Area code 205 – Alabama
205 is one of the original area codes, in service across Alabama since 1947. All but a handful of its 786 number blocks are allocated (785 of 786), so it is effectively exhausted. AT&T is the largest holder with 44.1% of blocks, ahead of Other CLEC / VoIP at 12.6%. It shares its geography with overlay codes 659, so local calls take all ten digits. 901 FTC complaints named a 205 caller ID in the 33 days to 30 October 2026, putting it 62nd of 422 codes with five or more complaints.
Who holds 205 number blocks
Share of the 785 assigned NXX blocks (99.9% of the 786 possible), across 52 carriers. This is share of number blocks, not of subscribers.
- AT&T44.1%
- Verizon11.2%
- T-Mobile9.6%
- Windstream7.6%
- Other CLEC / VoIP5.9%
- Lumen4.6%
- Brightspeed4.5%
- Onvoy3.9%
- Bandwidth3.6%
- Spok2.7%
- Charter1.4%
- Vonage0.3%
- Telnyx0.3%
- Frontier0.3%
- Comcast0.1%
- VoIP Innovations0.1%
Spam complaints naming 205
FTC Do Not Call complaints where the caller ID was a 205 number, 28 Sep – 30 Oct 2026 (33 days). Caller IDs on spam calls are frequently spoofed, so these are complaints about the code, not calls proven to originate in it.
Rate centers in 205
NANPA allocates number blocks to rate centers and records their names abbreviated to ten characters, so these are NANPA's codes rather than place names – CHAMPAURBN is Champaign-Urbana, NWYRCYZN01 is a New York City zone. We show them unchanged instead of guessing at the full names. Showing the largest 5 of 71.
Timeline
- 1947 205 assigned in the original North American Numbering Plan.
More about 205
Separate pages for the questions that need their own answer: what time it is there, what the complaint data says, who holds the number blocks, and how the code compares with the one it shares its area with.
Frequently asked about 205
What state is area code 205?
Alabama. It covers the same area as 205/659.
Can I still get a 205 number?
Only from recycled stock. 785 of the 786 available blocks are already allocated, so new numbers in the area normally come from the overlay codes (205/659).
Is a call from 205 a scam?
Not by itself. 205 drew 901 FTC complaints in the 33 days to 30 October 2026, 62nd of 422 ranked codes – mid-pack or lower. Spam callers spoof caller IDs, so the only useful check is the full number.
Which carrier owns 205 numbers?
AT&T holds the largest share of assigned number blocks at 44.1%. The rest is spread across 3 other carriers. This is share of number blocks, not of subscribers – people keep their numbers when they switch carriers.
Do I need to dial 10 digits in 205?
Yes – ten digits for local calls in 205, because it shares its area with another code.
Sources and verification
- NANPA – NPA Database (npa_report.csv), file date 11/01/2026, retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- NANPA – CO Code Assignment Records, All States (utilized), file updated 11/01/2026, retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- FTC – Do Not Call Reported Calls Data, 25 daily files 28 Sep – 30 Oct 2026, retrieved Nov 1, 2026
NANPA dialing note for this code: “10D”. Reviewed by the data desk. Spotted an error? Request a correction.