South Carolina · Eastern Time
821 Area Code
Area code 821 is in South Carolina, serving upstate South Carolina, including Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson. It is in the Eastern Time zone. It shares its territory with overlay code 864, so 10-digit dialing is required.
Last updated October 1, 2026 · Source: NANPA
Where is the 821 area code?
821 is a South Carolina area code covering upstate South Carolina, including Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson. In the wider directory it sits in the South region.
Cities in the 821 area code
- Greenville
- Spartanburg
- Anderson
- Greer
- Mauldin
- Easley
- Simpsonville
- Greenwood
- Gaffney
- Clemson
- Seneca
- Laurens
- Union
Counties served by 821
Greenville County, Spartanburg County, Anderson County, Pickens County, Oconee County, Greenwood County, Laurens County, Cherokee County, Union County and Abbeville County.
821 overlay codes and dialing
The 821 territory is covered by an overlay of 2 area codes: 821, 864. All of them serve the same geographic area, and the original code is 864. 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 821 area code
821 went into service on August 19, 2024 as an overlay of 864, relieving number exhaustion in the Greenville 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 821 a scam or spam risk?
821 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 821 number on your screen is no guarantee the caller is in Greenville, SC or trustworthy. See spam & scam-risk area codes for how spoofing works and how to respond.
Other South Carolina area codes
Explore more
See every code in South Carolina, compare codes across the South region, or view all Eastern Time codes. You can also browse the 8XX 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
821 area code FAQ
Where is the 821 area code?
The 821 area code is in South Carolina, covering upstate South Carolina, including Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson, in the South region.
What cities are in the 821 area code?
Cities in the 821 area code include Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Greer, Mauldin, Easley, Simpsonville, Greenwood, Gaffney and Clemson.
What time zone is 821 in?
821 is in the Eastern Time zone.
What is the overlay for the 821 area code?
821 shares its territory with 864. Both codes (821, 864) serve the same area, so 10-digit dialing is required for every call.
When did the 821 area code start?
821 went into service on August 19, 2024 as an overlay of 864.
Do I have to dial 10 digits for 821?
Yes. Because 821 is an overlay area, you must dial the full 10-digit number (area code + 7 digits) for every call.
Is 821 a toll-free or premium code?
No. 821 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.