551 Area Code
Covers Jersey City and nearby communities in New Jersey.
(551) 555-0142Area code 551 map
Interactive coverage map for area code 551, centered on Jersey City, New Jersey
40.7282, -74.0776
Open in OpenStreetMapArea code 551 coverage map — centered on Jersey City. Shaded area shows the approximate reach around the primary city.
Area code 551 is a telephone area code in New Jersey, anchored on Jersey City. It reaches roughly 581,000 people across places such as Jersey City, Union City, Bayonne, Hoboken and more. The region observes Eastern time, so a number like (551) 555-0142 is on that clock right now. On the ground it spans Hudson, Bergen. It shares its territory with the overlay codes 201, 862, 973, which sit on the exact same map. Because the 551 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 551, its related area codes, and practical advice on 551 robocalls and caller-ID spoofing.
Cities covered by 551
Cities & neighborhoods
- Jersey City
- Union City
- Bayonne
- Hoboken
- West New York
- Hackensack
- Kearny
- Bergenfield
- Cliffside Park
- Englewood
- Fair Lawn
- Fort Lee
- North Bergen
- Paramus
- Ridgewood
- Teaneck
Nearby & overlay area codes
Overlay codes (same area)
These share 551’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 551 a scam?
Area code 551 serves Jersey City and the surrounding area, so most calls are ordinary local and business traffic. As everywhere, spam and robocalls do use 551 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 551 number from abroad
Every 551 number is a US/Canada +1 number. From a mobile anywhere, the simplest approach is to dial it in international format:
+1 551 555-0142If 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 1 551 555-0142 - Australia
0011 1 551 555-0142 - Japan
010 1 551 555-0142 - Mexico
00 1 551 555-0142
Within the US and Canada you don’t need any of this — just dial the ten digits 551 555-0142.
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 551: frequently asked questions
Where is the 551 area code located?
The 551 area code is located in New Jersey, centered on Jersey City. It covers Hudson, Bergen and nearby communities including Jersey City, Union City, Bayonne, Hoboken, West New York, Hackensack.
What time zone is 551 in?
Area code 551 is in the Eastern time zone (UTC-5 (EST) / UTC-4 (EDT)). You can see the exact current local time for Jersey City on the live clock above.
What cities use area code 551?
Cities and areas that use 551 include Jersey City, Union City, Bayonne, Hoboken, West New York, Hackensack. Its primary city is Jersey City, NJ.
Do I need to dial 1 before 551?
For calls within the US, you do not need to dial a leading 1, but you do need all ten digits: 551 plus the seven-digit number. The 551 area requires ten-digit dialing because more than one area code serves it.
Is 551 a toll-free or scam number?
No — 551 is a normal geographic area code for Jersey City, not a toll-free code (toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888). A 551 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 551?
Area code 551 is overlaid by 201, 862, 973, meaning those codes cover the same geographic area.