212 Area Code
Covers New York and nearby communities in New York.
(212) 555-0142Area code 212 map
Interactive coverage map for area code 212, centered on New York, New York
40.7831, -73.9712
Open in OpenStreetMapArea code 212 coverage map — centered on New York. Shaded area shows the approximate reach around the primary city.
212 is the area code for New York and the surrounding part of New York. It reaches roughly 1.6 million people across places such as Manhattan, Harlem, Chelsea, Greenwich Village and more. The region observes Eastern time, so a number like (212) 555-0142 is on that clock right now. One of the original 86 area codes assigned in 1947, and today it covers only the island of Manhattan. It shares its territory with the overlay codes 646, 917, 332, which sit on the exact same map. Because the 212 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 212, its related area codes, and practical advice on 212 robocalls and caller-ID spoofing.
Cities covered by 212
Cities & neighborhoods
- Manhattan
- Harlem
- Chelsea
- Greenwich Village
- Upper East Side
- Midtown
- Tribeca
- Washington Heights
Nearby & overlay area codes
Overlay codes (same area)
These share 212’s geography — a number in either code can be on the same street.
Neighboring codes
Codes for adjacent regions and metros.
Is a call from 212 a scam?
A 212 number is tied to the New York area, which carries a governmental and institutional association, so scammers like to spoof it to seem official. Real agencies won't demand payment or personal details by phone on the spot. Since caller ID can be faked, treat any urgent or threatening 212 call with suspicion regardless of how legitimate the number looks.
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 212 number from abroad
Every 212 number is a US/Canada +1 number. From a mobile anywhere, the simplest approach is to dial it in international format:
+1 212 555-0142If 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 1 212 555-0142 - Australia
0011 1 212 555-0142 - Japan
010 1 212 555-0142 - Mexico
00 1 212 555-0142
Within the US and Canada you don’t need any of this — just dial the ten digits 212 555-0142.
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 212: frequently asked questions
Where is the 212 area code located?
The 212 area code is located in New York, centered on New York. It covers New York County and nearby communities including Manhattan, Harlem, Chelsea, Greenwich Village, Upper East Side, Midtown.
What time zone is 212 in?
Area code 212 is in the Eastern time zone (UTC-5 (EST) / UTC-4 (EDT)). You can see the exact current local time for New York on the live clock above.
What cities use area code 212?
Cities and areas that use 212 include Manhattan, Harlem, Chelsea, Greenwich Village, Upper East Side, Midtown. Its primary city is New York, NY.
Do I need to dial 1 before 212?
For calls within the US, you do not need to dial a leading 1, but you do need all ten digits: 212 plus the seven-digit number. The 212 area requires ten-digit dialing because more than one area code serves it.
Is 212 a toll-free or scam number?
No — 212 is a normal geographic area code for New York, not a toll-free code (toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888). A 212 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 212?
Area code 212 is overlaid by 646, 917, 332, meaning those codes cover the same geographic area.