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

If you’re trying to call someone in Atlanta, Georgia, set up a local business line, or figure out why you keep seeing different numbers like 404, 470, or 678, you’re really asking:

“What is the area code for Atlanta, Georgia?”

The short answer:
Atlanta doesn’t have just one area code anymore. It uses multiple overlay area codes that all cover much of the same metropolitan area.

All Current Atlanta Area Codes at a Glance

Here are the main area codes you’ll see in and around Atlanta:

If you live in or are calling Atlanta, the number you’re dialing will almost always begin with 404, 470, 678, or 770.

Why Does Atlanta Have So Many Area Codes?

Atlanta has grown quickly, and so has demand for phone numbers. As more people, businesses, and devices (like cell phones and fax lines) needed numbers, the original 404 area code alone wasn’t enough.

Instead of carving the city up into many small regions, regulators introduced overlay area codes. That means:

• Multiple area codes cover the same geographic region
• New numbers can be assigned with 470 or 678 even in areas that traditionally used 404 or 770
• People don’t have to change their existing phone numbers when an overlay is added

For Atlanta residents and visitors, this mainly affects how you dial and what you see on caller ID—but not how the city itself is divided.

The Core Atlanta Area Code: 404

When people think “Atlanta area code,” they often think 404 first.

What 404 Covers

404 is historically tied to:

• Much of the City of Atlanta itself
• Well-known neighborhoods and areas inside or near the I-285 Perimeter, such as parts of:
  • Downtown Atlanta
  • Midtown
  • Buckhead
  • West End
  • East Atlanta
  • Southwest and Southeast Atlanta

These boundaries are not perfectly rigid—because of overlays, a building next door to a 404 number might have 678 or 470—but 404 is still strongly associated with “intown” Atlanta.

What 404 Means for You

• If you’re new to Atlanta, you may or may not receive a 404 number when you sign up for service; you might get 470 or 678 instead.
• If you see a 404 number on caller ID, it’s very often from Atlanta proper or close-in areas—though it could also be a mobile number belonging to someone who moved.

770: Surrounding Metro Atlanta Suburbs

As the Atlanta metro area expanded and outgrew 404, 770 was introduced.

Where 770 Commonly Shows Up

You’ll typically see 770 in suburbs and communities outside central Atlanta, including parts of:

• Cobb County (e.g., Marietta, Smyrna)
• Gwinnett County (e.g., Lawrenceville, Duluth, Norcross)
• North Fulton areas outside the core Atlanta zone (e.g., Roswell, Alpharetta)
• Portions of Clayton, Douglas, and Paulding counties

Again, because of overlays, some of these places also use 678 or 470.

What 770 Means for People in Atlanta

• If you live in the suburbs but work or hang out in the city, your home line may be 770 while businesses you frequent in Atlanta might be 404, 678, or 470.
• Many long-time Atlanta-area residents recognize 770 as “the suburbs” code, even though the practical difference has blurred over time.

678 and 470: Overlay Area Codes Across Metro Atlanta

To keep up with demand—especially with the boom in cell phones and business lines—Georgia introduced overlay codes:

• 678 was added as an overlay to 404 and 770
• 470 came later as another overlay

What Is an Overlay Area Code?

An overlay means a new area code is layered on top of an existing region. Instead of splitting the map, phone providers simply:

• Keep serving the same geographic area
• Assign new numbers with the overlay code (like 678 or 470)
• Allow multiple area codes to coexist in the same neighborhoods

So, within the Atlanta metro area, two people living on the same street might have 404, 678, or 470 numbers.

Where You’ll See 678 and 470

You can find 678 and 470 tied to addresses all across the greater Atlanta region, including:

• City of Atlanta addresses
• Nearby cities and suburbs like Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, Tucker, Decatur, East Point, College Park, Smyrna, Marietta, and more

If you’re getting a new mobile number in Atlanta today, there’s a good chance it will be 678 or 470, regardless of whether you’re inside or outside the Perimeter.

