206 Area CodeSeattle, WA
Area code 206 covers Seattle and nearby communities in Washington, in the Pacific Time (PT) zone, home to about 1.2 million people across 17 cities. It overlays 564, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Where is area code 206?
Area code 206 serves part of Seattle, WA and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (564) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 206 Area Code
What is the 206 area code?
The 206 area code serves Seattle, Washington, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 206 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 206 created?
The 206 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Seattle once the existing area code 564 began to run out of available prefixes. It added a new supply of numbers without requiring current residents to change their existing digits.
Geographic Coverage of the 206 Area Code
The 206 area code serves Seattle and surrounding areas in Washington. It operates within the Pacific Time (PT) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 564. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Seattle
- Shoreline
- Burien
- Edmonds
- SeaTac
- Des Moines
Got a call from a 206 number? It came from Seattle, WA. Since 206 overlays with 564, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 206, Seattle holds about 68% of the population; the rest is split across 16 smaller cities.
Seattle Area Codes Overview
Seattle is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 206 area code operates alongside 564. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 206 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 206 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | WA | 780,995 | 37% | 100% |
| Shoreline | WA | 66,251 | 3% | 100% |
| Burien | WA | 52,046 | 3% | 100% |
| Edmonds | WA | 42,871 | 0% | 5% |
| SeaTac | WA | 34,024 | 3% | 99% |
| Des Moines | WA | 33,207 | 1% | 76% |
| Mercer Island | WA | 25,302 | 3% | 100% |
| Bainbridge Island | WA | 24,618 | 16% | 97% |
| Tukwila | WA | 21,636 | 2% | 90% |
| Bryn Mawr-Skyway | WA | 15,645 | 1% | 90% |
* Sources: Population – U.S. Census Bureau PEP, Vintage 2024 (SUB-IP-EST2024-POP). Area code assignments – NANPA CO Code data. See our data methodology.
Has area code 206 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 756 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 206 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 51% robocalls
- ↑ 15% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other49%373
- Dropped call or no message15%115
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends10%74
* Caller ID is easily spoofed, so these figures reflect the number shown on caller ID, not the caller's true location – an area code alone never identifies a caller. The FTC does not verify the facts in these complaints. Source: FTC Do Not Call (DNC) Reported Calls Data, retrieved 2026-07-05.
Which prefixes and exchanges belong to area code 206?
74% assigned to a telco
- 70% Landline
- 30% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (206)200- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (206)201- | Landline | Teleport Communications America |
| (206)202- | Landline | Onvoy |
| (206)203- | Landline | Onvoy |
| (206)204- | Landline | Mcleodusa Telecommunication Services |
| (206)205- | Landline | Qwest |
| (206)206- | Landline | Leap Telecom |
| (206)207- | Landline | Onvoy |
| (206)208- | Landline | Onvoy |
| (206)209- | Landline | Onvoy |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 206 Area Code
Who called me from a 206 number?
A 206 number is assigned to Seattle, Washington, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 206 code to look nearby, so a 206 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 756 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 206 code (51% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 206 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 206 is a normal, officially assigned code for Seattle, Washington. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 206 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 756 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 206 code (51% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 206 area code?
Repeated calls from different 206 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 206 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 756 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 206 code (51% flagged as robocalls). Blocking one number rarely helps; voicemail screening, your carrier spam filter, and the Do Not Call Registry work better.
Should I answer an unknown 206 number?
If you aren't expecting a 206 call, let it ring to voicemail. Legitimate callers leave a message, most robocallers hang up when no one picks up, and answering can mark your number as active and bring more calls.
How do I block calls from the 206 area code?
Block a single 206 number from your recent-calls list (iPhone: tap the number, then Block this Caller; Android: tap the number, then Block or report spam). To cut the volume, turn on Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone or spam protection on Android, enable spam filtering from your carrier, and register at DoNotCall.gov. Blocking the entire 206 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 206?
Area code 206 covers Seattle and the surrounding area in Washington, spanning 17 cities with about 1,153,668 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 564.
Is 206 a real area code?
Yes. 206 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Seattle, Washington. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 206 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 206 area code in?
The 206 area code is in the Pacific Time (PT). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 206 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 206 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 206 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 206 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.