Area Code 206

Washington

Area code 206 serves Washington, primarily Seattle, in the Pacific Time (PT) time zone. It has served the region since 01-Jan-1947.

Published: Updated:

Area Code Splits

Parts of this area code’s original geographic region were later assigned new area codes through splits. When a split occurs, some customers in the original area code region are assigned the new area code.

Split into: area code 253 (Tacoma), area code 360 (Vancouver), area code 425 (Bellevue).

Learn more about overlay and split area codes →

Demographics & Economics

Total Population
1,054,706
Population Density
1,056 people/sq mi
above U.S. average (U.S.: 93 people/sq mi)
Median Household Income
$122,148
above U.S. median (U.S.: $75,144)
Poverty Rate
8.4%
below U.S. average (U.S.: 11.5%)
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
above U.S. average (U.S.: 3.6%)
Education Attainment
Bachelor's Degree+
55.5%
above U.S. average (U.S.: 33.7%)
High School or Lower
17.6%

Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates. Population figures are approximate — see Sources & Methodology for details on how area code populations are derived.

See how this area code compares to all US area codes in the Statistics dashboard.

Time Zone

  • Pacific Time (PT)

NANPA Relief Status

According to the latest NANPA analysis (July 2026), this area code is not currently listed as exhausting within the next 36 months. No relief planning is in progress for this NPA.

Source: NANPA NPA Relief Planning Reports · See all relief planning statuses

Current Time

Pacific Time (PT)
 
 

Prefix Utilization

Geographic Coverage

State

WA

Major Cities

  • Seattle
  • Vancouver
  • Everett
  • Bellingham
  • Marysville
  • South Hill
  • Shoreline
  • Lacey
  • Olympia
  • Burien
  • Bremerton
  • Edmonds
  • Longview
  • Mount Vernon
  • Graham
  • Des Moines
  • SeaTac
  • Orchards
  • Camas
  • Tumwater
  • Mercer Island
  • Bainbridge Island
  • Oak Harbor
  • Hazel Dell

and 273 more cities

Area Code 206 geographic coverage map (light mode)

Historical Timeline of Area Code 206

Area code 206 was created on January 1, 1947, as one of the original 86 North American Numbering Plan codes, covering the entire state of Washington. Over the following 78 years, it underwent four geographic splits and one overlay, making it one of the most frequently split original NANP codes. The 564 overlay was placed in service on June 10, 2025, ending 78 years without a supplementary code. Source: Wikipedia

  • 1947: Area code 206 created as one of the 86 original NANP area codes, serving the entire state of Washington. The middle digit "0" in the N0X format indicated statewide coverage under pre-1953 numbering rules. Source: Wikipedia
  • 1957: Area code 509 split off for the eastern two-thirds of Washington, roughly following the Cascade Mountains. Area code 206 retained western Washington. This initiated a 38-year period of stability (1957–1995) despite growing demand. Source: Wikipedia
  • 1995: Area code 360 split from 206 on January 15, 1995. 360 was one of the first interchangeable NPA codes not conforming to the traditional N0X/N1X format, breaking a 48-year convention. Seattle/Tacoma metro retained 206; the remainder transferred to 360. Source: NANPA IL-94-01-001
  • 1997: A rare three-way split on April 25, 1997 created area codes 253 (Tacoma/South Sound) and 425 (Eastside/Everett) simultaneously from 206 territory. Permissive dialing ran from April 27 to November 16, 1997. Source: Wikipedia
  • 2000: WUTC decision UT-990219 ordered a single all-services overlay of area code 564 over 206, 253, 360, and 425. Permissive dialing began September 1, 2000. Source: NANPA PL-239
  • 2001: WUTC suspended the 564 overlay under Docket UT-991535 until at least October 2002. Improved numbering efficiency from thousands-block number pooling reduced immediate urgency. Source: NANPA PL-298
  • 2016: WUTC approved a stepped overlay plan in Docket UT-143787: 564 would first overlay 360, then expand to 206, 253, and 425 as each exhausted. Source: WUTC
  • 2017: Area code 564 introduced, initially overlaying the 360 NPA. Mandatory 10-digit dialing implemented for all western Washington NPAs, eight years before the 206 overlay arrived. Source: WUTC
  • 2023: WUTC approved expansion of the 564 overlay to the 206 NPA on June 15, 2023, under Docket UT-230108. Network preparation began September 10, 2024. Source: NANPA PL-620
  • 2025: The 206/564 all-services overlay was placed in service on June 10, 2025. New phone numbers in the 206 area may receive a 564 area code once all 206 prefixes are assigned. Source: WUTC Docket UT-230108

    • The transition from a statewide code to a Seattle-core overlay illustrates the broader pattern of area code fragmentation driven by population growth and telecommunications expansion across the Pacific Northwest.

Regulatory History

Area code 206 has undergone five significant regulatory events over 79 years, involving the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) and NANPA. The FCC delegates numbering authority to state commissions under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(2)), and WUTC holds primary jurisdiction over Washington state numbering matters. Source: WUTC

YearEventDocketRegulatory Action & Impact
1994360 relief planning for 206IL-94-01-001NANPA Informational Letter confirmed 360 as interchangeable code for relief of 206 NPA. Service date set for January 15, 1995. Source: NANPA IL-94-01-001
2000564 all-services overlay orderedUT-990219WUTC ordered overlay of 564 over 206, 253, 360, and 425. Permissive dialing began September 1, 2000; mandatory 10-digit dialing set for October 20, 2001. Source: NANPA PL-239
2001564 overlay suspendedUT-991535WUTC suspended the 564 overlay and mandatory 10-digit dialing until at least October 2002. Thousands-block number pooling reduced immediate numbering pressure. Source: NANPA PL-298
2016Stepped overlay plan approvedUT-143787WUTC approved a novel stepped overlay: 564 first overlays 360, then expands to 206, 253, and 425 as each exhausts. Source: WUTC
2023564 expansion to 206 approvedUT-230108NANPA notified UTC of 206 exhaust. All-services overlay approved June 15, 2023. Network prep began September 10, 2024; service date June 10, 2025. Source: WUTC Docket UT-230108

County Coverage

Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 206).

CountyPopulationShare
King, WA1,030,09997.7%
Kitsap, WA24,6072.3%

Area Code 206 Family Tree

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206253360425564
5
Total Codes
3
Splits
1
Overlays
2
Max Depth

All Descendants

Code ▲StateType In Service Parent
253WAsplit27-Apr-1997206
360WAsplit15-Jan-1995206
425WAsplit27-Apr-1997206
564WAoverlay28-Aug-2017360

Area code 206 was originally assigned in 01-Jan-1947 to serve WA. Over the years, it has generated 4 descendant area codes through a combination of geographic splits and overlays as demand for telephone numbers grew.

Call Context

High-density metropolitan area

This area code serves a major metropolitan region with high population density in WA. The primary city is Seattle.

Nearby Area Codes

Area codes geographically closest to 206.

Area code 360 map card showing Vancouver (light mode)
360WAVancouverPacific Time (PT)Geographic
Area code 253 map card showing Tacoma (light mode)
253WATacomaPacific Time (PT)Split
Area code 425 map card showing Bellevue (light mode)
425WABellevuePacific Time (PT)Split
Area code 503 map card showing Portland (light mode)
503ORPortlandPacific Time (PT)Geographic

Other Area Codes in Washington

Area codes that also serve Washington, linked for easy comparison.