256 area code
Huntsville area, Central Time.Area code 256 covers Huntsville, Decatur, Anniston and 88 more places in Alabama, on Central Time. 938 covers the same area.
Right now in Huntsville
Central Time (CST, UTC-6; CDT, UTC-5 in summer)
Calling hours: Mon to Sat, 8 AM to 8 PM · Sun, no calls (Alabama law)
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Where 256 numbers come from
Numbers are issued by rate center, a billing area named for its main town. 256 has 91. Each one's share is how many 256 numbers start there. Its biggest metro area is Birmingham, AL.
- Huntsville20%
- Decatur6%
- Anniston5%
- Gadsden5%
- Cullman5%
- Florence4%
- Athens3%
- Scottsboro2%
- Guntersville2%
- Alexander City2%
- Talladega2%
Also: Rogersville, Madison, Albertville, Fort Payne, Sylacauga, Arab, Russellville, Hartselle, Sheffield, Jacksonville, Boaz, Centre + 68 more
Share of exchanges (blocks of 10,000 numbers). Source: NANPA rate center and exchange reports, November 10, 2026
When can you call a 256 number?
Sales calls to homes and cell phones have legal hours, set by Alabama law. Hold every 256 number to them, since you can't tell a work line from a personal cell.
What applies to 256Mon to Sat, 8 AM to 8 PM · Sun, no calls
- 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)
- Alabama lawMon to Sat, 8 AM to 8 PM · Sun, no callsNo calls on legal holidays either, which the tool doesn't track.Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.17(2)(b) (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
256 and 938
256 went into service on March 23, 1998, split off from 205. 256 and 938 cover the same area, so new numbers can get either code and neighbors can have different area codes. 256 holds 81% of the area's exchanges; 938 holds the rest. Local calls take all 10 digits.
- 1998256 starts
- 2010938 overlay
Source: NANPA area code database
Calling a list of 256 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.
256 area code FAQ
What area code is 256?
256 is an Alabama area code for Huntsville, Decatur, Anniston, Gadsden and 87 more places.
What time zone is the 256 area code in?
Central Time (CST, UTC-6; CDT, UTC-5 in summer).
Is 938 the same as 256?
Same area, different code. 256 and 938 cover the same area (an overlay), so new numbers can get any of them and local calls take all 10 digits.
What are the calling hours for 256 numbers?
Mon to Sat, 8 AM to 8 PM · Sun, no calls, local time, under Alabama law.
When did the 256 area code start?
On March 23, 1998. It was split from 205.
Calling 256 numbers? Reach more of them.
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