253 area code
Tacoma area, Pacific Time.Area code 253 covers Tacoma, Auburn, Tacoma-Waverly and 7 more places in Washington, on Pacific Time.
Right now in Tacoma
Pacific Time (PST, UTC-8; PDT, UTC-7 in summer)
Calling hours: Every day, 8 AM to 8 PM (Washington law)
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Where 253 numbers come from
Numbers are issued by rate center, a billing area named for its main town. 253 has 10. Each one's share is how many 253 numbers start there. Its biggest metro area is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA.
- Tacoma45%
- Auburn16%
- Tacoma-Waverly10%
- Kent9%
- Puyallup5%
- Des Moines5%
- Gig Harbor4%
- Sumner3%
- Graham3%
Also: Roy
Share of exchanges (blocks of 10,000 numbers). Source: NANPA rate center and exchange reports, November 10, 2026
When can you call a 253 number?
Sales calls to homes and cell phones have legal hours, set by Washington law. Hold every 253 number to them, since you can't tell a work line from a personal cell.
What applies to 253Every day, 8 AM to 8 PM
- Federal (TCPA and FTC rule)Every day, 8 AM to 9 PMCalls to residential and mobile numbers. Most calls to businesses are exempt from the FTC's rule.47 CFR 64.1200(c)(1); 16 CFR 310.4(c) (opens in a new tab)
- Washington lawEvery day, 8 AM to 8 PMCalls to businesses are excluded.RCW 80.36.390(8) (opens in a new tab)
Local time comes from the area code, not from where the person is today. Mobiles keep their number when they move. Calling hours here are a guide, not legal advice. Every state's calling hours, with sources
The 253 area code
253 went into service on April 27, 1997, split off from 206. Local calls take all 10 digits.
- 1997253 starts
Source: NANPA area code database
Calling a list of 253 numbers?
Paste it into the free phone number validator. It checks every number, finds each one's time zone and sorts the list by who you can call right now.
253 area code FAQ
What area code is 253?
253 is a Washington area code for Tacoma, Auburn, Tacoma-Waverly, Kent and 6 more places.
What time zone is the 253 area code in?
Pacific Time (PST, UTC-8; PDT, UTC-7 in summer).
What are the calling hours for 253 numbers?
Every day, 8 AM to 8 PM, local time, under Washington law.
When did the 253 area code start?
On April 27, 1997. It was split from 206.
Calling 253 numbers? Reach more of them.
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