Do You Have to Dial the Area Code in Atlanta?

Yes. With multiple overlay area codes in the same area, 10-digit dialing is standard in Atlanta.

Local Dialing Basics in Atlanta

When you place a call within the Atlanta metro area:

• You usually must dial all 10 digits:
  • Area code + 7-digit local number
  • Example: 404-555-1234 or 678-555-5678
• Even if the number is “right around the corner,” you still dial the area code first.

For long-distance or certain carriers, you may also need to:

• Dial 1 + area code + number for calls outside your local plan

If you’re not sure, check with your phone carrier, but inside Atlanta it’s safest to always include the area code.

Calling Atlanta From Outside the U.S.

If you’re outside the country and want to call Atlanta:

1. Dial your country’s exit code (often 00 or 011 from many places).
2. Dial 1 (the country code for the United States).
3. Dial the Atlanta area code (404, 470, 678, or 770).
4. Dial the 7-digit local number.

Example from abroad:

• Exit code + 1 + 404 + XXX-XXXX

How to Know Which Atlanta Area Code to Use

If you’re trying to figure out which area code applies to you in or around Atlanta, consider:

1. Where You Live or Work

• Inside or near the City of Atlanta:
  • You might see 404, 678, or 470
• Suburban metro Atlanta (Marietta, Lawrenceville, Douglasville, etc.):
  • You’re likely to see 770, 678, or 470

You don’t get to “pick” the region-based code in most cases; your carrier assigns one that’s available.

2. Whether You’re Getting a New Number

For new lines in the Atlanta area, especially mobile phones:

• Expect 678 or 470 more often than 404 or 770
• All of them are local Atlanta metro area codes, so there’s no difference in basic local usage

Tips for Atlanta Residents and Visitors Using Phones

Here are some practical pointers for handling area codes in Atlanta:

• Always save contacts with the area code
  This avoids misdials and works better if you travel or switch carriers.

• Don’t assume area code = scam
  While spam calls can come from any area code, 404, 470, 678, and 770 are all common in Atlanta. Treat unknown calls cautiously, but the area code alone doesn’t prove anything.

• Check your phone plan for local vs. long-distance
  Within the metro area, calls between different Atlanta area codes (404, 470, 678, 770) are usually treated as local under most plans, but it’s wise to confirm with your provider.

• Business numbers may be spread across codes
  A company with offices in Downtown Atlanta and in Cobb County might use 404, 678, or 770 numbers interchangeably.

How to Look Up or Verify an Atlanta Area Code

If you’re unsure whether a number is part of Atlanta or the surrounding metro, you can:

• Use a reverse phone lookup or area code lookup tool through your phone provider or a general directory service.
• Confirm the area code when giving your number to schools, local government offices, or Atlanta-based employers, since many people still instinctively guess “404” for anything Atlanta-related.

Some key local entities that frequently use 404 or 678 area codes include:

• City of Atlanta offices
• Atlanta Public Schools (APS)
• Major downtown and Midtown businesses and institutions

Their phone numbers are often listed on official printed materials, directories, or posted at their locations.

Key Takeaways for Area Codes in Atlanta, Georgia

To directly answer “What is the area code for Atlanta, Georgia?”:

• Atlanta does not have just one area code.
• The main area codes you’ll encounter in Atlanta and its immediate metro area are:
  • 404 – the classic Atlanta code, tied strongly to the city
  • 770 – metro Atlanta suburbs
  • 678 – overlay across Atlanta and many suburbs
  • 470 – newer overlay used widely across the metro

If you live in or are visiting Atlanta, assume that:

• Any of these four codes can be local Atlanta-area numbers
• You should always dial the full 10-digit number (area code + local number)
• The specific code (404 vs 470 vs 678 vs 770) doesn’t change how you use the phone—it simply reflects how Atlanta’s phone network has grown with the city itself