Area code 581: Quebec
Area code 581 is a Canadian province area code for Quebec, on Eastern Time. It has 778 prefixes in service across 232 exchange areas, the largest being Quebec, Chicoutimi and Alma. It shares its area with 367 and 418, so local numbers there can start with any of them. Local calls there take 10 digits.
Local time in area code 581
America/Toronto
Prefixes in service
778 of 792 possible
232 exchange areas
Area code 581 facts
| Location | Quebec, Canada |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Eastern Time |
| Overlays | 367, 418 |
| Overlay of | 418 |
| In service since | September 19, 2008 |
| 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 581?
The Canadian Numbering Administrator records each prefix against an exchange area, usually named after its main town. These are the 581 exchange areas with the most prefixes in service. 220 smaller ones aren't listed.
| Exchange area | Prefixes |
|---|---|
| Quebec | 103 |
| Chicoutimi | 24 |
| Alma | 16 |
| Rimouski | 15 |
| Riviere-du-Loup | 13 |
| Thetford Mines | 13 |
| Levis | 11 |
| Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce | 9 |
| Saint-Georges-de-Beauce | 9 |
| Chibougamau | 9 |
| Baie-Comeau (Hauterive) | 8 |
| St-Felicien | 7 |
Source: Canadian Numbering Administrator CO code status, file dated 2026-10-16. Each prefix holds up to 10,000 numbers.
How do I dial a 581 number?
NANPA's dialling plan for 581: 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 581 | 581-555-0147 |
|---|---|
| From another US or Canadian area code | 1-581-555-0147 |
| From outside North America | +1 581 555 0147 |
| E.164, for CRMs and SMS tools | +15815550147 |
When did area code 581 start?
Area code 581 went into service on September 19, 2008 as an overlay of 418. Today 581, 367 and 418 cover the same area as an overlay, which is why 10-digit dialling is needed for local calls there.
Tools for 581 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 581 number tells you where it was issued, not what it is now.
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Area code 581 questions
- What province is area code 581?
- Area code 581 is in Quebec, Canada. Its largest exchange areas by number of prefixes are Quebec, Chicoutimi, Alma, Rimouski and Riviere-du-Loup.
- What time zone is area code 581 in?
- Eastern Time.
- What area codes overlay 581?
- 367 and 418. 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 581 start?
- Area code 581 went into service on September 19, 2008 as an overlay of 418.
- Is a 581 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 581 have?
- 778 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 Quebec
Sources
Location, overlays, in-service date and dialling plan: NANPA NPA database, file dated 10/16/2026. Prefixes and exchange areas: Canadian Numbering Administrator CO code status, 2026-10-16. Time zones mapped to the IANA time zone database. By the SimpleVerifier Team; how we build these pages.