Area codes · United States
Area codes in Virginia
- 10 in service
- 4 overlay complexes
Reviewed by Sujan ThapaliyaLast updated
What area codes does Virginia use?
- Codes in service
- 10
- Country
- United States
- Time zones
- ET (UTC−5/−4)
- Overlay complexes
- 540/826, 571/703, 686/804, 757/948
- Same territory, more than one code.
- Oldest / newest code
- 1947 / 2024
Directory
How many area codes does Virginia have?
Each page covers where the code is, its time zone, the overlays sharing its territory, and what to do about unwanted calls from it.
| Code | Time zone | Overlays | In service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 276 | ET (UTC−5/−4) | None | 2001 |
| 434 | ET (UTC−5/−4) | None | 2001 |
| 540 | ET (UTC−5/−4) | 826 | 1995 |
| 571 | ET (UTC−5/−4) | 703 | 2000 |
| 686 | ET (UTC−5/−4) | 804 | 2024 |
| 703 | ET (UTC−5/−4) | 571 | 1947 |
| 757 | ET (UTC−5/−4) | 948 | 1996 |
| 804 | ET (UTC−5/−4) | 686 | 1973 |
| 826 | ET (UTC−5/−4) | 540 | 2022 |
| 948 | ET (UTC−5/−4) | 757 | 2022 |
Overlays
Which codes share the same ground?
An overlay adds a second code across the same geography rather than splitting the region in two, so nobody has to change their number — but every local call then needs ten digits, because seven no longer identifies a number uniquely.
- 540 / 826 — 2 codes over one territory.
- 571 / 703 — 2 codes over one territory.
- 686 / 804 — 2 codes over one territory.
- 757 / 948 — 2 codes over one territory.
2 codes here have no overlay: 276, 434.
Unwanted calls
Is a call from a Virginia code likely to be spam?
Not because of the code itself. Every code here serves real people and businesses. What makes an unfamiliar Virginianumber suspicious is a pattern rather than a prefix: unwanted callers routinely spoof caller ID to display a number in the recipient’s own area, because a familiar code is answered more often. That technique is called neighbour spoofing, and it means the code on your screen is evidence of what the caller wanted you to see rather than where they are.
The practical response is the same for every code: if you do not recognise the number, let it go to voicemail. A caller with a genuine reason leaves a message. If the calls repeat, report them — complaints are one of the strongest inputs into the analytics that get numbers labelled and blocked network-wide, which does more than blocking one number on one handset. There is a fuller treatment in how to block unwanted calls.
If it is your own calls into Virginia going unanswered, the cause is usually the reverse of this: a number with no name attached to it, or one whose reputation was damaged before you rented it. Owning the number and registering a business name against it is what separates a local call that gets answered from one that gets ignored.
Frequently asked questions
How many area codes does Virginia have?
What is the main area code for Virginia?
Why do some Virginia numbers need ten digits for a local call?
Does an area code tell me where the caller is?
Can I get a Virginia phone number for my business?
Sources
- North American Numbering Plan Administrator — NANPAArea code assignments, relief planning, and which codes are in service across the North American Numbering Plan.
- ITU-T Recommendation E.164 — The international public telecommunication numbering plan — International Telecommunication UnionThe international number format, the 15-digit maximum, and how country codes and national numbers compose.
Get a Virginia number that gets answered
A local code helps only when the number is genuinely yours and rings back to your team. Owned numbers, your business name on the caller ID, and calls signed at full attestation.
- Owned, not pooled
- Branded caller ID
- No subscription