272 Area Code
Covers Scranton and nearby communities in Pennsylvania.
(272) 555-0142Area code 272 map
Interactive coverage map for area code 272, centered on Scranton, Pennsylvania
41.4092, -75.6649
Open in OpenStreetMapArea code 272 coverage map — centered on Scranton. Shaded area shows the approximate reach around the primary city.
Area code 272 is a telephone area code in Pennsylvania, anchored on Scranton. It reaches roughly 117,000 people across places such as Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Back Mountain, Hazleton and more. The region observes Eastern time, so a number like (272) 555-0142 is on that clock right now. On the ground it spans Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming. It shares its territory with the overlay code 570, which sit on the exact same map. Because the 272 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 272, its related area codes, and practical advice on 272 robocalls and caller-ID spoofing.
Cities covered by 272
Cities & neighborhoods
- Scranton
- Wilkes-Barre
- Back Mountain
- Hazleton
- Williamsport
Nearby & overlay area codes
Overlay codes (same area)
These share 272’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 272 a scam?
Area code 272 serves Scranton and the surrounding area, so most calls are ordinary local and business traffic. As everywhere, spam and robocalls do use 272 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 272 number from abroad
Every 272 number is a US/Canada +1 number. From a mobile anywhere, the simplest approach is to dial it in international format:
+1 272 555-0142If 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 1 272 555-0142 - Australia
0011 1 272 555-0142 - Japan
010 1 272 555-0142 - Mexico
00 1 272 555-0142
Within the US and Canada you don’t need any of this — just dial the ten digits 272 555-0142.
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 272: frequently asked questions
Where is the 272 area code located?
The 272 area code is located in Pennsylvania, centered on Scranton. It covers Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming and nearby communities including Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Back Mountain, Hazleton, Williamsport.
What time zone is 272 in?
Area code 272 is in the Eastern time zone (UTC-5 (EST) / UTC-4 (EDT)). You can see the exact current local time for Scranton on the live clock above.
What cities use area code 272?
Cities and areas that use 272 include Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Back Mountain, Hazleton, Williamsport. Its primary city is Scranton, PA.
Do I need to dial 1 before 272?
For calls within the US, you do not need to dial a leading 1, but you do need all ten digits: 272 plus the seven-digit number. The 272 area requires ten-digit dialing because more than one area code serves it.
Is 272 a toll-free or scam number?
No — 272 is a normal geographic area code for Scranton, not a toll-free code (toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888). A 272 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 272?
Area code 272 is overlaid by 570, meaning those codes cover the same geographic area.