505 Area CodeAlbuquerque, NM
Area code 505 covers Albuquerque and nearby communities in New Mexico, in the Mountain Time (MT) zone, home to about 1.2 million people across 205 cities. It overlays 575, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- Albuquerque
- State
- New Mexico (NM)
- Timezone
- Mountain Time (MT)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 575
Where is area code 505?
Area code 505 serves part of Albuquerque, NM and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (575) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 505 Area Code
What is the 505 area code?
The 505 area code serves Albuquerque, New Mexico, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 505 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 505 created?
The 505 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Albuquerque once the existing area code 575 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 505 Area Code
The 505 area code serves Albuquerque and surrounding areas in New Mexico. It operates within the Mountain Time (MT) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 575. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Albuquerque
- Rio Rancho
- Santa Fe
- Farmington
- South Valley
- Gallup
Got a call from a 505 number? It came from Albuquerque, NM. Since 505 overlays with 575, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 505, Albuquerque holds about 47% of the population; the rest is split across 204 smaller cities.
Albuquerque Area Codes Overview
Albuquerque is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 505 area code operates alongside 575. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 505 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 505 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | NM | 560,326 | 1% | 100% |
| Rio Rancho | NM | 112,524 | 0% | 100% |
| Santa Fe | NM | 90,551 | 0% | 100% |
| Farmington | NM | 46,262 | 0% | 100% |
| South Valley | NM | 40,976 | 0% | 100% |
| Gallup | NM | 20,339 | 0% | 100% |
| Los Lunas | NM | 19,907 | 0% | 100% |
| Las Vegas | NM | 12,711 | 0% | 100% |
| Los Alamos | NM | 12,019 | 0% | 100% |
| North Valley | NM | 11,333 | 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 505 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 359 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 505 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 59% robocalls
- ↑ 14% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other51%184
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends12%42
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)9%34
* 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 505?
64% assigned to a telco
- 63% Landline
- 37% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (505)200- | Landline | Comcast Ip Phone |
| (505)201- | Landline | Mfg. Services |
| (505)202- | Landline | Mfg. Services |
| (505)203- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (505)204- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (505)205- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (505)206- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (505)207- | Landline | Onvoy |
| (505)208- | Landline | Peerless Network Of New Mexico |
| (505)209- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 505 Area Code
Who called me from a 505 number?
A 505 number is assigned to Albuquerque, New Mexico, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 505 code to look nearby, so a 505 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 359 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 505 code (59% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 505 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 505 is a normal, officially assigned code for Albuquerque, New Mexico. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 505 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 359 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 505 code (59% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 505 area code?
Repeated calls from different 505 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 505 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 359 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 505 code (59% 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 505 number?
If you aren't expecting a 505 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 505 area code?
Block a single 505 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 505 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 505?
Area code 505 covers Albuquerque and the surrounding area in New Mexico, spanning 205 cities with about 1,196,234 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 575.
Is 505 a real area code?
Yes. 505 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Albuquerque, New Mexico. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 505 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 505 area code in?
The 505 area code is in the Mountain Time (MT). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 505 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 505 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 505 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 505 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.