838 area code
Albany area, Eastern Time.Area code 838 covers Albany, Schenectady, Troy and 132 more places in New York, on Eastern Time. 518 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 838 numbers come from
Numbers are issued by rate center, a billing area named for its main town. 838 has 135. Each one's share is how many 838 numbers start there. Its biggest metro area is Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY.
- Albany13%
- Schenectady5%
- Troy4%
- Johnstown4%
- Colonie3%
- Hudson2%
Also: Glens Falls, Amsterdam, Catskill, Hoosick Falls, Ballston Spa, Malone, Castleton, Athens, Claverack, Saratoga Springs, Gloversville, Lake Placid + 117 more
Share of exchanges (blocks of 10,000 numbers). Source: NANPA rate center and exchange reports, November 10, 2026
When can you call an 838 number?
Sales calls to homes and cell phones have legal hours, set by the federal rule. Hold every 838 number to them, since you can't tell a work line from a personal cell.
What applies to 838Every 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
838 and 518
838 went into service on September 19, 2017. 838 and 518 cover the same area, so new numbers can get either code and neighbors can have different area codes. 838 holds 22% of the area's exchanges; 518 holds the most. Local calls take all 10 digits.
- 1947518 overlay
- 2017838 starts
Source: NANPA area code database
Calling a list of 838 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.
838 area code FAQ
What area code is 838?
838 is a New York area code for Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Johnstown and 131 more places.
What time zone is the 838 area code in?
Eastern Time (EST, UTC-5; EDT, UTC-4 in summer).
Is 518 the same as 838?
Same area, different code. 838 and 518 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 838 numbers?
Every day, 8 AM to 9 PM, local time, under the federal rule.
When did the 838 area code start?
On September 19, 2017.
Calling 838 numbers? Reach more of them.
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