Pennsylvania · Eastern Time
272 Area Code
Area code 272 is in Pennsylvania, serving northeastern and north-central Pennsylvania, including Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport. It is in the Eastern Time zone. It shares its territory with overlay code 570, so 10-digit dialing is required.
Last updated October 1, 2026 · Source: NANPA
Where is the 272 area code?
272 is a Pennsylvania area code covering northeastern and north-central Pennsylvania, including Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport. In the wider directory it sits in the Northeast region.
Cities in the 272 area code
- Scranton
- Wilkes-Barre
- Hazleton
- Williamsport
- Pottsville
- Stroudsburg
- Bloomsburg
- Pittston
- Sunbury
- Lock Haven
- Shamokin
- Carbondale
- Lewisburg
Counties served by 272
Lackawanna County, Luzerne County, Lycoming County, Schuylkill County, Monroe County, Columbia County, Northumberland County, Wayne County, Pike County and Bradford County.
272 overlay codes and dialing
The 272 territory is covered by an overlay of 2 area codes: 272, 570. All of them serve the same geographic area, and the original code is 570. Because more than one code covers the same ground, 10-digit dialing is mandatory — you must dial the area code for every local call. New phone lines may be assigned any of these codes.
History of the 272 area code
272 went into service on October 21, 2013 as an overlay of 570, relieving number exhaustion in the Scranton area. Rather than splitting the region, the overlay lets existing customers keep their numbers while new lines draw from the added code. Learn more in our overlay guide.
Is 272 a scam or spam risk?
272 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 272 number on your screen is no guarantee the caller is in Scranton, PA or trustworthy. See spam & scam-risk area codes for how spoofing works and how to respond.
Other Pennsylvania area codes
Explore more
See every code in Pennsylvania, compare codes across the Northeast region, or view all Eastern 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
272 area code FAQ
Where is the 272 area code?
The 272 area code is in Pennsylvania, covering northeastern and north-central Pennsylvania, including Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport, in the Northeast region.
What cities are in the 272 area code?
Cities in the 272 area code include Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Williamsport, Pottsville, Stroudsburg, Bloomsburg, Pittston, Sunbury and Lock Haven.
What time zone is 272 in?
272 is in the Eastern Time zone.
What is the overlay for the 272 area code?
272 shares its territory with 570. Both codes (272, 570) serve the same area, so 10-digit dialing is required for every call.
When did the 272 area code start?
272 went into service on October 21, 2013 as an overlay of 570.
Do I have to dial 10 digits for 272?
Yes. Because 272 is an overlay area, you must dial the full 10-digit number (area code + 7 digits) for every call.
Is 272 a toll-free or premium code?
No. 272 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.