Area code 205: Alabama
Area code 205 is a US state area code for Alabama, on Central Time. It has 785 prefixes in service across 70 rate centers, the largest being Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Bessemer. It shares its area with 659, so local numbers there can start with any of them. Local calls there take 10 digits.
Local time in area code 205
America/Chicago
Prefixes in service
785 of 792 possible
70 rate centers
Area code 205 facts
| Location | Alabama, United States |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Central Time |
| Overlays | 659 |
| In service since | 1947, when the plan began |
| Local calls | 10 digits; toll calls 1 + 10 digits |
| Carrier | Not shown. An area code is where a number was issued; numbers port between carriers. Check line type |
Which cities and towns use area code 205?
NANPA records each prefix against a rate center, the local billing area a number belongs to, usually named after its main town. These are the 205 rate centers with the most prefixes in service. 58 smaller ones aren't listed.
| Rate center | Prefixes |
|---|---|
| Birmingham | 370 |
| Tuscaloosa | 69 |
| Bessemer | 31 |
| Jasper | 21 |
| Alabaster | 19 |
| Clanton | 13 |
| Pell City | 11 |
| Gardendale | 9 |
| Eutaw | 9 |
| Pinson | 9 |
| Leeds | 9 |
| Dora | 8 |
Source: NANPA central office code assignments, file dated 10/17/2026. Each prefix holds up to 10,000 numbers.
How do I dial a 205 number?
NANPA's dialling plan for 205: local calls inside the code take 10 digits, toll calls 1 + 10 digits. From another area code, dial 1 first. From abroad, use +1. The examples use 555-0147, from a range reserved for fictional numbers.
| Local call inside 205 | 205-555-0147 |
|---|---|
| From another US or Canadian area code | 1-205-555-0147 |
| From outside North America | +1 205 555 0147 |
| E.164, for CRMs and SMS tools | +12055550147 |
When did area code 205 start?
Area code 205 is one of the original codes NANPA lists from 1947. Today 205 and 659 cover the same area as an overlay, which is why 10-digit dialling is needed for local calls there.
Tools for 205 numbers
- Area code lookup
Look up any code or a whole list of numbers, or find the codes for a state or city.
- Area code time zone
Local time for a list of numbers, with a callable-now flag.
- NPA-NXX lookup
Rate center and state for one prefix, a level below the area code.
- TCPA calling hours checker
Whether it's inside the federal 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. calling window there now.
Next step
A 205 number tells you where it was issued, not what it is now.
Mobiles, landlines and VoIP lines share area codes, and numbers move between carriers. A live line-type and carrier lookup on every number in your list says which is which, and that decides which calling and texting rules apply. It's in the Email + Phone plan.
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Area code 205 questions
- What state is area code 205?
- Area code 205 is in Alabama, United States. Its largest rate centers by number of prefixes are Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Bessemer, Jasper and Alabaster.
- What time zone is area code 205 in?
- Central Time.
- What area codes overlay 205?
- 659. An overlay adds a new code to the same area instead of splitting it, so neighbours can have different area codes and local calls need 10 digits.
- When did area code 205 start?
- Area code 205 is one of the original codes NANPA lists from 1947.
- Is a 205 number a cell phone or a landline?
- The area code can't tell you. In the US and Canada mobiles, landlines and VoIP lines share area codes and prefixes, and numbers move between carriers and line types. Only a live line-type lookup answers it for one number.
- How many phone numbers does area code 205 have?
- 785 of its 792 possible prefixes are in service, and each prefix holds up to 10,000 numbers. That counts prefixes assigned to carriers, not numbers in use.
Other area codes in Alabama
Sources
Location, overlays, in-service date and dialling plan: NANPA NPA database, file dated 10/16/2026. Prefixes and rate centers: NANPA central office code assignments, 10/17/2026. Time zones mapped to the IANA time zone database. By the SimpleVerifier Team; how we build these pages.