686 area code
Richmond area, Eastern Time.Area code 686 covers Richmond, Chester, Ashland and 52 more places in Virginia, on Eastern Time. 804 covers the same area.
Right now in Richmond
Eastern Time (EST, UTC-5; EDT, UTC-4 in summer)
Calling hours: Every day, 8 AM to 9 PM (the federal rule)
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Where 686 numbers come from
Numbers are issued by rate center, a billing area named for its main town. 686 has 55. Each one's share is how many 686 numbers start there. Its biggest metro area is Richmond, VA.
- Richmond54%
- Chester4%
- Ashland4%
- Tappahannock4%
- Dawn4%
- Kilmarnock4%
- Charles City4%
- King William4%
- Waverly4%
- Cartersville4%
- Heathsville4%
- Irvington4%
Also: Montross, Petersburg, Midlothian, Mechanicsville, Gloucester, Sandston, Hopewell, Bethia, Warsaw, Enon, Manakin, Powhatan + 31 more
Share of exchanges (blocks of 10,000 numbers). Source: NANPA rate center and exchange reports, November 10, 2026
When can you call a 686 number?
Sales calls to homes and cell phones have legal hours, set by the federal rule. Hold every 686 number to them, since you can't tell a work line from a personal cell.
What applies to 686Every 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
686 and 804
686 went into service on February 1, 2024. 686 and 804 cover the same area, so new numbers can get either code and neighbors can have different area codes. 686 holds 3% of the area's exchanges; 804 holds the most. Local calls take all 10 digits.
- 1973804 overlay
- 2024686 starts
Source: NANPA area code database
Calling a list of 686 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.
686 area code FAQ
What area code is 686?
686 is a Virginia area code for Richmond, Chester, Ashland, Tappahannock and 51 more places.
What time zone is the 686 area code in?
Eastern Time (EST, UTC-5; EDT, UTC-4 in summer).
Is 804 the same as 686?
Same area, different code. 686 and 804 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 686 numbers?
Every day, 8 AM to 9 PM, local time, under the federal rule.
When did the 686 area code start?
On February 1, 2024.
Calling 686 numbers? Reach more of them.
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