Area Code 8938 – Perth
The phone area code for Perth is 8938 (international format +618938). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📞 Exchange Codes (NXX) for Area Code 8938
Select a central office code to view local carrier data and detailed information
📍 Geographic Location of Perth
Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction
The Australian telephone country code +61 is followed by the geographic area code 8 for the state of Western Australia. The specific prefix 8938 is a National Destination Code (NDC) segment allocated within the Perth metropolitan region. This code serves the state capital, Perth, and its surrounding suburbs, including the cities of Stirling, Swan, Joondalup, and Rockingham. The prefix is assigned to fixed-line services, primarily operated by Telstra, Optus, and other licensed carriers, and is used for both residential and business PSTN connections.
Dialing Formats and Number Structure
In the international format, a typical Perth number is written as +61 8 938X XXXX, where 'X' represents the subscriber's unique digits. When dialing from within Australia, the trunk prefix '0' is used, so the number becomes (08) 938X XXXX. The full national significant number (NSN) is 10 digits, including the leading '0' of the area code. For callers outside Australia, the international prefix (e.g., 00 or +) is used, followed by the country code 61, the area code 8 (without the leading zero), and the local number. For example, a local call to a number like 8938 1234 would be dialed as 08 8938 1234 within Australia, but as +61 8 8938 1234 from overseas.
Overlay and Numbering Considerations
Currently, the Perth metropolitan area does not have an overlay code; the 8 area code is exclusively used for all of Western Australia. However, due to increasing demand, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has considered future overlays, but as of now, no changes are in effect. This means that local calls within Perth do not require the area code, but calls from outside the region must include the full 08 prefix. It is important to note that the 8938 prefix is geographic, meaning it is tied to a physical location, and calls to these numbers are typically charged as local or national rates depending on the caller's location.
Caller Instructions
For local callers within Perth, simply dial the eight-digit local number (e.g., 8938 1234). For callers in other parts of Australia, dial 08 8938 1234. For international callers, dial your country's exit code (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most European countries), then 61, then 8, then the local number. For example, from the US, you would dial 011 61 8 8938 1234. Always ensure you omit the leading '0' of the area code when dialing internationally. This prefix is used for fixed-line services, so it is not associated with mobile numbers, which have their own distinct prefixes starting with 4.