480 Area Code — Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa & Phoenix East Valley, AZ
Area code 480 covers Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler & Gilbert in the Phoenix East Valley. Split from 602 in 1999. No DST, Intel, ASU, scam risk, and dialing guide.
The 480 area code serves the East Valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area in Arizona — including Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, and Gilbert. Created in 1999 when Phoenix's original 602 code was split three ways, 480 covers one of the fastest-growing regions in the US, home to Arizona State University, Intel's massive chip fabs, and Scottsdale's world-class resorts.
480 Area Code at a Glance
Location: East Valley, Phoenix metro, AZ
Key Cities: Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert
Year Created: March 1, 1999
Split from: Area code 602
Timezone: MST year-round (UTC-7, no DST)
Metro Population: ~4.9 million (Phoenix metro)
Arizona Does NOT Observe Daylight Saving Time
Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7) year-round. In summer, Phoenix matches Pacific Daylight Time (same as LA). In winter, it matches Mountain Standard Time (same as Denver). Always double-check the time when scheduling calls.
Cities & Communities in the 480 Area
| City | Population | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Mesa | 504,258 | Largest city in 480 — larger than Minneapolis, Miami, or Atlanta |
| Scottsdale | 241,361 | Luxury resort town, golf capital, Old Town nightlife |
| Chandler | 275,987 | Intel HQ, major tech corridor |
| Tempe | 180,587 | Arizona State University (77,000+ students) |
| Gilbert | 267,918 | One of fastest-growing US towns, Heritage District |
| Apache Junction | 41,814 | Gateway to the Superstition Mountains |
| Fountain Hills | 23,820 | Famous 560-foot fountain (world's 4th tallest) |
| Queen Creek | 65,062 | One of AZ's fastest-growing cities |
| San Tan Valley (CDP) | 104,936 | Unincorporated, rapidly developing |
| Gold Canyon (CDP) | 12,691 | Retirement/golf community near Superstitions |
| Paradise Valley | 14,502 | Exclusive enclave — highest household income in AZ |
| Carefree | 3,690 | Artist colony, sundial plaza |
History of the 480 Area Code
Area code 602 created for all of Arizona — one of the original 86 codes.
Area code 520 split from 602 for southern and eastern Arizona (Tucson, Sierra Vista, Flagstaff).
March 1 — Three-way split of 602: 480 assigned to East Valley (Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert). 623 assigned to West Valley (Glendale, Peoria, Surprise). 602 retained central Phoenix.
Area code 928 split from 520 for northern Arizona (Flagstaff, Prescott, Yuma).
Phoenix Metro Area Codes
| Code | Territory | Key Cities |
|---|---|---|
| 602 | Central Phoenix | Downtown Phoenix, Midtown, Arcadia |
| 480 | East Valley | Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert |
| 623 | West Valley | Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Avondale |
How to Dial a 480 Number
| Calling From | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Within Phoenix metro | 480 + 7-digit number | 480-555-0100 |
| Within US | 1 + 480 + 7-digit number | 1-480-555-0100 |
| Cell phone (anywhere) | +1 480 + 7-digit number | +1 480 555 0100 |
| From Mexico | 00 + 1 + 480 + number | 00-1-480-555-0100 |
| From UK | 00 + 1 + 480 + number | 00-1-480-555-0100 |
Major Employers & Landmarks
Intel (Ocotillo Campus)
Fortune 500 (#56)
Semiconductor manufacturing — $20B Fab 52/62 expansion
Chandler
Arizona State University
Public University
Education — 77,000+ students (largest public university by enrollment)
Tempe
Microchip Technology
S&P 500
Semiconductor & microcontroller manufacturer
Chandler
GoDaddy
S&P 500
Web hosting & domain registrar — global HQ
Tempe
Scottsdale Fashion Square
Retail
Largest mall in AZ — 2M sq ft, luxury brands
Scottsdale
Mayo Clinic (Arizona)
Major Medical
World-class hospital — US News top 5
Scottsdale
WM Phoenix Open (TPC Scottsdale)
Sports
PGA Tour's most-attended event — 700,000+ fans/year
Scottsdale
Carvana
S&P 500
Online used car dealer — global HQ
Tempe
Axon (Taser)
S&P 500
Law enforcement technology — Taser & body cameras
Scottsdale
Nammo (Arizona)
Defense
Ammunition & rocket motors for defense
Mesa
Banner Health
Major Healthcare
Arizona's largest healthcare system — 30 hospitals
Phoenix (serves 480 area)
Boeing (Mesa site)
Fortune 500
Apache helicopter manufacturing
Mesa
Scam & Spam Risk from 480 Numbers
Solar panel scams
Aggressive "free solar" pitches exploiting Arizona's 300+ sunny days — fake incentive programs
Real estate scams
Fake home listings, rental scams, and timeshare fraud targeting Phoenix's booming housing market
Auto warranty scams
Robocalls about expiring vehicle warranties
IRS/tax scams
Fake IRS calls threatening arrest — targets retiree population in Scottsdale/Mesa
APS utility scams
Fake Arizona Public Service calls threatening power shutoff during summer heat
Check suspicious 480 numbers with our spam number checker.
Time Zone
Mountain Standard Time (MST) — No Daylight Saving
Year-round: UTC-7 (MST always)
Summer: Same as LA (PDT), 1hr ahead of Denver (MDT)
Winter: Same as Denver (MST), 1hr ahead of LA (PST)
9 AM in Phoenix (winter) = 8 AM PT = 11 AM ET
9 AM in Phoenix (summer) = 9 AM PT = 12 PM ET
Related Area Codes
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