North Carolina Area Codes
| State: | North Carolina (NC) |
| Area Codes: | 9 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EDT) |
| Current Time: | 3:49 AM |
About North Carolina Area Codes
North Carolina (NC) uses 9 telephone area codes to serve its residents and businesses. With an estimated population of 9,441,066, North Carolina is one of the moderately coded states in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). The state is primarily in the Eastern Time Zone (EDT). The current local time in North Carolina is 3:49 AM.
The largest cities in North Carolina include Charlotte (pop. 1,512,923), Raleigh (pop. 1,038,738), Durham (pop. 424,700), Winston-Salem (pop. 422,269) and Greensboro (pop. 343,090) . North Carolina has 100 counties spread across its territory. Each area code in NC covers a geographic region of the state, with some areas using overlay codes that share the same geographic territory as an existing area code.
When calling a North Carolina phone number from outside the area code, you must dial the full 10-digit number: the 3-digit area code followed by the 7-digit local number. Many parts of North Carolina now require 10-digit dialing even for local calls due to overlay area codes and the nationwide 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline implementation.
All North Carolina Area Codes
The table below lists every active area code in North Carolina, along with the major city served and other cities covered by each code.
| Area Code | Major City | Other Cities |
|---|---|---|
| 252 | Raleigh | Greensboro, Fayetteville, Greenville, Jacksonville, Rocky Mount, New Bern, Morehead City, Wilson and more |
| 336 | Charlotte | Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, Burlington, Asheboro, Thomasville, Kernersville, Mount Airy and more |
| 704 | Charlotte | Concord, Gastonia, Kannapolis, Mooresville, Monroe, Salisbury, Matthews, Statesville and more |
| 743 | Greensboro | Fayetteville, Asheboro, Lexington, Elkin, Danville, Winston Salem, Lynchburg |
| 828 | Charlotte | Greensboro, Asheville, Hickory, Greenville, Boone, Forest City, Lenoir, Morganton and more |
| 910 | Raleigh | Greensboro, Fayetteville, Wilmington, Jacksonville, Pinehurst, Asheboro, Lumberton, Rockingham and more |
| 919 | Raleigh | Durham, Fayetteville, Cary, Greenville, Chapel Hill, Rocky Mount, Apex, Goldsboro and more |
| 980 | Charlotte | Concord, Mooresville, Monroe, Matthews, Lincolnton, Albemarle, Mount Pleasant, Rockwell and more |
| 984 | Raleigh | Durham, Greensboro, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, Apex, Garner, Morrisville, Oxford and more |
Largest Cities in North Carolina
These are the largest cities in North Carolina by population, along with their primary area codes and counties.
| City | Population | County |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 1,512,923 | Mecklenburg County |
| Raleigh | 1,038,738 | Wake County |
| Durham | 424,700 | Durham County |
| Winston-Salem | 422,269 | Forsyth County |
| Greensboro | 343,090 | Guilford County |
| Fayetteville | 327,435 | Cumberland County |
| Asheville | 312,507 | Buncombe County |
| Concord | 261,801 | Cabarrus County |
| Wilmington | 255,616 | New Hanover County |
| Hickory | 218,323 | Catawba County |
Frequently Asked Questions
North Carolina is primarily in the Eastern Time Zone (EDT).
The current local time is 3:49 AM.
The area code covering the most cities in North Carolina is 252, which serves Raleigh and 94+ other communities.
Yes, most areas in North Carolina now require 10-digit dialing (area code + 7-digit number) for all local calls. This requirement was implemented across the United States starting in October 2021 to support the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Even if you are calling within the same area code, you need to dial all 10 digits.
To call a North Carolina number from within the United States, dial the area code followed by the 7-digit phone number (e.g., 252-XXX-XXXX). From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then the full 10-digit number.
North Carolina has 100 counties.
The state's total estimated population is 9,441,066, spread across these counties and served by 9 area codes.
Charlotte is served by area code
252.
North Carolina has 9 area codes in total — see the complete list above.
