Area code 205: where it is and who calls from it
Area code 205 is in Alabama.
Western and central Alabama (Birmingham, Tuscaloosa)
| Where | Alabama |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Central Time ยท local time |
| In service since | 1947 |
| Overlay | Yes, with 659 |
| Prefixes assigned | 785 of 792 possible (99%) |
Overlay: 205 covers the same area as 659. Overlay areas use 10-digit dialing, so a seven-digit number alone won't connect, and neighbors can have different area codes.
Where 205 numbers started
Every prefix is assigned to a rate center, the local calling area it was set up in. These are the biggest in 205, with how many prefixes each has.
Plus 10 smaller rate centers.
Who holds 205 numbers
- Mobile carrier 32%
- Local phone company 36%
- Internet / business phone carrier 24%
- Paging service 3%
- Phone company 5%
| Carrier | Type | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T (local phone) | Local phone company | 229 | 29% |
| AT&T Mobility | Mobile carrier | 92 | 12% |
| Verizon Wireless | Mobile carrier | 84 | 11% |
| Windstream (PAETEC) | Internet / business phone carrier | 53 | 7% |
| T-Mobile (including Sprint) | Mobile carrier | 42 | 5% |
| Onvoy | Internet / business phone carrier | 35 | 4% |
| Brightspeed Of Alabama, LLC - Northern | Local phone company | 35 | 4% |
| MetroPCS (T-Mobile) | Mobile carrier | 33 | 4% |
| Level 3 (Lumen) | Internet / business phone carrier | 31 | 4% |
| Bandwidth | Internet / business phone carrier | 28 | 4% |
Most prefixes are pooled: the 10,000 numbers in each are handed out in blocks of 1,000 to different carriers, and people can also take their numbers to another carrier. So the carrier shown is where the prefix started, not a guarantee about any one number.
States served: Alabama.
Other area codes in Alabama
Got a call from 205?
An area code tells you where a number was first assigned, not where the caller is. People keep their numbers when they move, and scammers can fake any number. If you weren't expecting the call, let it go to voicemail.
If the call shows a 205 number that matches the first six digits of your own, that's often neighbor spoofing. Use the box above to check the full number.
Area code facts from the NANPA area code database (updated 10/06/2026); prefixes and carriers from NANPA's central office code records (updated 2026-10-10). Place description adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.