Memphis Area Code 901: Complete Guide (2026)

📅 2026-02-24 ⏱️ 14 min read ✍️ BubblyPhone Team

Complete guide to Memphis area code 901 and surrounding codes. Learn about the tri-state metro spanning Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas, its history, time zone, and how to identify scam calls.

The Memphis area code is 901 — one of the original 86 area codes from 1947, and one of the few major US city codes that has never been overlaid. Memphis is also a tri-state metro: suburbs in Mississippi use 662, and West Memphis, Arkansas uses 870. The metro area spans 9 counties across 3 states and is home to approximately 1.3 million people.

This is the city where an 18-year-old paid $3.98 to record two songs and became the biggest music star in history, where a CEO bet his company's last $5,000 at a blackjack table and won enough to keep the planes flying, where a yellow fever epidemic killed so many people the city lost its charter for 14 years, and where a pyramid originally built as a basketball arena is now the world's wildest retail store.

Memphis Area Code Quick Facts

State: Tennessee (+ MS, AR suburbs)
City: Memphis (pop. ~615,000)
Primary Code: 901
Time Zone: Central (CT)
Metro Population: ~1.3 million
Code Origin: 1947 (original 86)
Suburban Codes: 662 (MS), 870 (AR), 731 (W. TN)
Dialing: 7-digit still works in 901

Memphis Area Codes: A Tri-State Metro

901 covers the Memphis core (Shelby, Tipton, Fayette counties in Tennessee). 662 covers Mississippi suburbs including Southaven, Olive Branch, and Horn Lake. 870 covers West Memphis and eastern Arkansas. 731 covers the rest of western Tennessee outside Memphis.

Is a 901 Area Code Call a Scam?

Area code 901 is a legitimate code serving approximately 1.3 million people in the Memphis metro area. However, like all area codes, 901 numbers can be spoofed by scammers. Always verify unknown callers. Use our Spam Number Checker to check suspicious numbers.

How to Call Memphis Internationally

Dial exit code + 1 + 901 + 7-digit number. On mobile: +1-901-XXX-XXXX. For Mississippi suburbs use 662, for West Memphis use 870. Use Best Time to Call for Central Time info. Look up any code with our Area Code Lookup. Check our rates.