Area Code 336 – North Carolina
The phone area code for North Carolina is 336 (international format +1336). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📞 Exchange Codes (NXX) for Area Code 336
Select a central office code to view local carrier data and detailed information
📍 Geographic Location of North Carolina
Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction
Area code 336 is a geographic North American Numbering Plan (NANP) code serving the central Piedmont region of North Carolina, United States. It was split from area code 919 in 1998 and originally covered the Greensboro–Winston-Salem–High Point metropolitan area, often referred to as the Piedmont Triad. The code's jurisdiction includes Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, Randolph, Davidson, Davie, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin, and parts of Rockingham and Caswell counties. Primary cities within the numbering plan area (NPA) include Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, Asheboro, Lexington, and Thomasville.
Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions
Within the 336 region, callers must use the 10-digit dialing format (NPA-NXX-XXXX) for all local calls, as mandated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for areas with multiple area codes. For calls from outside the 336 area but within the United States or Canada, dial 1-336-XXX-XXXX. For international callers, the format is +1-336-XXX-XXXX, where +1 is the country code for the United States. For example, to call a business in Greensboro from abroad, you would dial +1-336-555-0123.
Overlay and Numbering Resources
In 2016, area code 743 was introduced as an overlay for the same geographic region, meaning that new telephone numbers in the Piedmont Triad may be assigned either 336 or 743. This overlay requires 10-digit dialing for all local calls, even within the same area code. The overlay was implemented to ensure a continued supply of numbering resources without disrupting existing numbers. As a result, callers should always store and dial full 10-digit numbers for contacts in this region.
Technical Considerations for Businesses and Residents
Area code 336 is classified as a geographic code, meaning that numbers are tied to a specific rate center and location. This classification affects local number portability (LNP), allowing customers to retain their numbers when moving within the same rate center or, in some cases, within the broader NPA. For VoIP and wireless users, the physical location may not correspond to the area code, but emergency services (911) routing is based on the registered address. Businesses using 336 numbers should ensure their telecommunications providers correctly configure routing to comply with regulatory requirements.