Louisiana has 6 active area codes as of 2026, covering the state through a mix of original 1947 assignments, geographic splits, and modern overlays. This guide walks through the full list, which regions each code serves, the order they came online, and where new codes are most likely to land next.
The Short Answer
Louisiana currently has 6 active area codes in service. The count reflects a combination of population growth, the rise of mobile lines, and the way modern numbering allocates blocks — every line activated, whether a cellphone, a business desk line, a VoIP number, or a connected device, consumes a slot in the pool.
By population, Louisiana ranks #25 nationally with roughly 4,597,740 residents as of the most recent estimates. That puts the state’s area code count in line with its population peers — denser, faster-growing states need more codes; smaller states need fewer.
The Full List of Louisiana Area Codes
The active area codes serving Louisiana are listed below, in numerical order. Where a code is an overlay or a split-off from an earlier code, that relationship is noted.
- 225 — Baton Rouge area and parts of south-central Louisiana
- 318 — Northern Louisiana (Shreveport, Bossier City, Monroe, Alexandria)
- 337 — Southwest Louisiana (Lafayette, Lake Charles)
- 457 — Northern Louisiana (Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria) (overlay of 318)
- 504 — New Orleans metropolitan area
- 985 — Southeast Louisiana outside the inner New Orleans ring (Houma, Hammond, Slidell)
How Louisiana’s Area Codes Grew Over Time
Louisiana received its first area code, 504, when the North American Numbering Plan launched in 1947. That single code initially covered the entire state, and subsequent splits and overlays narrowed it over the decades that followed.
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Browse Louisiana Area Codes →- 1947 — 504 assigned as Louisiana's sole area code at the launch of the North American Numbering Plan, covering the entire state.
- 1957 — 318 split off from 504 for nearly all of the state west of the Mississippi River, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico north to the Arkansas border.
- 1998 — 225 split off from 504 on August 17, 1998, for the Baton Rouge area and parts of south-central Louisiana, the first new Louisiana area code in 41 years.
- 1999 — 337 split off from 318 for the southern half of that region, including Lafayette and Lake Charles.
- 2001 — 985 split off from 504 for much of southeastern Louisiana surrounding the inner New Orleans ring, including Houma, Hammond, and Slidell.
- 2025 — 457 activated on September 25, 2025, as Louisiana's first all-services overlay, sharing the 318 region in northern Louisiana.
Why Louisiana Has Multiple Area Codes
A single area code can hold roughly 7.9 million possible phone numbers in theory — 792 valid central office codes (the second three digits) multiplied by 10,000 line numbers each. In practice the usable count is lower, because blocks of numbers are reserved, withheld, or assigned in bulk to carriers that may never fully use them. When the pool of available numbers in an area code falls below the threshold the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) tracks, the state requests relief, and either a split or an overlay is approved.
Louisiana’s population of roughly 4,597,740 residents would, on its own, fit comfortably inside a single area code’s capacity. The reason 6 codes are needed instead is that every adult typically carries at least one mobile line, many households have multiple lines per person, businesses concentrate phone numbers at extreme density, and connected devices, VoIP services, and second-line apps all draw from the same pool. The math compounds quickly.
Louisiana Area Codes by Region
New Orleans area (504): New Orleans and the inner metropolitan ring. 504 is the state's original 1947 area code and now serves the smallest geographic footprint after successive splits.
Southeast Louisiana (985): Houma, Hammond, Slidell, and the parishes surrounding New Orleans. Split off from 504 in 2001.
Baton Rouge area (225): Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Zachary, and parts of south-central Louisiana. Split off from 504 in 1998.
Northern Louisiana (318, 457): Shreveport, Bossier City, Monroe, Ruston, and Alexandria. 318 split off from 504 in 1957; 457 was added as an overlay in 2025.
Southwest Louisiana (337): Lafayette, Lake Charles, and the surrounding Acadiana parishes. Split off from 318 in 1999.
What’s Next for Louisiana Area Codes
Louisiana’s most significant recent change is the 318/457 overlay, which NANPA approved after projecting that 318 would exhaust by early 2026. The 457 overlay entered service on September 25, 2025, adding a fresh numbering pool to the northern part of the state and removing the most pressing relief concern. NANPA’s current planning shows no other Louisiana numbering plan area in jeopardy; 225, 337, 504, and 985 each retain available prefixes, and no further relief is underway elsewhere in the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many area codes does Louisiana have right now?
Louisiana has 6 active area codes in service across the territory it covers, including any overlays that share geography with an older code.
What is the oldest area code in Louisiana?
504 is the oldest active area code in Louisiana, assigned in 1947 when the North American Numbering Plan launched. It remains in service today, though its geographic footprint has typically been reduced by subsequent splits and overlays.
What is the newest area code in Louisiana?
The most recent area code addition to Louisiana was 457, activated in 2025. New phone lines provisioned in its service area are increasingly drawn from this code as older overlays approach exhaustion.
Why does Louisiana need so many area codes?
Population growth combined with the proliferation of mobile lines, business direct-dial numbers, VoIP services, and connected devices has exhausted older codes faster than the original 1947 plan anticipated. Each new area code adds roughly 7.9 million additional phone numbers to the regional pool.
How many area codes does Louisiana have?
Louisiana has 6 active area codes as of 2026: 504, 318, 337, 225, 985, and 457. The newest is 457, which began service on September 25, 2025, as an overlay of 318 in northern Louisiana.
Which area code covers New Orleans?
New Orleans and its inner metropolitan ring are served by 504, the original Louisiana area code from 1947. Surrounding southeastern parishes such as Houma, Hammond, and Slidell use 985, which split off from 504 in 2001.
What is the 457 area code in Louisiana?
457 is Louisiana’s first all-services overlay, covering the same northern Louisiana region as 318, including Shreveport, Monroe, and Alexandria. It entered service on September 25, 2025, to provide more numbers as 318 approached exhaustion. New lines in the region may be assigned either 318 or 457, and 10-digit dialing is required.
Which area code covers Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge is served by 225, which split off from 504 in 1998. The code also covers Prairieville, Zachary, and parts of south-central Louisiana. On a phone keypad the digits 2-2-5 spell C-A-J, a nod to the area’s Cajun heritage.
Ready to Get a Number in Louisiana?
We carry available Louisiana numbers right now across multiple area codes. Order directly in 225, 318, 337, 457, or 504 — a one-time fee, no monthly charges, with pricing From $150 depending on the digit pattern and memorability of the number. Prefer help choosing? Call us at (212) 580-2000.
