Area Code 213 – Los Angeles, CA
The phone area code for Los Angeles, CA is 213 (international format +1213). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📞 Exchange Codes (NXX) for Area Code 213
Select a central office code to view local carrier data and detailed information
📍 Geographic Location of Los Angeles, CA
Overview of Area Code 213
Area code 213 is one of the original North American Numbering Plan Area (NANPA) codes, having been in service since 1947. It serves a dense, highly urbanized portion of Los Angeles County, California. Specifically, it covers the central and southern parts of the City of Los Angeles, including the downtown financial district, Hollywood, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Koreatown, and the communities surrounding the Los Angeles River. The numbering plan area (NPA) is geographically compact, roughly bounded by the Santa Monica Mountains to the north, the cities of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills to the west, and the cities of Vernon, Huntington Park, and East Los Angeles to the south and east.
Dialing Formats and Overlay
Because of the high demand for telephone numbers in this region, area code 213 is part of an overlay complex that also includes 310, 323, 424, and 818. This means that multiple area codes serve the same geographic area, and 10-digit dialing is mandatory for all local calls within the overlay region. For callers within the United States, the international format for a 213 number is +1 213 XXX XXXX. When dialing from abroad, you would enter the US country code (+1), followed by the 3-digit area code and the 7-digit subscriber number. For example, to reach a landline in downtown Los Angeles, you might dial +1 213 555 0199.
Caller Instructions
For local callers within the 213/323/310/424/818 overlay, simply dial the 10-digit number (area code + local number) for all calls, even if the number shares the same area code. For long-distance callers within the US, dial 1 + 10-digit number. For international callers, dial your country's exit code (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most European countries), then 1, then the 10-digit number. There are no separate local toll charges for calls within the overlay, but standard long-distance rates may apply if you are calling from outside the region.
Numbering Administration and Future Outlook
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) oversee the allocation of numbers within 213. Due to the popularity of the area code and the proliferation of mobile devices and VoIP services, the overlay was introduced to extend the life of the numbering pool without requiring existing customers to change their numbers. As of 2024, 213 remains an active and highly sought-after area code, often associated with businesses and residents who value a historic Los Angeles identity. New numbers in this region may be assigned any of the overlay codes, but 213 retains its iconic status.