256 area code: location, overlays and numbers
The US telephone area code 256 serves Birmingham, Alabama and has done so since 1998. It shares an overlay with 938.
- Location
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Service start year
- 1998
- Local time zone
- Time: Central
- Overlay
- 938
- Calls within the area
- 10-digit dialing
- Rate-centre locations
- 91
- When exhaustion is projected
- 2043
- Calling code for the country
- +1 (United States)
Source information comes from NANPA public reports, including the area code report plus the rate-centre report. The file date is 11/01/2026. The exhaust year comes from NANPA projections 2026-1 (April 2026). Our website is not an official NANPA website.
Get hold of a 256 number
You can get a 256 number in two ways. A new number comes with a provider plan. The provider assigns it when you sign up from numbers it holds in the code. Sellers post numbers they already hold, often in a pattern, for a one-time price. After that, you move the number to a provider.
Providers ranked by first-year cost
| Provider | Cheapest plan | First year | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
 Free app | Basic (Just for me), free | $0 | Open Google Voice |
 Free app | Free plan, free | $0 | Open TextNow |
 Developer API | Pay-as-you-go local number, $1.15 a month | $13.80 | Open Twilio |
 Second-number app | Standard, $3.99 a month billed yearly | $47.99 | Open Burner |
 Toll-free specialist | Solo, $6.99 a month billed yearly | $84 | Open UniTel Voice |
 Second-number app | Deluxe (local number), $6.99 a month billed yearly | $102.88 | Open GoDaddy Conversations (formerly Smartline) |
Sellers that list local numbers
| Seller | What it sells | Listed price | Monthly fee | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Marketplace | Local numbers | From $9 one-time | None stated | Search at Exclusive Digits |
 Marketplace | Local and toll-free | From $9.95 one-time | $2.99 a month | Search at NumberBarn |
 Number broker | Local and toll-free | From $99 one-time | None stated | Search at RingBoost |
 Number broker | Local and toll-free | From $100 one-time | None stated | Search at PhoneNumberExpert |
| 212areacode.comNumber broker | Local numbers | From $150 one-time | None stated | Search at 212areacode.com |
Some sellers and providers may pay us a referral fee. The order stays based on first-year cost and never changes. How we earn
Places in the 256 area code
For 256, NANPA lists 91 rate centres. Each one is a local calling area where numbers are assigned:
Morrisons Cross Roads, Moulton, Morgan City, Mentone, Massey, Madison, Lineville, Lexington, Leighton, Leesburg, Lecta, Killen, Jacksonville, Huntsville, Henagar, Heflin, Hazel Green, Hartselle, Hanceville, Gurley, Guntersville, Grayson, Grant, Goodwater, Geraldine, Gaylesville, Gadsden, Fyffe, Fruithurst, Francisco, Fort Payne, Florence, Flat Rock, Falkville, Elkmont, Delta, Decatur, Dadeville, Cullman, Crossville, Courtland, Collinsville, Chulafinnee, Childersburg, Cherokee, Centre, Cedar Bluff, Camp Hill, Bryant, Bridgeport, Boaz, Attalla, Athens, Ashland, Aroney, Ardmore, Arab, Anniston, Alexander City, Albertville and 31 more.
Other related area codes
938 shares the same area and number pool. You can get a new number in this area from any of these codes, so request your preferred code.
The other Alabama area codes are 205, 334, 251, 659 and 483.
256 area code questions
What area does area code 256 cover?
Calls with 256 ring in Birmingham, Alabama, around Birmingham, AL.
Which country code do 256 numbers use?
+1. Because 256 belongs to the North American Numbering Plan, from abroad dial +1 256 followed by the 7-digit number.
What time is it in the 256 area code?
Central time applies to 256.
Who uses a 256 number to call?
Anyone with a number in this code includes homes, mobiles, local businesses and callers who pretend their number is local. The 256 number displayed on your screen shows where it was assigned, rather than who is calling.