Area Code 978: Lowell, Massachusetts
978 is a telephone area code serving Massachusetts, including Lowell, Lawrence. It is part of the North American Numbering Plan and is dialed with the country code +1.
Numbers beginning with 978 are located in Massachusetts, United States (NANP region: Northeast). The code covers Lowell, Lawrence.
How to Dial Area Code 978
| Calling from | What to dial |
|---|---|
| Anywhere in the US or Canada | 1 978 XXX-XXXX (10-digit dialing: 978 + 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 1 978 XXX XXXX |
| From Australia | 0011 1 978 XXX XXXX |
| From a mobile phone anywhere | +1 978 XXX XXXX |
Whatever country you are calling from, the + symbol replaces the exit code. Save the contact as +1 978 XXXXXXX and it will dial correctly from any phone in the world.
Time Zone for Area Code 978
Calls to a 978 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 978
The following places fall inside the 978 calling area:
Other Area Codes in Massachusetts
These codes also serve Massachusetts. Area codes are assigned by the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA).
| Area Code | Cities / Coverage |
|---|---|
| 339 | Boston (overlay) |
| 351 | Northeast (overlay) |
| 413 | Springfield |
| 508 | Worcester, Cape Cod |
| 617 | Boston |
| 774 | Central (overlay) |
| 781 | Boston suburbs |
| 857 | Boston (overlay) |
See all 9 area codes in Massachusetts →
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is area code 978?
Area code 978 is in Massachusetts, United States. It covers Lowell, Lawrence.
What time zone is area code 978 in?
Area code 978 rings in the America/New_York time zone (UTC-05:00 standard).
Do I need to dial 1 before area code 978?
Yes, for a long-distance call inside the US and Canada you dial 1 first, then 978, 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 978.
Is area code 978 toll-free?
No. 978 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.