224 Area Code
Covers Waukegan and nearby communities in Illinois.
(224) 555-0142Area code 224 map
Interactive coverage map for area code 224, centered on Waukegan, Illinois
42.3636, -87.8448
Open in OpenStreetMapArea code 224 coverage map — centered on Waukegan. Shaded area shows the approximate reach around the primary city.
If you are trying to place Waukegan, IL on the map, area code 224 is the one that covers it. It reaches roughly 817,000 people across places such as Waukegan, Arlington Heights, Evanston, Schaumburg and more. The region observes Central time, so a number like (224) 555-0142 is on that clock right now. On the ground it spans Lake, Cook, Kane and nearby counties. It shares its territory with the overlay code 847, which sit on the exact same map. Because the 224 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 224, its related area codes, and practical advice on 224 robocalls and caller-ID spoofing.
Cities covered by 224
Cities & neighborhoods
- Waukegan
- Arlington Heights
- Evanston
- Schaumburg
- Palatine
- Skokie
- Des Plaines
- Mount Prospect
- Hoffman Estates
- Glenview
- Buffalo Grove
- Carpentersville
- Wheeling
- Park Ridge
- Algonquin
- Elk Grove Village
- Gurnee
- Highland Park
- Lake Forest
- Lake in the Hills
- Libertyville
- Morton Grove
- Mundelein
- Niles
- North Chicago
- Northbrook
- Rolling Meadows
- Round Lake Beach
Nearby & overlay area codes
Overlay codes (same area)
These share 224’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 224 a scam?
Area code 224 serves Waukegan and the surrounding area, so most calls are ordinary local and business traffic. As everywhere, spam and robocalls do use 224 numbers, frequently by spoofing a local-looking caller ID to boost pickup rates. The area code itself tells you nothing about who is really calling, so judge the call by what's said, not the number.
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 224 number from abroad
Every 224 number is a US/Canada +1 number. From a mobile anywhere, the simplest approach is to dial it in international format:
+1 224 555-0142If 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 1 224 555-0142 - Australia
0011 1 224 555-0142 - Japan
010 1 224 555-0142 - Mexico
00 1 224 555-0142
Within the US and Canada you don’t need any of this — just dial the ten digits 224 555-0142.
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 224: frequently asked questions
Where is the 224 area code located?
The 224 area code is located in Illinois, centered on Waukegan. It covers Lake, Cook, Kane, Mchenry and nearby communities including Waukegan, Arlington Heights, Evanston, Schaumburg, Palatine, Skokie.
What time zone is 224 in?
Area code 224 is in the Central time zone (UTC-6 (CST) / UTC-5 (CDT)). You can see the exact current local time for Waukegan on the live clock above.
What cities use area code 224?
Cities and areas that use 224 include Waukegan, Arlington Heights, Evanston, Schaumburg, Palatine, Skokie. Its primary city is Waukegan, IL.
Do I need to dial 1 before 224?
For calls within the US, you do not need to dial a leading 1, but you do need all ten digits: 224 plus the seven-digit number. The 224 area requires ten-digit dialing because more than one area code serves it.
Is 224 a toll-free or scam number?
No — 224 is a normal geographic area code for Waukegan, not a toll-free code (toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888). A 224 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 224?
Area code 224 is overlaid by 847, meaning those codes cover the same geographic area.