518 area code
Albany area, Eastern Time.Area code 518 covers Albany, Schenectady, Glens Falls and 132 more places in New York, on Eastern Time. 838 covers the same area.
Right now in Albany
Eastern Time (EST, UTC-5; EDT, UTC-4 in summer)
Calling hours: Every day, 8 AM to 9 PM (the federal rule)
Small talk
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Where 518 numbers come from
Numbers are issued by rate center, a billing area named for its main town. 518 has 135. Each one's share is how many 518 numbers start there. Its biggest metro area is Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY.
- Albany26%
- Schenectady6%
- Glens Falls6%
- Troy4%
- Colonie4%
- Plattsburgh4%
- Saratoga Springs3%
Also: Amsterdam, Hudson, Gloversville, Ballston Spa, Malone, Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Catskill, Cobleskill, Kinderhook, Mechanicville, Johnstown + 116 more
Share of exchanges (blocks of 10,000 numbers). Source: NANPA rate center and exchange reports, November 10, 2026
When can you call a 518 number?
Sales calls to homes and cell phones have legal hours, set by the federal rule. Hold every 518 number to them, since you can't tell a work line from a personal cell.
What applies to 518Every day, 8 AM to 9 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)
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
518 and 838
518 is one of the original area codes from 1947. 518 and 838 cover the same area, so new numbers can get either code and neighbors can have different area codes. 518 holds 78% of the area's exchanges; 838 holds the rest. Local calls take all 10 digits.
- 1947518 starts
- 2017838 overlay
Source: NANPA area code database
Calling a list of 518 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.
518 area code FAQ
What area code is 518?
518 is a New York area code for Albany, Schenectady, Glens Falls, Troy and 131 more places.
What time zone is the 518 area code in?
Eastern Time (EST, UTC-5; EDT, UTC-4 in summer).
Is 838 the same as 518?
Same area, different code. 518 and 838 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 518 numbers?
Every day, 8 AM to 9 PM, local time, under the federal rule.
When did the 518 area code start?
In 1947: it's one of the original area codes.
Calling 518 numbers? Reach more of them.
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