908 Area CodeElizabeth, NJ
Area code 908 covers Elizabeth and nearby communities in New Jersey, in the Eastern Time (ET) zone, home to about 611,000 people across 86 cities. It's the only area code for this region, so the three digits alone place the caller.
Overview
- Major City
- Elizabeth
- State
- New Jersey (NJ)
- Timezone
- Eastern Time (ET)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- No – unique area code
Where is area code 908?
Area code 908 serves part of Elizabeth, NJ and the surrounding areas. It is a unique area code with no overlays.
Overview of the 908 Area Code
What is the 908 area code?
The 908 area code serves Elizabeth, New Jersey. When you see a 908 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 908 created?
The 908 area code was established to serve the Elizabeth region in New Jersey. It provides telephone number coverage across 86 cities.
Geographic Coverage of the 908 Area Code
The 908 area code serves Elizabeth and surrounding areas in New Jersey. It operates within the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Elizabeth
- Plainfield
- Linden
- Westfield
- South Plainfield
- Summit
Got a call from a 908 number? It came from Elizabeth, NJ. No other area code overlaps the 908 territory, so the prefix alone identifies where the caller is. Inside 908, Elizabeth holds about 23% of the population; the rest is split across 85 smaller cities.
Elizabeth Area Code Overview
The 908 area code provides comprehensive telephone coverage for Elizabeth and its surrounding communities. As the sole area code for this region, it uniquely identifies all local numbers within the service area.
What cities does area code 908 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth | NJ | 140,413 | 1% | 100% |
| Plainfield | NJ | 56,507 | 1% | 100% |
| Linden | NJ | 45,393 | 1% | 98% |
| Westfield | NJ | 32,050 | 1% | 100% |
| South Plainfield | NJ | 25,062 | 1% | 87% |
| Summit | NJ | 23,102 | 1% | 100% |
| North Plainfield | NJ | 23,072 | 0% | 100% |
| Roselle | NJ | 23,064 | 0% | 100% |
| Phillipsburg | NJ | 15,393 | 0% | 100% |
| Somerville | NJ | 14,428 | 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 908 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 1,116 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 908 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 76% robocalls
- ↑ 17% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other50%563
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)25%282
- Dropped call or no message8%88
* 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 908?
70% assigned to a telco
- 75% Landline
- 25% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (908)200- | Landline | Service Electric Telephone Company |
| (908)202- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (908)203- | Landline | Verizon New Jersey |
| (908)204- | Landline | Verizon New Jersey |
| (908)205- | Landline | Comcast Ip Phone |
| (908)206- | Landline | Verizon New Jersey |
| (908)207- | Landline | Dial-A-Beeper |
| (908)208- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (908)209- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (908)210- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 908 Area Code
Who called me from a 908 number?
A 908 number is assigned to Elizabeth, New Jersey, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 908 code to look nearby, so a 908 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 1,116 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 908 code (76% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 908 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 908 is a normal, officially assigned code for Elizabeth, New Jersey. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 908 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 1,116 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 908 code (76% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 908 area code?
Repeated calls from different 908 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 908 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 1,116 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 908 code (76% 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 908 number?
If you aren't expecting a 908 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 908 area code?
Block a single 908 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 908 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 908?
Area code 908 covers Elizabeth and the surrounding area in New Jersey, spanning 86 cities with about 610,634 residents. No other code overlays this region, so 908 alone identifies the area.
Is 908 a real area code?
Yes. 908 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Elizabeth, New Jersey. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 908 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 908 area code in?
The 908 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 908 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 908 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 908 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 908 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.