Oregon · Pacific Time
503 Area Code
The 503 area code is a telephone area code in Oregon, covering Portland and the surrounding area. It lies in the Pacific Time zone for most of its territory.
Last updated June 5, 2026
Where is the 503 area code?
503 serves Portland and nearby communities in Oregon. In the wider directory it sits in the West region.
Time zone note: Pacific statewide except a small Mountain-zone strip on the Idaho border.
Overlay codes serving Portland
Portland is served by an overlay of 2 area codes: 503, 971. 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 Portland numbers are no longer tied to a single prefix.
History of the 503 area code
503 is one of the original area codes assigned in 1947, when AT&T and Bell Laboratories created the North American Numbering Plan and divided the country into the first 86 numbering plan areas. It has served the Portland area ever since.
Is 503 a scam or spam risk?
503 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 503 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.
Explore more
See every code in Oregon, compare codes across the West region, or view all Pacific Time codes. You can also browse the 5XX 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
503 area code FAQ
Where is the 503 area code?
The 503 area code is in Oregon, serving Portland and the surrounding area in the West region.
What time zone is 503 in?
503 is in the Pacific Time zone. Pacific statewide except a small Mountain-zone strip on the Idaho border.
Do I have to dial 10 digits for 503?
Yes. Because Portland is an overlay area, you must dial the full 10-digit number (area code + 7 digits) for every call.
Is 503 a toll-free or premium code?
No. 503 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.