878 Area CodePittsburgh, PA
Area code 878 covers Pittsburgh and nearby communities in Pennsylvania, in the Eastern Time (ET) zone, home to about 1.5 million people across 450 cities. It overlays 412, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Where is area code 878?
Area code 878 serves part of Pittsburgh, PA and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (412) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 878 Area Code
What is the 878 area code?
The 878 area code serves Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 878 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 878 created?
The 878 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Pittsburgh once the existing area code 412 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 878 Area Code
The 878 area code serves Pittsburgh and surrounding areas in Pennsylvania. It operates within the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 412. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Pittsburgh
- Bethel Park
- Monroeville
- Plum
- Allison Park
- New Castle
Got a call from an 878 number? It came from Pittsburgh, PA. Since 878 overlays with 412, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 878, Pittsburgh holds about 20% of the population; the rest is split across 449 smaller cities.
Pittsburgh Area Codes Overview
Pittsburgh is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 878 area code operates alongside 412. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 878 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 878 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | PA | 307,668 | 1% | 100% |
| Bethel Park | PA | 32,376 | 0% | 100% |
| Monroeville | PA | 27,966 | 0% | 100% |
| Plum | PA | 26,420 | 0% | 100% |
| Allison Park | PA | 21,552 | 0% | 100% |
| New Castle | PA | 21,332 | 0% | 100% |
| Murrysville | PA | 20,729 | 0% | 100% |
| Baldwin | PA | 20,712 | 0% | 100% |
| Upper St. Clair | PA | 19,229 | 0% | 100% |
| West Mifflin | PA | 18,902 | 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 878 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 145 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 878 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 65% robocalls
- ↑ 38% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other48%69
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)21%30
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends10%14
* 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 878?
14% assigned to a telco
- 92% Landline
- 8% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (878)201- | Landline | Peerless Network Of Pennsylvania |
| (878)202- | Landline | Time Warner Cable Information Svcs (Pa), Pa |
| (878)203- | Landline | Centurylink Communications |
| (878)204- | Landline | Windstream Pennsylvania |
| (878)205- | Landline | Onvoy |
| (878)206- | Landline | Onvoy |
| (878)207- | Landline | Comcast Ip Phone |
| (878)208- | Landline | Mcimetro Access Transmission Services |
| (878)210- | Landline | Windstream Pennsylvania |
| (878)212- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 878 Area Code
Who called me from a 878 number?
A 878 number is assigned to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 878 code to look nearby, so a 878 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 145 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 878 code (65% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 878 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 878 is a normal, officially assigned code for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 878 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 145 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 878 code (65% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 878 area code?
Repeated calls from different 878 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 878 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 145 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 878 code (65% 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 878 number?
If you aren't expecting a 878 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 878 area code?
Block a single 878 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 878 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 878?
Area code 878 covers Pittsburgh and the surrounding area in Pennsylvania, spanning 450 cities with about 1,506,584 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 412.
Is 878 a real area code?
Yes. 878 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 878 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 878 area code in?
The 878 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 878 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 878 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 878 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 878 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.