518 Area Code
Covers Albany and nearby communities in New York.
(518) 555-0142Area code 518 map
Interactive coverage map for area code 518, centered on Albany, New York
42.8142, -73.9396
Open in OpenStreetMapArea code 518 coverage map — centered on Albany. Shaded area shows the approximate reach around the primary city.
If you are trying to place Albany, NY on the map, area code 518 is the one that covers it. It reaches roughly 214,000 people across places such as Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Rotterdam and more. The region observes Eastern time, so a number like (518) 555-0142 is on that clock right now. On the ground it spans Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga. It shares its territory with the overlay code 838, which sit on the exact same map. Because the 518 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 518, its related area codes, and practical advice on 518 robocalls and caller-ID spoofing.
Cities covered by 518
Cities & neighborhoods
- Albany
- Schenectady
- Troy
- Rotterdam
- Saratoga Springs
- West Albany
Nearby & overlay area codes
Overlay codes (same area)
These share 518’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 518 a scam?
Area code 518 serves Albany and the surrounding area, so most calls are ordinary local and business traffic. As everywhere, spam and robocalls do use 518 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 518 number from abroad
Every 518 number is a US/Canada +1 number. From a mobile anywhere, the simplest approach is to dial it in international format:
+1 518 555-0142If 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 1 518 555-0142 - Australia
0011 1 518 555-0142 - Japan
010 1 518 555-0142 - Mexico
00 1 518 555-0142
Within the US and Canada you don’t need any of this — just dial the ten digits 518 555-0142.
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 518: frequently asked questions
Where is the 518 area code located?
The 518 area code is located in New York, centered on Albany. It covers Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga and nearby communities including Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Rotterdam, Saratoga Springs, West Albany.
What time zone is 518 in?
Area code 518 is in the Eastern time zone (UTC-5 (EST) / UTC-4 (EDT)). You can see the exact current local time for Albany on the live clock above.
What cities use area code 518?
Cities and areas that use 518 include Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Rotterdam, Saratoga Springs, West Albany. Its primary city is Albany, NY.
Do I need to dial 1 before 518?
For calls within the US, you do not need to dial a leading 1, but you do need all ten digits: 518 plus the seven-digit number. The 518 area requires ten-digit dialing because more than one area code serves it.
Is 518 a toll-free or scam number?
No — 518 is a normal geographic area code for Albany, not a toll-free code (toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888). A 518 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 518?
Area code 518 is overlaid by 838, meaning those codes cover the same geographic area.