Area Code 202: Washington DC, District of Columbia
202 is a telephone area code serving District of Columbia, including Washington DC. It is part of the North American Numbering Plan and is dialed with the country code +1.
Numbers beginning with 202 are located in District of Columbia, United States (NANP region: DC). The code covers Washington DC.
How to Dial Area Code 202
| Calling from | What to dial |
|---|---|
| Anywhere in the US or Canada | 1 202 XXX-XXXX (10-digit dialing: 202 + 7-digit number) |
| Local call inside the same area code | 7-digit number in most areas; 10 digits where an overlay code is active |
| From the UK or Europe | 00 1 202 XXX XXXX |
| From Australia | 0011 1 202 XXX XXXX |
| From a mobile phone anywhere | +1 202 XXX XXXX |
Whatever country you are calling from, the + symbol replaces the exit code. Save the contact as +1 202 XXXXXXX and it will dial correctly from any phone in the world.
Time Zone for Area Code 202
Calls to a 202 number ring in the America/New_York time zone, standard offset UTC-05:00. Daylight saving time applies here, so the offset moves forward one hour from March to November.
Cities and Communities Served by 202
The following places fall inside the 202 calling area:
Other Area Codes in District of Columbia
These codes also serve District of Columbia. Area codes are assigned by the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA).
| Area Code | Cities / Coverage |
|---|---|
| 771 | Washington, D.C. (overlay for 202) |
See all 2 area codes in District of Columbia →
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is area code 202?
Area code 202 is in District of Columbia, United States. It covers Washington DC.
What time zone is area code 202 in?
Area code 202 rings in the America/New_York time zone (UTC-05:00 standard).
Do I need to dial 1 before area code 202?
Yes, for a long-distance call inside the US and Canada you dial 1 first, then 202, then the seven-digit number. The 1 is the North American long-distance trunk prefix — it is not the country code. From outside North America you dial your exit code then 1 then 202.
Is area code 202 toll-free?
No. 202 is a standard geographic area code, so normal long-distance rates apply unless your plan includes them. Toll-free NANP codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.