Area code 828 covers Asheville and surrounding areas in North Carolina. It was activated in 1998 as an overlay of area code 704. For the full picture, see all North Carolina area codes.
| State | North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Primary city | Asheville |
| Cities also served | Asheville, Hickory, Boone, Hendersonville, Morganton, Lenoir, Waynesville, Brevard |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5 / UTC-4 DST) |
| Year established | March 22, 1998 |
| Original 1947 NPA? | No |
| Parent code | 704 |
| Overlay codes | None |
| Currently in use? | Yes, actively assigned |
| Ten-digit dialing required? | Yes |
Cities Served by Area Code 828
Area code 828 serves Western North Carolina — Blue Ridge Mountains and Foothills, spanning approximately 23 counties, including the following cities and communities:
- Asheville
- Hickory
- Boone
- Hendersonville
- Morganton
- Lenoir
- Waynesville
- Brevard
Nearby area codes covering the same broader region include: 704, 980, 336, 743, 910, 919, 984, 252.
How to Get a 828 Phone Number
There are three ways to get a phone number with the 828 area code, each suited to a different need:
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Browse 828 Numbers →- Buy from a premium-number specialist. Companies that hold curated inventories of specific area codes can sell you a 828 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 828 inventory.
- Sign up with a VoIP carrier. Voice-over-IP services (such as Google Voice, OpenPhone, Grasshopper, and many others) can typically provision a 828 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 828 number. If you already have a 828 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 North Carolina sometimes can’t accept inbound ports of 828 numbers due to 911 routing rules.
Looking for a 828 number? 212areacode.com offers premium 828 numbers for Asheville, North Carolina — 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 828 numbers →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 828 area code still in use?
Yes. 828 is actively assigned to new phone lines in Western North Carolina — Blue Ridge Mountains and Foothills, spanning approximately 23 counties.
What is the parent area code of 828?
Area code 828 is an overlay of 704. Both codes serve the same region of North Carolina.
Can I get a 828 number if I don't live in North Carolina?
Yes. Phone numbers are no longer tied to a physical address. With VoIP service or a number broker, you can hold a 828 number from anywhere in the world. The number routes to whatever device or carrier you specify.
Is 828 a scam area code?
No. 828 is a legitimate, active area code for Western North Carolina — Blue Ridge Mountains and Foothills, spanning approximately 23 counties. Like any area code, scammers occasionally spoof 828 caller IDs, but the code itself is heavily used by real North Carolina businesses, government offices, and residents.
What cities are in the 828 area code?
Area code 828 covers the western third of North Carolina, including Asheville, Hickory, Boone, Hendersonville, Morganton, Lenoir, Waynesville, Brevard, Marion, and Murphy, among more than 70 other cities and towns.
Does area code 828 have an overlay?
As of 2026, area code 828 has no overlay and remains the sole code for its geographic territory. However, due to approaching number exhaustion, an overlay is under active consideration by the North Carolina Utilities Commission that would provide relief for approximately 30 additional years.
What time zone is area code 828?
Area code 828 operates entirely in the Eastern Time Zone (UTC-5 standard, UTC-4 during Daylight Saving Time), the same as New York and Washington, D.C.
Why was area code 828 created?
828 was split from area code 704 on March 22, 1998, to relieve numbering plan exhaustion caused by the rapid growth of pagers and cell phones across western North Carolina in the 1990s.
