Where Is Area Code 505 Located?

Area code 505 covers Albuquerque and surrounding areas in New Mexico. It is one of the original 86 area codes established by AT&T in 1947. For the full picture, see all New Mexico area codes.

Quick Facts: Area Code 505

State	New Mexico
Primary city	Albuquerque
Cities also served	Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Farmington, Gallup, Rio Rancho, Los Alamos, Taos, Los Lunas
Time zone	Mountain (UTC-7 / UTC-6 DST)
Year established	January 1, 1947
Original 1947 NPA?	Yes
Overlay codes	None
Currently in use?	Yes, actively assigned
Ten-digit dialing required?	Local seven-digit dialing may still apply

Cities Served by Area Code 505

Area code 505 serves Albuquerque metropolitan area and central/northwestern New Mexico, including the following cities and communities:

• Albuquerque
• Santa Fe
• Farmington
• Gallup
• Rio Rancho
• Los Alamos
• Taos
• Los Lunas

Nearby area codes covering the same broader region include: 575.

How to Get a 505 Phone Number

There are three ways to get a phone number with the 505 area code, each suited to a different need:

1. Buy from a premium-number specialist. Companies that hold curated inventories of specific area codes can sell you a 505 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 505 inventory.
2. Sign up with a VoIP carrier. Voice-over-IP services (such as Google Voice, OpenPhone, Grasshopper, and many others) can typically provision a 505 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.
3. Port an existing 505 number. If you already have a 505 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 New Mexico sometimes can’t accept inbound ports of 505 numbers due to 911 routing rules.

Looking for a 505 number? 212areacode.com offers premium 505 numbers for Albuquerque, New Mexico — 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 505 numbers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 505 area code still in use?
Yes. 505 is actively assigned to new phone lines in Albuquerque metropolitan area and central/northwestern New Mexico.

Can I get a 505 number if I don't live in New Mexico?
Yes. Phone numbers are no longer tied to a physical address. With VoIP service or a number broker, you can hold a 505 number from anywhere in the world. The number routes to whatever device or carrier you specify.

Is 505 a scam area code?
No. 505 is a legitimate, active area code for Albuquerque metropolitan area and central/northwestern New Mexico. Like any area code, scammers occasionally spoof 505 caller IDs, but the code itself is heavily used by real New Mexico businesses, government offices, and residents.

What cities are in the 505 area code?
Area code 505 covers central and northwestern New Mexico, including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Farmington, Gallup, Rio Rancho, Los Alamos, Taos, and Los Lunas, among many other communities.

Why did New Mexico get a second area code?
Growing demand for telephone numbers, particularly in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe metro areas, made a split necessary. On October 7, 2007, area code 575 was created to serve the southern and eastern portions of the state, while 505 retained the high-population northwest and central regions.

Does the 505 area code have an overlay?
No. Area code 505 currently has no overlay. It is the sole area code for its geographic territory. The related code 575 serves a separate, non-overlapping portion of New Mexico.

Is ten-digit dialing required for 505 calls?
Yes. Ten-digit dialing (area code + seven-digit number) became mandatory for 505 in advance of the October 2021 transition that reserved the 988 prefix for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Related Reading

• How Do Area Codes Work?
• How Are Area Codes Assigned?
• Why the Right Area Code Matters
• When Did We Start Using Area Codes?

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