The 617 area code is Boston’s area code. It covers the city and its closest neighbors, including Cambridge, Brookline, Newton and Quincy. It shares the area with 857.
Here is where 617 is used, its time zone, how it shrank from most of Massachusetts to the Boston core, and how to treat unknown 617 calls.
617 Area Code Quick Facts
| State | Massachusetts |
| Location | Boston and nearby cities such as Cambridge and Quincy |
| Time zone | Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 during daylight saving time) |
| In service since | 1947 |
| Type | Original geographic area code |
| Shares its area with | 857 (overlay since May 2, 2001) |
| Toll-free? | No, it is a regular geographic area code |
Check any other code with our free area code lookup tool.
Where Is the 617 Area Code Located?
Area code 617 is located in eastern Massachusetts. Main cities and towns:
- Boston
- Cambridge
- Brookline
- Newton
- Quincy
- Somerville
The ring of suburbs around this core uses 781 and 339.
What Time Zone Is the 617 Area Code In?
Boston is on Eastern Time.
- Eastern Standard Time (EST), UTC-5, in winter
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), UTC-4, from mid March to early November
That makes it three hours ahead of Los Angeles and one hour ahead of Chicago. Check the clock before you dial, especially if you are several time zones away.
History of the 617 Area Code
- October 1947: 617 is created as an original area code. It covers the eastern two-thirds of Massachusetts.
- July 16, 1988: Worcester County, the Merrimack Valley, the South Coast and Cape Cod are split off as 508.
- September 1, 1997: the suburbs to the north, west and south become 781, which almost surrounds what is left of 617.
- May 2, 2001: 857 is added as an overlay. Ten-digit dialing has been mandatory since then.
Current projections say the 617 and 857 pair will last until about 2059.
A Small Area With a Big Phone Footprint
The 617 area is compact, but it is packed with universities, teaching hospitals, biotech labs and financial firms. Admissions offices, clinics, research recruiters and investment companies all call from 617 numbers. That makes it one of the more trusted codes in the Northeast, and one that scammers like to imitate.
How to Dial a 617 Number
You need the area code for every call, even a local one.
- From the US or Canada: 1 + 617 + the seven-digit number
- From another country: your exit code + 1 + 617 + the seven-digit number
Is a Call From 617 a Scam?
Most 617 calls are genuine. Be careful with callers who claim to be from a hospital billing office, a university or an investment firm and want payment or personal details straight away.
Watch for these warning signs:
- Threats of arrest, a lawsuit or a service shut-off unless you pay today
- Offers of a prize, a loan or a job that need a fee first
- Callers who already know part of your details and ask you to “confirm” the rest
- One-ring calls that try to make you call back
Caller ID can be spoofed, so the number on your screen does not prove where a call comes from.
What to do with an unknown 617 call
- Do not answer numbers you do not know.
- Never share a PIN, password or passcode with someone who called you.
- Block repeat callers and turn on your carrier spam filter.
- Report scam calls at reportfraud.ftc.gov and register at donotcall.gov.
- Forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM).
How to Get a 617 Phone Number
Want a 617 number of your own? There are a few ways to get one.
- Carriers: new lines in the Boston core receive 617 or 857 depending on supply. 857 is more likely.
- VoIP and virtual number providers: search by area code, pick a 617 number and forward calls to any phone.
- Toll-free numbers: a better fit if your customers are spread across the country.
Read our guides to virtual phone numbers and the 833 area code.
Area Codes Near 617
| 857 | Same area as 617 |
| 781, 339 | Suburbs: Waltham, Lexington, Braintree |
| 508, 774 | Worcester, New Bedford, Cape Cod |
| 978, 351 | Lowell, Lawrence, Lynn |
| 401 | Rhode Island |
| 603 | New Hampshire |
Related guides: 332 area code for Manhattan, 267 area code for Philadelphia, 202 area code for Washington, D.C..
617 Area Code FAQs
What city is area code 617?
Boston, Massachusetts. It also covers Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, Quincy and Somerville.
What is area code 857?
It is the overlay for the 617 area and has been in service since May 2, 2001.
Is Worcester in 617?
No. Worcester uses 508 and 774.
What time zone is 617?
Eastern Time.
Is 617 a toll-free number?
No. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
Final Word
The 617 area code has covered Boston since 1947 and shares its area with 857. It is on Eastern Time. Verify unknown callers through an official number before you share anything.
