Atlanta, Georgia Area Codes: What They Are and How They Work

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia, or you’re calling someone in the city, you’ll quickly notice there isn’t just one Atlanta area code—there are several. Understanding which area codes cover Atlanta, how overlays work, and what that means for dialing can save you time and confusion, especially with local vs. long-distance calls, mobile numbers, and business lines.

Below is a clear guide to Atlanta’s area codes, how they’re used, and what to expect when dialing in and around the city.

The Main Atlanta, Georgia Area Codes at a Glance

Atlanta is served by multiple overlapping area codes, mostly in the 404/470/678/770/943 family.

Core Atlanta Area Codes

The most commonly seen Atlanta-area codes are:

• 404 – The original Atlanta area code, now considered “classic” in-town Atlanta.
• 678 – Overlay area code serving the broader metro, including much of Atlanta.
• 470 – Additional overlay area code across the Atlanta metro region.
• 770 – Mostly suburban ring around Atlanta, but widely used for metro businesses and homes.
• 943 – Newer overlay area code for the Atlanta region, added to keep up with demand.

You may also encounter nearby Georgia area codes that sometimes get associated with metro Atlanta because of commuting and business ties:

• 706 / 762 – North and central Georgia, including places like Athens and Columbus, but also touching some outer exurban areas.
• 678 / 470 / 943 – These three, along with 404 and 770, are the core modern “Atlanta metro” overlay network.

Quick Reference: Atlanta Area Codes and Coverage

Note: Boundaries between these codes are not hard city limits—because of overlays, a specific neighborhood or office building may use several different area codes on different lines.

404: The Original Atlanta Area Code

404 is the historic Atlanta area code and is still strongly associated with the city itself.

Where 404 Commonly Appears

You’re likely to see 404 on:

• Older residential landlines in central Atlanta
• Longstanding Atlanta businesses and institutions
• Many mobile numbers originally activated in the city
• Addresses and signage in places like:
  • Downtown Atlanta
  • Midtown
  • Buckhead
  • Old Fourth Ward
  • Grant Park and surrounding in-town neighborhoods

While 404 was once the only code for Atlanta, growing population and device use (cell phones, fax lines, VoIP lines) required extra codes, leading to today’s overlay system.

678, 470, and 943: Modern Metro Atlanta Overlay Codes

As Atlanta expanded, the 678, 470, and 943 area codes were added as overlays. That means they cover the same general region as 404 and 770 rather than carving out separate geographic zones.

What “Overlay” Means for You

Because of overlays:

• You cannot tell exactly where someone is in metro Atlanta just from the area code.
• A Midtown apartment, Alpharetta office, or Duluth home might use 404, 678, 470, 770, or 943.
• 10-digit dialing (area code + 7-digit number) is required, even for calls within Atlanta.

Typical Use of 678, 470, and 943

• 678 – Widely used across Atlanta and its suburbs. Very common on mobile numbers and newer business lines.
• 470 – Added as demand increased; you’ll see it on newer cell phones, VOIP lines, and residential service across the metro.
• 943 – Newest overlay; new numbers for Atlanta-area carriers may increasingly be assigned in this code.

If you’re getting a new cell phone number or internet phone line in Atlanta, there’s a strong chance it will be 678, 470, or 943, even if you live or work deep in the 404 “heart” of the city.

770: The Suburban Ring Around Atlanta

The 770 area code is commonly associated with the suburban ring around Atlanta, especially areas outside the I-285 Perimeter.

You’ll commonly see 770 in:

• Cobb County (areas like Marietta and Smyrna)
• Gwinnett County (Duluth, Lawrenceville, Norcross)
• North Fulton (Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek)
• Douglas, Cherokee, and Forsyth counties and nearby suburbs

Even though 770 is “suburban” in origin, many Atlanta-area businesses and residents use 770 numbers while working, commuting, or doing business in the city itself.

Calling Within and To Atlanta: Dialing Basics

Because Atlanta uses overlays, the dialing rules are slightly different than in smaller towns.

