---
title: "Area code 256: Alabama, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/256.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/256"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 256 serves Alabama, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Alabama."
---

# Area code 256: Alabama, United States

Area code 256 serves Alabama, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Alabama.

NANPA lists 786 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 256, held by 50 holders across 92 rate centers.
South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 180 (23%). 74% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 2,468 complaints on file for 1,929 numbers in 256, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1998-03-23
- Time zone: Central (C)
- Assigned overlays: 938 (2010-07-10)
- Prefixes in use: 786
- Pooled prefixes: 579 (74%)
- Rate centers: 92
- Companies holding prefixes: 50
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-05 to 2025-05-15 (320 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 121

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HUNTSVILLE | 158 | 20% |
| DECATUR | 50 | 6% |
| ANNISTON | 43 | 5% |
| GADSDEN | 37 | 5% |
| CULLMAN | 36 | 5% |
| FLORENCE | 29 | 4% |
| ATHENS | 26 | 3% |
| ALEXANDRCY | 18 | 2% |
| 84 other rate centers | 389 | 49% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| South Central Bell Tel | 180 | 23% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 114 | 15% |
| Verizon Wireless | 84 | 11% |
| Paetec Itel | 58 | 7% |
| Powertel Birmingham Licenses | 50 | 6% |
| Level 3 Communications | 42 | 5% |
| 44 other carriers | 258 | 33% |

A prefix holder is the company a code was assigned to, not necessarily a number's current carrier, because numbers can be ported to another company.

## History

- 1947-01-01: Area code 205, named as the parent of 256 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1998-03-23: Area code 256 went into service.
- 2010-07-10: Area code 938 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 256.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 256, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 659 (about 71 miles), 205 (about 72 miles), 931 (about 95 miles), 470 (about 120 miles) and 678 (about 120 miles).

## ZIP codes

121 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Huntsville, AL (24 ZIP codes), Anniston, AL (6 ZIP codes) and Gadsden, AL (6 ZIP codes). A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems, so a ZIP code can sit in more than one area code and an area code spans many ZIP codes.

## Complaints on file

2,468 complaints for 1,929 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 91
- 2024: 114
- 2025: 104

## Questions

### Where is area code 256?

NANPA assigns area code 256 to Alabama, United States.

### In which state does area code 256 sit?

Alabama. 256 is one of 7 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 256 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 256 are Huntsville, AL, Anniston, AL and Gadsden, AL. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 256?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 256, South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 180 prefixes or 23%.

### Which time zone does 256 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 256 as Central (C).

### What year did 256 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1998-03-23, so 256 has been in use since 1998.

### Does area code 256 have an overlay?

Yes. 938 (in service 2010-07-10) shares the same area with 256, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.

### Which area codes are nearest to 256?

The area codes closest to 256, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 659 (about 71 miles), 205 (about 72 miles), 931 (about 95 miles), 470 (about 120 miles) and 678 (about 120 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 256 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 786 prefixes in service in 256, spread over 92 rate centers and 50 holders.

### Are there complaints about 256 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 2,468 complaints for 1,929 numbers in 256. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.

Sources: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17; NANPA NPA report dated 2026-10-18; FCC unwanted-call complaints, data fetched 2026-10-17; ZIP code places from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).