Area code 206 covers Seattle and surrounding areas in Washington. It is one of the original 86 area codes established by AT&T in 1947. Today it shares its territory with overlay code 564. For the full picture, see all Washington area codes.
| State | Washington |
|---|---|
| Primary city | Seattle |
| Cities also served | Seattle, Vashon Island, Mercer Island, Bainbridge Island (part), Burien (part), SeaTac (part), Tukwila (part) |
| Time zone | Pacific (UTC-8 / UTC-7 DST) |
| Year established | October 1, 1947 |
| Original 1947 NPA? | Yes |
| Overlay codes | 564 |
| Currently in use? | Yes, actively assigned |
| Ten-digit dialing required? | Yes |
History of Area Code 206
Area code 206 is one of the 86 original area codes created by AT&T in 1947, when the first nationwide numbering plan went into effect on January 1 of that year. It was assigned to Washington as part of the initial map that divided the United States and Canada into geographic dialing regions.
Since its activation, the geographic area covered by 206 has been reshaped by the following splits:
- 1957 — area code 509 split off to cover eastern Washington — Spokane, Yakima, and the territory east of the Cascade Mountains
- 1995 — area code 360 split off to cover western Washington outside the immediate Seattle metro — Olympia, Bellingham, Vancouver, the Olympic Peninsula — on January 15, 1995
- 1997 — area code 253 split off to cover the South Sound — Tacoma, Federal Way, Pierce County — as part of the three-way split on April 27, 1997
- 1997 — area code 425 split off to cover the Eastside — Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Everett, Snohomish County — as part of the three-way split on April 27, 1997
Overlay codes have been added to the same geographic territory in:
- 2025 — area code 564 activated as an overlay
Cities and Areas Served by 206
Area code 206 serves the city of Seattle, Vashon and Mercer islands, and the immediate surrounding communities in King County, including the following cities and communities:
Ready to Get a 206 Number?
One-time fee. No monthly charges. Port to any carrier in 3–5 business days. NYC's most trusted source since 2009.
Browse 206 Numbers →- Seattle
- Vashon Island
- Mercer Island
- Bainbridge Island (part)
- Burien (part)
- SeaTac (part)
- Tukwila (part)
Nearby area codes covering the same broader region include: 564, 425, 253, 360, 509.
Overlay Codes 206
Area code 564 shares the same geographic territory as 206 (added in 2025). New phone numbers in the region may be assigned either code.
Because multiple area codes serve the same area, ten-digit dialing is mandatory for all local calls. A call from any of these codes originates from the same geographic region in Washington.
The Cultural Weight of a 206 Number
Area code 206 was one of the original 86 area codes assigned in October 1947, and it originally covered the entire state of Washington. Four reductions over forty years progressively narrowed it to its current footprint. The first, in 1957, moved eastern Washington (Spokane, Yakima, the territory east of the Cascade Mountains) into the new 509 area code. The second, on January 15, 1995, moved most of western Washington outside the Seattle metro area into 360 — Olympia, Bellingham, Vancouver, the Olympic Peninsula. The third and fourth occurred simultaneously on April 27, 1997, when a three-way split divided the remaining 206 territory: Seattle proper kept 206, the South Sound (Tacoma, Federal Way, Pierce County) became 253, and the Eastside (Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Everett, Snohomish County) became 425. The 1997 three-way split was contentious — Seattle exurb residents protested moves out of 206, which carried cultural cachet as the Seattle identifier, and Renton successfully lobbied to join the wealthier 425 territory rather than the South Sound’s 253.
After 1997, 206 was geographically restricted to Seattle itself and a few neighboring communities (Vashon Island, Mercer Island, parts of Bainbridge), and the code became closely identified with the city. The cultural prestige of 206 has been heightened by Seattle’s transformation into one of the most prominent technology centers in the country — Microsoft (Redmond, technically 425), Amazon (Seattle, 206), Boeing’s historical and continuing presence, Starbucks’s headquarters, and the broader ecosystem of cloud computing and aerospace firms that grew up around them. The 564 overlay, originally planned for 2000 but repeatedly deferred by conservation efforts, finally arrived on the 206 territory in June 2025 — making 206 one of the latest urban codes in the country to transition to mandatory ten-digit dialing for local calls.
How to Get a Phone Number with Area Code 206
There are three ways to get a phone number with the 206 area code, each suited to a different need:
- Buy from a premium-number specialist. Companies that hold curated inventories of specific area codes can sell you a 206 number directly, often with a one-time fee and ownership transferred to you (no recurring carrier fees). This is the option for picking a specific memorable number, or for getting an area code that most carriers won’t let you request. Browse our 206 inventory.
- Sign up with a VoIP carrier. Voice-over-IP services (such as Google Voice, OpenPhone, Grasshopper, and many others) can typically provision a 206 number on request, especially for active overlay codes. You won’t usually get to pick the specific number, but you’ll get a working line in the area code. This is the cheapest option for anyone who doesn’t need a particular number.
- Port an existing 206 number. If you already have a 206 phone number with another carrier, you can transfer it (port it) to a new service provider while keeping the number. This works for landlines, cell phones, and VoIP services, though landlines outside of Washington sometimes can’t accept inbound ports of 206 numbers due to 911 routing rules.
Looking for a 206 number? 212areacode.com offers premium 206 numbers for Seattle, Washington — choose your number, port it to any carrier in 3–5 business days, and pay a one-time fee with no monthly charges. Browse available 206 numbers →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 206 area code still in use?
Yes. 206 is actively assigned to new phone lines in the city of Seattle, Vashon and Mercer islands, and the immediate surrounding communities in King County.
What is the difference between 206 and 564?
Today they share the same geographic territory in Washington. New phone lines in the area may be assigned either code. The two codes work identically for calling, billing, and service.
Can I get a 206 number if I don't live in Washington?
Yes. Phone numbers are no longer tied to a physical address. With VoIP service or a number broker, you can hold a 206 number from anywhere in the world. The number routes to whatever device or carrier you specify.
Is 206 a scam area code?
No. 206 is a legitimate, active area code for the city of Seattle, Vashon and Mercer islands, and the immediate surrounding communities in King County. Like any area code, scammers occasionally spoof 206 caller IDs, but the code itself is heavily used by real Washington businesses, government offices, and residents.
Why does 206 cover such a small area now?
206 originally covered the entire state of Washington. Four splits between 1957 and 1997 progressively reduced the territory — eastern Washington to 509 in 1957, western Washington outside Seattle to 360 in 1995, and the Seattle suburbs to 253 (South Sound) and 425 (Eastside) in the 1997 three-way split. After 1997 only Seattle proper and a few adjacent islands remained on 206.
Is Microsoft on a 206 number?
Microsoft is headquartered in Redmond, which is on the Eastside — area code 425. Amazon, Starbucks, and most other Seattle-based companies use 206 numbers. The 206/425 boundary divides Seattle proper from the technology-heavy Eastside suburbs.
