828 Area CodeAsheville, NC
Area code 828 covers Asheville and nearby communities in North Carolina, in the Eastern Time (ET) zone, home to about 511,000 people across 121 cities. It overlays 704, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- Asheville
- State
- North Carolina (NC)
- Timezone
- Eastern Time (ET)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 704
Where is area code 828?
Area code 828 serves part of Asheville, NC and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (704) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 828 Area Code
What is the 828 area code?
The 828 area code serves Asheville, North Carolina, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 828 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 828 created?
The 828 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Asheville once the existing area code 704 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 828 Area Code
The 828 area code serves Asheville and surrounding areas in North Carolina. It operates within the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 704. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Asheville
- Hickory
- Boone
- Lenoir
- Morganton
- Hendersonville
Got a call from an 828 number? It came from Asheville, NC. Since 828 overlays with 704, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 828, Asheville holds about 19% of the population; the rest is split across 120 smaller cities.
Asheville Area Codes Overview
Asheville is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 828 area code operates alongside 704. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 828 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 828 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | NC | 94,992 | 1% | 100% |
| Hickory | NC | 45,081 | 0% | 100% |
| Boone | NC | 20,080 | 0% | 100% |
| Lenoir | NC | 18,280 | 0% | 100% |
| Morganton | NC | 17,825 | 0% | 100% |
| Hendersonville | NC | 15,656 | 0% | 100% |
| Newton | NC | 13,571 | 0% | 96% |
| Waynesville | NC | 10,709 | 0% | 100% |
| Conover | NC | 8,760 | 0% | 100% |
| St. Stephens | NC | 8,759 | 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 828 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 821 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 828 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 67% robocalls
- ↓ 23% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other31%257
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends25%209
- Medical & prescriptions20%163
* 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 828?
64% assigned to a telco
- 69% Landline
- 31% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (828)200- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (828)201- | Wireless | T-Mobile Usa |
| (828)202- | Landline | Level 3 Communications |
| (828)203- | Landline | Windstream Nuvox |
| (828)205- | Wireless | T-Mobile Usa |
| (828)206- | Wireless | United States Cellular |
| (828)207- | Wireless | Usa Mobility Wireless |
| (828)208- | Wireless | United States Cellular |
| (828)209- | Landline | Windstream Nuvox |
| (828)210- | Landline | Windstream Nuvox |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 828 Area Code
Who called me from a 828 number?
A 828 number is assigned to Asheville, North Carolina, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 828 code to look nearby, so a 828 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 821 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 828 code (67% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 828 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 828 is a normal, officially assigned code for Asheville, North Carolina. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 828 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 821 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 828 code (67% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 828 area code?
Repeated calls from different 828 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 828 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 821 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 828 code (67% 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 828 number?
If you aren't expecting a 828 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 828 area code?
Block a single 828 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 828 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 828?
Area code 828 covers Asheville and the surrounding area in North Carolina, spanning 121 cities with about 510,613 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 704.
Is 828 a real area code?
Yes. 828 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Asheville, North Carolina. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 828 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 828 area code in?
The 828 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 828 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 828 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 828 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 828 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.