The 205 area code covers Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and 64 more places in Alabama.
Area code 205 is in Alabama, on Central Time. In the 205 area, phone numbers are given out most in Jefferson County, then Tuscaloosa and Shelby counties. It has been in service since 1947. 659 covers the same area, so two neighbours can have different area codes.
- Where
- 8 counties in Alabama, mostly Jefferson County, Tuscaloosa County and Shelby County
- Time zone
- Central Time
- In service since
- 1947, one of the original area codes
- Shares its area with
- 659 (since 2019)
- Prefixes in use
- 784
- How to dial
- Local calls need all 10 digits: 205-555-0142.
Find out who called you from a 205 number.
Enter the full 10-digit number to see who it is listed to and the city and state on the listing. It is the same free check as our who called me lookup. To see only the caller ID name on the number, use our free CNAM lookup. To see whether it is a mobile, a landline or a VoIP line, use our free VoIP checker. To see which carrier a (205) number is on today, use our free carrier lookup.
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Birmingham holds 47% of the phone prefixes in area code 205.
A prefix is the three digits after the area code, and NANPA assigns each one to a town. Counting the 784 prefixes in use shows where 205 numbers are actually given out.
- Birmingham370 prefixes, 47%
- Tuscaloosa69 prefixes, 9%
- Bessemer31 prefixes, 4%
- Jasper21 prefixes, 3%
- Alabaster19 prefixes, 2%
- Clanton13 prefixes, 2%
- Pell City11 prefixes, 1%
- Gardendale9 prefixes, 1%
Also served: Eutaw, Pinson, Leeds and Dora and 54 smaller places.
BellSouth (AT&T) holds the most phone number prefixes in area code 205: 223 of 784.
NANPA, which runs the North American numbering plan, assigns each prefix (the three digits after the area code) to one carrier. Here is how the 784 prefixes in use in 205 divide between carriers; holders this page does not name are grouped as other carriers.
| Carrier | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| BellSouth (AT&T)AT&T's landline company | 223 | 28% |
| AT&T MobilityMobile network | 92 | 12% |
| PAETEC (Windstream)Windstream's business phone network | 53 | 7% |
| T-MobileMobile network | 42 | 5% |
| BrightspeedLandline company | 35 | 4% |
| Metro by T-MobileT-Mobile's prepaid brand | 33 | 4% |
| 41 other carriers | 306 | 39% |
65% of these prefixes are pooled, which means the blocks of 1,000 numbers inside them can belong to other carriers. Any number can also have been moved to another carrier since, so this shows who holds the prefixes, not who serves a given number.
Want the carrier of one exact number? Our free carrier lookup checks it, because numbers move between carriers.
Source: NANPA central office code assignments, October 1, 2026.
205 has been split 2 times and overlaid once since 1947.
1947
205 is one of the original North American area codes.
1995
On January 15, 1995, 334 splits off and takes part of the 205 area.
1998
On March 23, 1998, 256 splits off and takes part of the 205 area.
2019
On November 12, 2019, 659 is added on top of 205, so new numbers here can get either code.
A 205 number on your screen can still be a scam, because caller ID is easy to fake.
- Let an unknown call go to voicemail. A real caller leaves a message; a robocaller usually does not.
- Look the number up with the box above before you call back, because calling back tells a robocaller your line is live.
- Hang up on anyone who wants gift cards, crypto or a wire transfer, or asks you to read out a code that was just texted to you.
- Report unwanted robocalls at reportfraud.ftc.gov, or paste a suspicious message into our free scam checker.
The area codes closest to 205 are 256, 334 and 662.
This list measures the distance between the centres of each area, across state lines, and shows codes that share one area together.
Alabama has 6 other area codes.
These are the questions people ask most about area code 205.
Where is area code 205?
205 covers Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Bessemer and Jasper and 62 more places in Alabama. In the 205 area, phone numbers are given out most in Jefferson County, then Tuscaloosa and Shelby counties.
What state is area code 205 in?
Alabama. 205 is an Alabama area code on Central Time.
What cities use area code 205?
The places holding the most 205 prefixes are Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Bessemer, Jasper, Alabaster, Clanton, Pell City and Gardendale, out of 66 places in all. The count comes from NANPA's prefix assignments as of October 1, 2026.
Which phone company owns area code 205?
No single phone company owns 205. NANPA's records show BellSouth (AT&T) holds the most 205 prefixes, 223 of 784, followed by AT&T Mobility and PAETEC (Windstream). Numbers move between carriers, so check one exact number with a carrier lookup.
What time zone is area code 205 in?
205 is on Central Time.
When did area code 205 start?
205 is one of the original North American area codes, in service since 1947.
Is 205 the same area as 659?
Yes. 659 (since 2019) covers the same ground as 205. Nobody's number changed when it was added; new lines simply get whichever code has numbers left, so two neighbours can have different codes.
How do I dial a 205 number?
Local calls need all 10 digits: 205-555-0142.
Is 205 a toll-free number?
No. 205 is a regular area code for Birmingham and Tuscaloosa in Alabama, not a toll-free one. The toll-free codes in North America are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
What area codes are near 205?
The closest are 256/938 (Huntsville, Alabama), 334/483 (Montgomery, Alabama), 662/471 (Tupelo, Mississippi) and 251 (Mobile, Alabama), measured between the centres of each area.
Who called me from a 205 number?
Enter the full 10-digit number in the lookup above. It returns the listed owner where there is a public record, where the number is registered, and whether it is a mobile, a landline or a VoIP line.
Is area code 205 a scam?
205 is a real Alabama area code, so the code itself is not a warning sign. Scam callers fake local-looking numbers on purpose, so judge the call by what the caller asks for, and look the number up before calling back.
Put this lookup on your site: our free area code widget takes two lines of code and shows any US area code's state, time zone and local time.
Source: NANPA, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator: its area code database and prefix assignments, as of October 1, 2026.