Area Code 502: Louisville, Kentucky
502 is a telephone area code serving Kentucky, including Louisville. It is part of the North American Numbering Plan and is dialed with the country code +1.
Numbers beginning with 502 are located in Kentucky, United States (NANP region: North Central). The code covers Louisville.
How to Dial Area Code 502
| Calling from | What to dial |
|---|---|
| Anywhere in the US or Canada | 1 502 XXX-XXXX (10-digit dialing: 502 + 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 1 502 XXX XXXX |
| From Australia | 0011 1 502 XXX XXXX |
| From a mobile phone anywhere | +1 502 XXX XXXX |
Whatever country you are calling from, the + symbol replaces the exit code. Save the contact as +1 502 XXXXXXX and it will dial correctly from any phone in the world.
Time Zone for Area Code 502
Calls to a 502 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.
Note: the Central/Eastern line runs northwest to southeast just west of Louisville, so the western third of the state around Paducah, Owensboro and Bowling Green uses Central time, one hour behind. Area codes 270 and 364 are entirely on the Central side - see those pages.
Cities and Communities Served by 502
The following places fall inside the 502 calling area:
Other Area Codes in Kentucky
These codes also serve Kentucky. Area codes are assigned by the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA).
| Area Code | Cities / Coverage |
|---|---|
| 270 | Paducah, Owensboro |
| 364 | West (overlay) |
| 606 | Ashland, Hazard |
| 859 | Lexington, Covington |
See all 5 area codes in Kentucky →
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is area code 502?
Area code 502 is in Kentucky, United States. It covers Louisville.
What time zone is area code 502 in?
Area code 502 rings in the America/New_York time zone (UTC-05:00 standard).
Do I need to dial 1 before area code 502?
Yes, for a long-distance call inside the US and Canada you dial 1 first, then 502, 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 502.
Is area code 502 toll-free?
No. 502 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.