515 Area Code
Covers Des Moines and nearby communities in Iowa.
(515) 555-0142Area code 515 map
Interactive coverage map for area code 515, centered on Des Moines, Iowa
42.0347, -93.6199
Open in OpenStreetMapArea code 515 coverage map — centered on Des Moines. Shaded area shows the approximate reach around the primary city.
Area code 515 is a telephone area code in Iowa, anchored on Des Moines. It reaches roughly 424,000 people across places such as Des Moines, Ames, West Des Moines, Ankeny and more. The region observes Central time, so a number like (515) 555-0142 is on that clock right now. On the ground it spans Polk, Story, Webster. It is not currently paired with an overlay code. Local calls inside the 515 area can generally be placed with ten digits, and you do not need a leading 1 for domestic calls. Scroll on for a real-time clock, an area map, the cities and counties inside 515, its related area codes, and practical advice on 515 robocalls and caller-ID spoofing.
Cities covered by 515
Cities & neighborhoods
- Des Moines
- Ames
- West Des Moines
- Ankeny
- Urbandale
- Fort Dodge
Nearby & overlay area codes
Overlay codes (same area)
These share 515’s geography — a number in either code can be on the same street.
515 has no overlay code right now.
Neighboring codes
Codes for adjacent regions and metros.
Is a call from 515 a scam?
Area code 515 serves Des Moines and the surrounding area, so most calls are ordinary local and business traffic. As everywhere, spam and robocalls do use 515 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 515 number from abroad
Every 515 number is a US/Canada +1 number. From a mobile anywhere, the simplest approach is to dial it in international format:
+1 515 555-0142If 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 1 515 555-0142 - Australia
0011 1 515 555-0142 - Japan
010 1 515 555-0142 - Mexico
00 1 515 555-0142
Within the US and Canada you don’t need any of this — just dial the ten digits 515 555-0142.
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 515: frequently asked questions
Where is the 515 area code located?
The 515 area code is located in Iowa, centered on Des Moines. It covers Polk, Story, Webster and nearby communities including Des Moines, Ames, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Fort Dodge.
What time zone is 515 in?
Area code 515 is in the Central time zone (UTC-6 (CST) / UTC-5 (CDT)). You can see the exact current local time for Des Moines on the live clock above.
What cities use area code 515?
Cities and areas that use 515 include Des Moines, Ames, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Fort Dodge. Its primary city is Des Moines, IA.
Do I need to dial 1 before 515?
You generally do not need to dial a leading 1 for domestic calls to 515. Ten-digit dialing (the 515 code plus the seven-digit number) is the safest habit.
Is 515 a toll-free or scam number?
No — 515 is a normal geographic area code for Des Moines, not a toll-free code (toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888). A 515 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 515?
Area code 515 does not currently have an overlay code; it is not layered on top of another code in the same area.