256 Area Code
Alabama, USA
Local time now · Central Time
2:43 AM
Area code 256 is in Alabama, USA, serving Huntsville, Decatur, Madison and Florence. It uses Central Time — the time there now is 2:43 AM. 938 is an overlay for the same area, so local calls need 10-digit dialing. In service since 1998.
| Area code | 256 |
|---|---|
| Location | Alabama, USA |
| Major cities | Huntsville, Decatur, Madison, Florence, Gadsden, Athens, Albertville, Oxford |
| Time zone | Central Time |
| Overlay codes | 938 |
| In service since | 1998 |
| Dialing | 1+10 digit permissible at service provider discretion |
Other area codes in Alabama
Time zone converterAll area codes
Frequently asked questions
Where is area code 256?
Alabama, USA — including Huntsville, Decatur, Madison, Florence and Gadsden.
What time zone is area code 256?
Central Time.
How do I call a 256 number from abroad?
Dial your international access code, then 1 (the country code), then 256 and the 7-digit number — for example +1 256 555 0100. From the UK or India dial 00 1 256 …; from Bangladesh 00 1 256 … .
Is a call from 256 a scam?
Not by itself — 256 is an ordinary geographic area code in Alabama. Numbers can be spoofed, so be careful with unexpected calls asking for money or personal details.
Sources: North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) NPA database (10/25/2026); major cities from Wikidata (CC0). An area code shows where a number was first assigned — with number portability and mobile phones, the caller may be anywhere.