Area Code 205
Area code 205 covers Birmingham and nearby cities including Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Alabaster in Alabama, in the Central Time.
Area code 205 quick facts
| Location | Birmingham, Alabama |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Central Time |
| In service | 1947-01-01 |
| Overlay codes | 659 |
| Nearby codes | 659, 256, 938, 334, 483, 404 |
| Carrier coverage | 784 prefixes; 37% wireless |
| FTC complaint data | 537 complaints across 107 numbers |
| Data current as of | August 2, 2026 |
Is a call from 205 a scam? Who called me from 205?
FTC complaints involving 205 numbers
Numbers shown with area code 205 in the FTC's Do Not Call “Reported Calls” database (recent reporting window). Most common reported reasons: “Other”, “Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)”, “Dropped call or no message”.
Most-complained 205 numbers:
- (205) 840-6072 — 57 complaints
- (205) 961-7487 — 18 complaints
- (205) 383-1546 — 17 complaints
- (205) 529-8772 — 16 complaints
- (205) 827-2204 — 14 complaints
These are FTC Do Not Call complaints filed about specific numbers shown with this area code — frequently spoofed. The area code itself is not a scam. See the most-reported area codes and the most-reported phone numbers nationwide.
Cities in area code 205
Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Alabaster, Bessemer, Center Point, Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills
Area codes by city
Carriers in area code 205
Area code 205 spans 784 prefixes, about 37% wireless. Top carriers: BELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TEL, ONVOY, LLC - AL, CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - AL, NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - GA. Look up the carrier and line type for a 205 number.
Other Alabama area codes
Nearby area codes
Frequently asked questions
Where is area code 205?
Area code 205 covers Birmingham and nearby cities including Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Alabaster in Alabama, in the Central Time.
What cities use area code 205?
Area code 205 serves Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Alabaster, Bessemer, and 4 other communities in Alabama.
What time zone is area code 205 in?
Area code 205 is in the Central Time (America/Chicago).
How do you dial a 205 number?
Dial all 10 digits: 205 followed by the 7-digit local number. From abroad, dial +1 205 and the local number.
Is a call from area code 205 a scam?
A 205 number is geographically tied to Alabama, but caller ID can be spoofed, so the displayed area code does not prove where a caller really is. If you did not expect the call, do not share personal information and consider looking the number up.
Is 205 a country code?
No. 205 is a US area code (a domestic 3-digit code), not a country code. The country (calling) code for the United States is +1, shared across the North American Numbering Plan. So a full 205 number written for international dialing looks like +1 205 followed by the 7-digit local number.
Sourced from the official NANPA (North American Numbering Plan Administrator) numbering database, current as of August 2, 2026. Refreshed monthly.