Local vs. Long-Distance

For most Atlanta-area calls:

• Local calling often includes multiple area codes within the metro region.
• You will still dial the full 10-digit number (area code + number), even if it’s “local.”

Your phone carrier determines whether a call is billed as local or long-distance, so if you’re unsure about a landline plan, it can help to confirm with your provider. For mobile plans, most people simply dial the 10-digit number and rely on their nationwide or regional coverage.

10-Digit Dialing

In the Atlanta region, 10-digit dialing is standard:

• Dial: area code + 7-digit number for all calls, including next-door neighbors.
• You only add “1” before the area code if your carrier or plan requires it. Many mobile plans don’t require the leading 1 for U.S. calls.

This applies when you’re calling any Atlanta number from:

• Inside Atlanta
• Elsewhere in Georgia
• Out of state (you’ll usually dial 1 + area code + number)

How Area Codes Affect Atlanta Residents

For most Atlanta residents, area codes mainly matter in a few situations:

1. Setting Up a New Phone Line

When you start service with a carrier in Atlanta (wireless, VoIP, or landline), you may be assigned:

• 404 or 770, if numbers are available; or
• 678, 470, or 943, which are widely used for new numbers.

If you have a strong preference (for example, wanting a 404 number for a local brand feel), ask the carrier whether any numbers are available in that code.

2. Keeping an Old Number When You Move

If you move from:

• Inside Atlanta to another Atlanta neighborhood, you can usually keep your existing number and area code.
• Another state to Atlanta, you can often keep your old out-of-state area code on a mobile phone. It will still work, but people may not immediately recognize the number as “local.”

For landlines or business lines, number portability options can vary by provider.

3. Business Branding and Customer Trust

Many Atlanta businesses pay attention to area codes for branding and customer recognition:

• 404 and 770 numbers can give a “long-established local” feel.
• 678, 470, and 943 are recognized across metro Atlanta as standard, current local codes.
• Some businesses maintain multiple numbers (for example, a 404 main line and 770/678 satellite lines) to cover different offices or customer bases.

Visiting or Doing Business in Atlanta: What to Know About Area Codes

If you’re visiting Atlanta for work, events, or tourism, area codes are rarely a barrier, but a few tips help:

• Don’t assume 404 is more “local” than 678 or 470—all are valid Atlanta-area codes.
• When calling Atlanta businesses from out of state:
  • Dial 1 + area code + number.
  • Double-check the area code on confirmations for hotels, restaurants, convention centers, or offices.
• If your hotel phone requires it, you may need to dial a prefix like “9” for an outside line, then 1 + area code + number.

Most digital maps and contact directories for Atlanta list the full 10-digit numbers, so saving them exactly as shown in your phone contacts is usually enough.

Finding or Verifying an Atlanta Area Code

If you come across a phone number and want to know whether it’s likely to be Atlanta-based:

• 404, 678, 470, 770, and 943 – Generally part of the Atlanta metro calling region.
• 706 / 762 – May be Georgia-based but not directly within the core Atlanta overlays (though some outer commuting communities use these).
• Outside codes (like 912, 229, 478) – These are Georgia codes, but tied to other regions of the state.

Keep in mind:

• Because mobile numbers are portable, a person with a 404 number could be living anywhere, and someone living in Atlanta could have an out-of-state area code.
• For everyday use, area codes are more about origin than current location.

Practical Tips for Atlanta Callers 📞

• Always store full 10-digit numbers (area code + number) in your contacts.
• If you need a “local-feeling” number for an Atlanta business, ask providers about 404 or 770 availability, but be prepared to receive 678, 470, or 943.
• When giving your number out in Atlanta, say the area code clearly; many people here handle multiple codes and may assume the wrong one if you skip it.
• If you have an older 404 landline or business line, consider keeping it active if local recognition is important, since some residents still see 404 as distinctly “Atlanta.”

Understanding the Atlanta, Georgia area codes—404, 678, 470, 770, and 943—helps with everything from setting up new service to recognizing local calls and building trust with customers in the metro area. As long as you treat 10-digit dialing as the norm and remember that multiple area codes coexist across the city and suburbs, calling in and around Atlanta is straightforward.