Texas · Central Time
346 Area Code
The 346 area code is a telephone area code in Texas, covering Houston and the surrounding area. It lies in the Central Time zone for most of its territory.
Last updated June 5, 2026
Where is the 346 area code?
346 serves Houston and nearby communities in Texas. In the wider directory it sits in the South region.
Time zone note: Almost all of Texas is Central; far-west El Paso is Mountain.
Overlay codes serving Houston
Houston is served by an overlay of 4 area codes: 281, 346, 713, 832. Because more than one code covers the same area, 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, so Houston numbers are no longer tied to a single prefix.
History of the 346 area code
346 was introduced as an overlay to relieve number exhaustion in the Houston area, adding capacity on top of 713 rather than splitting the region. Overlays let existing customers keep their numbers while new lines draw from the added code. Learn more in our overlay guide.
Is 346 a scam or spam risk?
346 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 346 number on your screen is no guarantee the caller is local or trustworthy. See spam & scam-risk area codes for how spoofing works and how to respond.
Other Texas area codes
Explore more
See every code in Texas, compare codes across the South region, or view all Central Time codes. You can also browse the 3XX 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
346 area code FAQ
Where is the 346 area code?
The 346 area code is in Texas, serving Houston and the surrounding area in the South region.
What time zone is 346 in?
346 is in the Central Time zone. Almost all of Texas is Central; far-west El Paso is Mountain.
Do I have to dial 10 digits for 346?
Yes. Because Houston is an overlay area, you must dial the full 10-digit number (area code + 7 digits) for every call.
Is 346 a toll-free or premium code?
No. 346 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.