206 Area Code
Covers Seattle and nearby communities in Washington.
(206) 555-0142Area code 206 map
Interactive coverage map for area code 206, centered on Seattle, Washington
47.6062, -122.3321
Open in OpenStreetMapArea code 206 coverage map — centered on Seattle. Shaded area shows the approximate reach around the primary city.
If you are trying to place Seattle, WA on the map, area code 206 is the one that covers it. It reaches roughly 750,000 people across places such as Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Mercer Island, Vashon and more. The region observes Pacific time, so a number like (206) 555-0142 is on that clock right now. The original code for all of Washington State, now trimmed down to Seattle and the nearby islands after the 425 and 253 splits. It is not currently paired with an overlay code. Because the 206 region uses more than one area code, you must dial all ten digits — area code included — even for a local call. You do not, however, need to dial a leading 1 for calls within the US and Canada. Scroll on for a real-time clock, an area map, the cities and counties inside 206, its related area codes, and practical advice on 206 robocalls and caller-ID spoofing.
Cities covered by 206
Cities & neighborhoods
- Seattle
- Bainbridge Island
- Mercer Island
- Vashon
- White Center
- Burien
Nearby & overlay area codes
Overlay codes (same area)
These share 206’s geography — a number in either code can be on the same street.
206 has no overlay code right now.
Is a call from 206 a scam?
Because 206 covers a dense metro around Seattle, it's a common source of both real business calls and spam. Legitimate 206 calls come from local businesses, offices and neighbors; scam calls in this region tend to imitate delivery services, banks and utilities. Remember that caller ID is trivially spoofed — a scammer anywhere can make a 206 number appear on your screen — so the area code alone never proves a call is genuinely local.
Red flags to watch for
- Pressure to act right now, or threats of arrest, fines, or service being cut off.
- Requests to pay with gift cards, wire transfer, crypto, or a payment app.
- Asking for passwords, one-time codes, your SSN, or full card/bank numbers.
- A robocall or recording, or a number that won’t let you call back.
When unsure, hang up and call the organization back on a number you look up yourself.
Calling a 206 number from abroad
Every 206 number is a US/Canada +1 number. From a mobile anywhere, the simplest approach is to dial it in international format:
+1 206 555-0142If your phone can’t dial the +, replace it with your country’s exit code, then 1, then the number:
- UK, Germany, France & most of Europe
00 1 206 555-0142 - Australia
0011 1 206 555-0142 - Japan
010 1 206 555-0142 - Mexico
00 1 206 555-0142
Within the US and Canada you don’t need any of this — just dial the ten digits 206 555-0142.
Reverse phone lookup
Check any US or Canada number to see whether it's a working line, which carrier it sits on, whether it's mobile, landline or VoIP, and roughly where it's registered.
Shows carrier, line type and location. Owner name isn't available here.
Results are for personal, informational use only and may not be used for employment, credit, housing or tenant-screening decisions.
Area code 206: frequently asked questions
Where is the 206 area code located?
The 206 area code is located in Washington, centered on Seattle. It covers King County and nearby communities including Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Mercer Island, Vashon, White Center, Burien.
What time zone is 206 in?
Area code 206 is in the Pacific time zone (UTC-8 (PST) / UTC-7 (PDT)). You can see the exact current local time for Seattle on the live clock above.
What cities use area code 206?
Cities and areas that use 206 include Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Mercer Island, Vashon, White Center, Burien. Its primary city is Seattle, WA.
Do I need to dial 1 before 206?
For calls within the US, you do not need to dial a leading 1, but you do need all ten digits: 206 plus the seven-digit number. The 206 area requires ten-digit dialing because more than one area code serves it.
Is 206 a toll-free or scam number?
No — 206 is a normal geographic area code for Seattle, not a toll-free code (toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888). A 206 number is not inherently a scam, but the code can be spoofed. See the spam-call section above for how to tell.
What are the overlay area codes for 206?
Area code 206 does not currently have an overlay code; it is not layered on top of another code in the same area.