Boston Area Codes: 617, 857, 781 & 5 More Guide (2026)

📅 2026-02-17 ⏱️ 14 min read ✍️ BubblyPhone Team

All Boston area codes — 617, 857, 781, 339, 508, 774, 978, 351. Which codes serve Greater Boston, history, time zone, and scam alerts.

The Boston area code isn't one code — it's eight. Greater Boston is served by area codes 617, 857, 781, 339, 508, 774, 978, and 351, organized into four overlay pairs covering central Boston, the Route 128 suburbs, southeastern Massachusetts, and the Merrimack Valley. With approximately 4.9 million people in the metro area, Boston needed four separate splits and four overlays to keep up with demand.

Quick Facts

State: Massachusetts
City: Boston (24th largest in US)
Area Codes: 617, 857, 781, 339, 508, 774, 978, 351
Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET)
Metro Population: ~4.9 million
Original Code: 617 (1947)
Dialing: 10-digit mandatory

Is a Boston Area Code a Scam?

Boston area codes (617, 857, 781, 339, 508, 774, 978, 351) are legitimate codes serving approximately 4.9 million people. However, like all major metro areas, Boston numbers are frequently spoofed by scammers. Use our Spam Number Checker to check suspicious numbers.

How to Call Boston Internationally

Dial exit code + 1 + Boston area code (617/857/781/339/508/774/978/351) + 7-digit number. On mobile: +1-617-XXX-XXXX. Use Best Time to Call for Eastern Time info. Look up any code with our Area Code Lookup. Check our rates.