318 Area CodeShreveport, LA
Area code 318 covers Shreveport and nearby communities in Louisiana, in the Central Time (CT) zone, home to about 642,000 people across 197 cities. It overlays 457 and 504, so the region uses several codes and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- Shreveport
- State
- Louisiana (LA)
- Timezone
- Central Time (CT)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 457, 504
Overview of the 318 Area Code
What is the 318 area code?
The 318 area code serves Shreveport, Louisiana, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 318 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 318 created?
The 318 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Shreveport once the existing area codes 457 and 504 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 318 Area Code
The 318 area code serves Shreveport and surrounding areas in Louisiana. It operates within the Central Time (CT) time zone. It complements the coverage of area codes 457 and 504. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Shreveport
- Bossier City
- Monroe
- Alexandria
- Ruston
- Natchitoches
Got a call from a 318 number? It came from Shreveport, LA. Since 318 overlays with 457 and 504, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 318, Shreveport holds about 27% of the population; the rest is split across 196 smaller cities.
Shreveport Area Codes Overview
Shreveport is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 318 area code operates alongside 457, 504. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 318 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 318 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport | LA | 176,578 | 1% | 100% |
| Bossier City | LA | 63,218 | 0% | 100% |
| Monroe | LA | 46,622 | 0% | 100% |
| Alexandria | LA | 43,133 | 0% | 100% |
| Ruston | LA | 22,330 | 0% | 100% |
| Natchitoches | LA | 17,165 | 0% | 100% |
| Pineville | LA | 13,966 | 0% | 100% |
| West Monroe | LA | 12,476 | 0% | 100% |
| Claiborne | LA | 11,507 | 0% | 100% |
| Minden | LA | 11,195 | 0% | 100% |
* 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 318 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 746 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 318 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 75% robocalls
- ↑ 65% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other29%218
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)24%180
- Medical & prescriptions8%61
* 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 318?
73% assigned to a telco
- 67% Landline
- 33% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (318)200- | Landline | Bandwidth.Com Clec |
| (318)201- | Landline | Mtpcs |
| (318)202- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (318)203- | Landline | Onvoy Spectrum |
| (318)205- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (318)206- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (318)207- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (318)208- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (318)209- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (318)210- | Landline | Comcast Ip Phone |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 318 Area Code
Who called me from a 318 number?
A 318 number is assigned to Shreveport, Louisiana, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 318 code to look nearby, so a 318 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 746 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 318 code (75% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 318 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 318 is a normal, officially assigned code for Shreveport, Louisiana. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 318 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 746 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 318 code (75% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 318 area code?
Repeated calls from different 318 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 318 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 746 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 318 code (75% 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 318 number?
If you aren't expecting a 318 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 318 area code?
Block a single 318 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 318 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 318?
Area code 318 covers Shreveport and the surrounding area in Louisiana, spanning 197 cities with about 642,311 residents. It shares its area with overlay codes 457, 504.
Is 318 a real area code?
Yes. 318 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Shreveport, Louisiana. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 318 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 318 area code in?
The 318 area code is in the Central Time (CT). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 318 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 318 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 318 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 318 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.