253 Area Code
Covers Tacoma and nearby communities in Washington.
(253) 555-0142Area code 253 map
Interactive coverage map for area code 253, centered on Tacoma, Washington
47.2529, -122.4443
Open in OpenStreetMapArea code 253 coverage map — centered on Tacoma. Shaded area shows the approximate reach around the primary city.
If you are trying to place Tacoma, WA on the map, area code 253 is the one that covers it. It reaches roughly 469,000 people across places such as Tacoma, Federal Way, Auburn, Lakewood and more. The region observes Pacific time, so a number like (253) 555-0142 is on that clock right now. On the ground it spans Pierce, King. It is not currently paired with an overlay code. Local calls inside the 253 area can generally be placed with ten digits, and you do not need a leading 1 for domestic calls. Keep reading for the current local time in Tacoma, a map of the 253 coverage area, the places it reaches, nearby and overlay codes, and how to tell a real 253 call from a scam.
Cities covered by 253
Cities & neighborhoods
- Tacoma
- Federal Way
- Auburn
- Lakewood
- Puyallup
- East Hill-Meridian
- Parkland
- South Hill
- Spanaway
- University Place
Nearby & overlay area codes
Overlay codes (same area)
These share 253’s geography — a number in either code can be on the same street.
253 has no overlay code right now.
Neighboring codes
Codes for adjacent regions and metros.
Is a call from 253 a scam?
Area code 253 serves Tacoma and the surrounding area, so most calls are ordinary local and business traffic. As everywhere, spam and robocalls do use 253 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 253 number from abroad
Every 253 number is a US/Canada +1 number. From a mobile anywhere, the simplest approach is to dial it in international format:
+1 253 555-0142If 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 1 253 555-0142 - Australia
0011 1 253 555-0142 - Japan
010 1 253 555-0142 - Mexico
00 1 253 555-0142
Within the US and Canada you don’t need any of this — just dial the ten digits 253 555-0142.
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 253: frequently asked questions
Where is the 253 area code located?
The 253 area code is located in Washington, centered on Tacoma. It covers Pierce, King and nearby communities including Tacoma, Federal Way, Auburn, Lakewood, Puyallup, East Hill-Meridian.
What time zone is 253 in?
Area code 253 is in the Pacific time zone (UTC-8 (PST) / UTC-7 (PDT)). You can see the exact current local time for Tacoma on the live clock above.
What cities use area code 253?
Cities and areas that use 253 include Tacoma, Federal Way, Auburn, Lakewood, Puyallup, East Hill-Meridian. Its primary city is Tacoma, WA.
Do I need to dial 1 before 253?
You generally do not need to dial a leading 1 for domestic calls to 253. Ten-digit dialing (the 253 code plus the seven-digit number) is the safest habit.
Is 253 a toll-free or scam number?
No — 253 is a normal geographic area code for Tacoma, not a toll-free code (toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888). A 253 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 253?
Area code 253 does not currently have an overlay code; it is not layered on top of another code in the same area.