | Major area | In service | Overlay complex | Prefixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205 | Birmingham | 1947 | 205/659 | 784 |
| 251 | Mobile | 2001 | — | 526 |
| 256 | Huntsville | 1998 | 256/938 | 785 |
| 334 | Montgomery | 1995 | 334/483 | 775 |
| 483 | — | 2026 | 334/483 | — |
| 659 | Birmingham | 2019 | 205/659 | 171 |
| 938 | Huntsville | 2010 | 256/938 | 170 |
FAQ
How many area codes does Alabama have?
7 geographic area codes are currently in service: 205, 251, 256, 334, 483, 659, 938.
What was Alabama's first area code?
205, in service since 1947.
Will Alabama get a new area code soon?
Not soon. The earliest exhaust forecast in the state is 251 at 1Q 2039, so current codes have ample capacity.
Which time zone are Alabama numbers in?
All Alabama area codes are in the Central time zone.