938 Area Code
Covers Huntsville and nearby communities in Alabama.
(938) 555-0142Area code 938 map
Interactive coverage map for area code 938, centered on Huntsville, Alabama
34.7304, -86.5861
Open in OpenStreetMapArea code 938 coverage map — centered on Huntsville. Shaded area shows the approximate reach around the primary city.
Calls tagged with area code 938 come from Huntsville and nearby communities in Alabama. It reaches roughly 328,000 people across places such as Huntsville, Decatur, Madison, Florence and more. The region observes Central time, so a number like (938) 555-0142 is on that clock right now. On the ground it spans Madison, Morgan, Limestone and nearby counties. It shares its territory with the overlay code 256, which sit on the exact same map. Because the 938 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 938, its related area codes, and practical advice on 938 robocalls and caller-ID spoofing.
Cities covered by 938
Cities & neighborhoods
- Huntsville
- Decatur
- Madison
- Florence
- Anniston
- Gadsden
Counties
- Madison
- Morgan
- Limestone
- Lauderdale
- Calhoun
- Etowah
Looking for the broader picture? See all Alabama area codes.
Nearby & overlay area codes
Overlay codes (same area)
These share 938’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 938 a scam?
Area code 938 serves Huntsville and the surrounding area, so most calls are ordinary local and business traffic. As everywhere, spam and robocalls do use 938 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 938 number from abroad
Every 938 number is a US/Canada +1 number. From a mobile anywhere, the simplest approach is to dial it in international format:
+1 938 555-0142If 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 1 938 555-0142 - Australia
0011 1 938 555-0142 - Japan
010 1 938 555-0142 - Mexico
00 1 938 555-0142
Within the US and Canada you don’t need any of this — just dial the ten digits 938 555-0142.
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 938: frequently asked questions
Where is the 938 area code located?
The 938 area code is located in Alabama, centered on Huntsville. It covers Madison, Morgan, Limestone, Lauderdale, Calhoun, Etowah and nearby communities including Huntsville, Decatur, Madison, Florence, Anniston, Gadsden.
What time zone is 938 in?
Area code 938 is in the Central time zone (UTC-6 (CST) / UTC-5 (CDT)). You can see the exact current local time for Huntsville on the live clock above.
What cities use area code 938?
Cities and areas that use 938 include Huntsville, Decatur, Madison, Florence, Anniston, Gadsden. Its primary city is Huntsville, AL.
Do I need to dial 1 before 938?
For calls within the US, you do not need to dial a leading 1, but you do need all ten digits: 938 plus the seven-digit number. The 938 area requires ten-digit dialing because more than one area code serves it.
Is 938 a toll-free or scam number?
No — 938 is a normal geographic area code for Huntsville, not a toll-free code (toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888). A 938 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 938?
Area code 938 is overlaid by 256, meaning those codes cover the same geographic area.