408 Area CodeSan Jose, CA
Area code 408 covers San Jose and nearby communities in California, in the Pacific Time (PT) zone, home to about 1.9 million people across 19 cities. It overlays 341 and 669, so the region uses several codes and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- San Jose
- State
- California (CA)
- Timezone
- Pacific Time (PT)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 341, 669
Overview of the 408 Area Code
What is the 408 area code?
The 408 area code serves San Jose, California, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 408 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 408 created?
The 408 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in San Jose once the existing area codes 341 and 669 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 408 Area Code
The 408 area code serves San Jose and surrounding areas in California. It operates within the Pacific Time (PT) time zone. It complements the coverage of area codes 341 and 669. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- San Jose
- Sunnyvale
- Santa Clara
- Burbank
- Milpitas
- Palo Alto
Got a call from a 408 number? It came from San Jose, CA. Since 408 overlays with 341 and 669, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 408, San Jose holds about 54% of the population; the rest is split across 18 smaller cities.
San Jose Area Codes Overview
San Jose is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 408 area code operates alongside 341, 669. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 408 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 408 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | CA | 997,368 | 17% | 100% |
| Sunnyvale | CA | 156,792 | 2% | 98% |
| Santa Clara | CA | 133,132 | 2% | 100% |
| Burbank | CA | 103,533 | 0% | 100% |
| Milpitas | CA | 79,746 | 1% | 100% |
| Palo Alto | CA | 67,658 | 0% | 9% |
| Gilroy | CA | 60,390 | 1% | 100% |
| Cupertino | CA | 58,710 | 1% | 95% |
| Morgan Hill | CA | 45,952 | 1% | 100% |
| Campbell | CA | 42,895 | 1% | 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 408 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 543 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 408 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 51% robocalls
- ↑ 50% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other44%237
- Dropped call or no message24%132
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends13%71
* 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 408?
79% assigned to a telco
- 72% Landline
- 28% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (408)200- | Landline | Tpx Communications |
| (408)201- | Landline | Pacific Bell (Competitive) |
| (408)202- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (408)203- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (408)204- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (408)205- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (408)206- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (408)207- | Landline | Tpx Communications |
| (408)208- | Landline | American Messaging Services |
| (408)209- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 408 Area Code
Who called me from a 408 number?
A 408 number is assigned to San Jose, California, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 408 code to look nearby, so a 408 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 543 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 408 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 408 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 408 is a normal, officially assigned code for San Jose, California. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 408 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 543 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 408 code (51% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 408 area code?
Repeated calls from different 408 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 408 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 543 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 408 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 408 number?
If you aren't expecting a 408 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 408 area code?
Block a single 408 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 408 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 408?
Area code 408 covers San Jose and the surrounding area in California, spanning 19 cities with about 1,850,647 residents. It shares its area with overlay codes 341, 669.
Is 408 a real area code?
Yes. 408 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for San Jose, California. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 408 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 408 area code in?
The 408 area code is in the Pacific Time (PT). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 408 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 408 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 408 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 408 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.