South Carolina Area Codes
| State: | South Carolina (SC) |
| Area Codes: | 5 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EDT) |
| Current Time: | 3:49 AM |
About South Carolina Area Codes
South Carolina (SC) uses 5 telephone area codes to serve its residents and businesses. With an estimated population of 4,625,071, South Carolina is one of the smaller states in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). The state is primarily in the Eastern Time Zone (EDT). The current local time in South Carolina is 3:49 AM.
The largest cities in South Carolina include Charleston (pop. 628,377), Columbia (pop. 560,041), Greenville (pop. 484,465), Myrtle Beach (pop. 275,579) and Spartanburg (pop. 182,701) . South Carolina has 46 counties spread across its territory. Each area code in SC 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 South 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 South Carolina now require 10-digit dialing even for local calls due to overlay area codes and the nationwide 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline implementation.
All South Carolina Area Codes
The table below lists every active area code in South Carolina, along with the major city served and other cities covered by each code.
| Area Code | Major City | Other Cities |
|---|---|---|
| 803 | Columbia | Rock Hill, Sumter, Aiken, Orangeburg, Lancaster, North Augusta, Fort Mill, Lexington and more |
| 839 | Columbia | Rock Hill, Irmo, Augusta |
| 843 | Charleston | Columbia, Myrtle Beach, North Charleston, Florence, Mount Pleasant, Beaufort, Summerville, Conway and more |
| 854 | Charleston | Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Florence, Conway, Moncks Corner, Pritchardville, Saint Stephen, Wilmington |
| 864 | Charleston | Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Greenwood, Greer, Seneca, Simpsonville and more |
Largest Cities in South Carolina
These are the largest cities in South Carolina by population, along with their primary area codes and counties.
| City | Population | County |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 628,377 | Charleston County |
| Columbia | 560,041 | Richland County |
| Greenville | 484,465 | Greenville County |
| Myrtle Beach | 275,579 | Horry County |
| Spartanburg | 182,701 | Spartanburg County |
| Mauldin | 133,872 | Greenville County |
| Rock Hill | 119,105 | York County |
| North Charleston | 115,382 | Charleston County |
| Florence | 93,131 | Florence County |
| Mount Pleasant | 91,684 | Charleston County |
Frequently Asked Questions
South 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 South Carolina is 843, which serves Charleston and 75+ other communities.
Yes, most areas in South 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 South Carolina number from within the United States, dial the area code followed by the 7-digit phone number (e.g., 803-XXX-XXXX). From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then the full 10-digit number.
South Carolina has 46 counties.
The state's total estimated population is 4,625,071, spread across these counties and served by 5 area codes.
Charleston is served by area code
803.
South Carolina has 5 area codes in total — see the complete list above.
