Area Code 208

Idaho

Area code 208 serves Idaho, primarily Meridian, in the Mountain Time (MT) time zone. It has served the region since 01-Jan-1947.

Published: Updated:

Overlay Area Code

This area code is part of an overlay region, meaning the same geographic area is served by multiple area codes. Overlay codes were introduced to meet growing demand for phone numbers without requiring existing customers to change their numbers.

This area code shares its geographic region with: area code 986 (Meridian).

In service since: 01-Jan-1947

Learn more about overlay and split area codes →

Demographics & Economics

Total Population
2,804,894
Population Density
16 people/sq mi
below U.S. average (U.S.: 93 people/sq mi)
Median Household Income
$72,355
near U.S. median (U.S.: $75,144)
Poverty Rate
10.8%
near U.S. average (U.S.: 11.5%)
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
near U.S. average (U.S.: 3.6%)
Education Attainment
Bachelor's Degree+
28.5%
below U.S. average (U.S.: 33.7%)
High School or Lower
31.0%

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 Zones

  • Mountain Time (MT)
  • 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

Mountain Time (MT)
 
 
Pacific Time (PT)
 
 

This area code spans multiple time zones.

Prefix Utilization

Geographic Coverage

State

ID

Major Cities

  • Meridian
  • Nampa
  • Idaho Falls
  • Caldwell
  • Pocatello
  • Coeur d'Alene
  • Twin Falls
  • Post Falls
  • Rexburg
  • Lewiston
  • Eagle
  • Kuna
  • Moscow
  • Ammon
  • Mountain Home
  • Hayden
  • Chubbuck
  • Star
  • Jerome
  • Blackfoot
  • Burley
  • Rathdrum
  • Middleton
  • Hailey

and 212 more cities

Area Code 208 geographic coverage map (light mode)

Historical Timeline of Area Code 208

Area code 208 was created in 1947 as one of the 86 original North American area codes assigned by AT&T. It remained Idaho's sole area code for 70 years until the 986 overlay was approved in 2015 and activated in 2017, making it the second statewide overlay in the North American Numbering Plan after West Virginia's 304/681 in 2009. Source: Wikipedia.

Key milestones:

  • 1947: Created as one of the 86 original NANP area codes by AT&T. Idaho was assigned the 208 code. (Idaho PUC Order No. 33414)
  • 2000: NANPA petitioned the Idaho PUC for area code relief (Case GNR-T-00-36).
  • 2001: Idaho PUC Order No. 28902 rejected an overlay, ordered thousand-block number pooling as the primary conservation measure, and prepared a contingency three-way geographic split. The order found approximately 5.78 million unused telephone numbers in the 208 NPA. (Idaho PUC Order No. 28902)
  • 2002: Thousand-block number pooling implemented in the Boise metropolitan area, the first conservation measure to extend 208's supply.
  • 2007: Number pooling extended statewide, delaying the projected exhaustion of 208 to 2018.
  • 2013: NANPA projected exhaustion by mid-2018 after all conservation measures were exhausted.
  • 2015: Idaho PUC Order No. 33414 approved the all-services 986 overlay on November 2, 2015, with a projected lifespan of 66 years. (Idaho PUC Order No. 33414)
  • 2016: Area code 986 entered service on November 5, 2016, beginning the permissive dialing period.
  • 2017: Mandatory 10-digit dialing began across Idaho on August 5, 2017. The first 986 central office codes were activated on September 5, 2017.

The 15-year conservation effort from 2001 to 2015 stands as one of the longest successful deferrals of a new area code in the NANP, driven by number pooling adoption across the state.

Regulatory History

Area code 208 has been the subject of two major Idaho Public Utilities Commission regulatory proceedings and one NANPA planning action. The first proceeding in 2001 established number conservation measures that extended the code's life by 15 years, while the second in 2015 approved the statewide overlay that remains in effect today. Source: Idaho PUC

YearEventDocketRegulatory Action & Impact
2001NPA Relief PlanningGNR-T-00-36Idaho PUC Order No. 28902 rejected an overlay, ordered thousand-block number pooling as the primary conservation measure, and prepared a contingency three-way geographic split. Found 5.78 million unused numbers in the 208 NPA. (Idaho PUC Order No. 28902)
2015986 Overlay ApprovalGNR-T-15-06Idaho PUC Order No. 33414 approved an all-services overlay creating area code 986 to serve Idaho alongside 208. The overlay has a projected lifespan of 66 years. Implementation required mandatory 10-digit dialing statewide. (Idaho PUC Order No. 33414)
2015NANPA Planning LetterPL-490NANPA Planning Letter PL-490 formalized the 986 overlay implementation schedule. Permissive dialing began November 5, 2016; mandatory 10-digit dialing started August 5, 2017.

County Coverage

Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 208).

CountyPopulationShare
Ada, ID555,52419.8%
Canyon, ID296,38110.6%
Kootenai, ID187,3886.7%
Bonneville, ID165,9595.9%
Jefferson, ID109,3003.9%
Bingham, ID107,6203.8%
Twin Falls, ID95,6803.4%
Bannock, ID90,3063.2%
Jerome, ID90,0823.2%
Gem, ID89,4133.2%
Payette, ID82,4372.9%
Fremont, ID67,7142.4%
Madison, ID66,0142.4%
Bonner, ID59,8032.1%
Boise, ID51,9041.9%
Elmore, ID50,9861.8%
Owyhee, ID48,0561.7%
Gooding, ID47,8121.7%
Nez Perce, ID46,7051.7%
Cassia, ID45,6191.6%
Minidoka, ID43,7641.6%
Latah, ID41,6641.5%
Blaine, ID40,5891.4%
Lincoln, ID37,4591.3%
Boundary, ID32,4461.2%
Idaho, ID30,6331.1%
Power, ID25,7670.9%
Shoshone, ID22,3210.8%
Washington, ID22,1360.8%
Franklin, ID17,1000.6%
Lewis, ID13,8040.5%
Adams, ID13,0310.5%
Teton, ID12,9400.5%
Valley, ID12,6300.5%
Benewah, ID11,8380.4%
Caribou, ID11,3810.4%
Clearwater, ID10,4230.4%
Lemhi, ID10,3870.4%
Bear Lake, ID10,3520.4%
Pend Oreille, WA6,9130.2%
Oneida, ID6,7070.2%
Custer, ID5,3800.2%
Camas, ID4,2630.2%
Butte, ID2,9640.1%
Box Elder, UT1,5840.1%
Clark, ID1,4260.1%
Lincoln, WY2890.0%

Area Code 208 Family Tree

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208986
2
Total Codes
0
Splits
1
Overlays
1
Max Depth

All Descendants

Code ▲StateType In Service Parent
986IDoverlay05-Sep-2017208

Area code 208 was originally assigned in 01-Jan-1947 to serve ID. Over the years, it has generated 1 descendant area code through a combination of geographic splits and overlays as demand for telephone numbers grew.

Call Context

Mixed urban-rural area

This area code spans a mix of urban centers and rural communities across ID, with Meridian as a primary city.

Nearby Area Codes

Area codes geographically closest to 208.

Area code 406 map card showing Billings (light mode)
406MTBillingsMountain Time (MT)Geographic
Area code 509 map card showing Spokane (light mode)
509WASpokanePacific Time (PT)Geographic
Area code 385 map card showing Salt Lake City (light mode)
385UTSalt Lake CityMountain Time (MT)Overlay
Area code 801 map card showing Salt Lake City (light mode)
801UTSalt Lake CityMountain Time (MT)Geographic

Other Area Codes in Idaho

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