Area code 251: Alabama
Area code 251 is a US state area code for Alabama, on Central Time. It has 526 prefixes in service across 42 rate centers, the largest being Mobile, Foley and Atmore. NANPA lists no overlay code for it. Local calls there take 10 digits.
Local time in area code 251
America/Chicago
Prefixes in service
526 of 792 possible
42 rate centers
Area code 251 facts
| Location | Alabama, United States |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Central Time |
| Overlays | None |
| Split from | 334 |
| In service since | June 18, 2001 |
| 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 251?
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 251 rate centers with the most prefixes in service. 30 smaller ones aren't listed.
| Rate center | Prefixes |
|---|---|
| Mobile | 232 |
| Foley | 72 |
| Atmore | 16 |
| Jackson | 15 |
| Fairhope | 14 |
| Bay Minette | 13 |
| Brewton | 12 |
| Evergreen | 10 |
| Mcintosh | 10 |
| Bellefontaine | 8 |
| Flomaton | 8 |
| Monroeville | 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 251 number?
NANPA's dialling plan for 251: 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 251 | 251-555-0147 |
|---|---|
| From another US or Canadian area code | 1-251-555-0147 |
| From outside North America | +1 251 555 0147 |
| E.164, for CRMs and SMS tools | +12515550147 |
When did area code 251 start?
Area code 251 went into service on June 18, 2001, split from 334. It has no overlay, so every number in its area still starts with it.
Tools for 251 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 251 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 251 questions
- What state is area code 251?
- Area code 251 is in Alabama, United States. Its largest rate centers by number of prefixes are Mobile, Foley, Atmore, Jackson and Fairhope.
- What time zone is area code 251 in?
- Central Time.
- Does area code 251 have an overlay?
- Not as of NANPA's file dated 10/16/2026. Every number in its area uses 251.
- When did area code 251 start?
- Area code 251 went into service on June 18, 2001, split from 334.
- Is a 251 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 251 have?
- 526 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.