Washington · Pacific Time
253 Area Code
Area code 253 is in Washington, serving Tacoma, Pierce County and south King County suburbs in western Washington. It is in the Pacific Time zone.
Last updated October 1, 2026 · Source: NANPA
Where is the 253 area code?
253 is a Washington area code covering Tacoma, Pierce County and south King County suburbs in western Washington. In the wider directory it sits in the West region.
Cities in the 253 area code
- Tacoma
- Kent
- Auburn
- Federal Way
- Lakewood
- Puyallup
- University Place
- Des Moines
- Bonney Lake
- Gig Harbor
- Sumner
- Fife
- Covington
- Milton
Counties served by 253
Pierce County and King County.
Dialing 253
Tacoma, WA is currently served by the single area code 253, with no overlay. Ten-digit dialing (area code + seven-digit number) always works and is increasingly the norm nationwide; some local calls may still connect with seven digits. If a future overlay is added, 10-digit dialing would become mandatory.
From outside the US, dial +1 253 followed by the seven-digit number.
History of the 253 area code
253 went into service on April 27, 1997, created when it was split from 206. It serves Tacoma and the surrounding part of Washington. For how codes are created, split, and overlaid, see how area codes work.
Is 253 a scam or spam risk?
253 is a legitimate geographic area code, not a premium or toll line, so a call from it costs you nothing extra. That said, scammers frequently spoof real local area codes to look familiar on caller ID. A genuine 253 number on your screen is no guarantee the caller is in Tacoma, WA or trustworthy. See spam & scam-risk area codes for how spoofing works and how to respond.
Other Washington area codes
Explore more
See every code in Washington, compare codes across the West region, or view all Pacific Time codes. You can also browse the 2XX block or the complete numeric list of US area codes.
New to how this all works? Start with how area codes work, then read up on overlays, 10-digit dialing, and spam & scam-risk codes. To check another number, use the area code lookup tool.
Quick answers
253 area code FAQ
Where is the 253 area code?
The 253 area code is in Washington, covering Tacoma, Pierce County and south King County suburbs in western Washington, in the West region.
What cities are in the 253 area code?
Cities in the 253 area code include Tacoma, Kent, Auburn, Federal Way, Lakewood, Puyallup, University Place, Des Moines, Bonney Lake and Gig Harbor.
What time zone is 253 in?
253 is in the Pacific Time zone.
When did the 253 area code start?
253 went into service on April 27, 1997.
Do I have to dial 10 digits for 253?
Ten-digit dialing always works, and many areas now require it; some local calls in this area may still connect with seven digits.
Is 253 a toll-free or premium code?
No. 253 is a standard geographic area code, so calling it costs the same as any local or long-distance call on your plan. Toll-free calls use 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 or 833.