The 647 area code is a Toronto area code. It serves the City of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, together with 416, 437 and 942. If your phone shows a 647 number, it was issued in Toronto.
This guide answers the common questions: where 647 is, what time zone it uses, whether a call from the US costs extra, and how to deal with a 647 number you do not know.
647 Area Code Quick Facts
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| City | Toronto |
| Time zone | Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 during daylight saving time) |
| In service since | March 5, 2001 |
| Type | Overlay area code on 416 |
| Shares its area with | 416, 437 and 942 |
| Toll-free? | No, it is a regular geographic area code |
Use our free area code lookup tool to check any other code.
Where Is the 647 Area Code Located?
Area code 647 covers the City of Toronto and nothing outside it. That includes:
- Downtown and Old Toronto
- North York
- Scarborough
- Etobicoke
- York and East York
Cities next to Toronto are in a different numbering area. Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill and Pickering use 905, 289, 365 and 742.
What Time Zone Is the 647 Area Code In?
Toronto is on Eastern Time, the same as New York City.
- Eastern Standard Time (EST), UTC-5, in winter
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), UTC-4, from mid March to early November
Noon in Toronto is 9 a.m. in Vancouver and Los Angeles, and 5 p.m. in London.
History of the 647 Area Code
The 647 code has a special place in Canadian phone history. It was the first overlay in the country.
- 1947: 416 is created as one of the original area codes. It covers a large part of southern Ontario.
- October 2, 1993: 416 is reduced to Metro Toronto. The surrounding region moves to 905.
- March 5, 2001: 647 is laid over 416. It is Canada’s first overlay, and ten-digit dialing becomes mandatory in Toronto.
- March 25, 2013: 437 is added.
- April 26, 2025: 942 is added.
Before 2001, running out of numbers usually meant splitting a region in two and forcing half the customers to change their area code. Toronto businesses did not want to lose 416, so the regulator chose an overlay instead. Everyone kept their number and new customers got 647.
Why 647 Is Seen as a Mobile Code
When 647 launched, most homes and offices already had 416 landlines. The new 647 numbers went mainly to cell phones, which were spreading quickly at the time. That is why people in Toronto often think of 416 as the “original” code and 647 as the cell phone code. In practice both can be used for any kind of line.
How to Call a 647 Number
- From the US or Canada: 1 + 647 + the seven-digit number
- From other countries: your exit code + 1 + 647 + the seven-digit number
Does calling 647 from the US cost extra?
It depends on your plan. Toronto is in Canada, so some US carriers bill the call as international even though you dial it like a domestic number. Many unlimited plans include Canada. Prepaid and landline plans often do not.
Is a Call From 647 a Scam?
A 647 number is not suspicious on its own. It is one of the most common codes in Canada’s biggest city. Still, Toronto numbers are often used in phone scams aimed at both Canadians and Americans.
Typical warning signs:
- A recorded message about a problem with your Social Insurance Number, tax return or bank card
- A caller who claims to be from immigration services or the police and demands payment
- Job or rental offers that ask for a deposit first
- Any request for gift cards, crypto or a one-time passcode
Caller ID can be spoofed, so the real caller may not be in Toronto at all.
What to do with an unknown 647 call
- Do not answer. Let the caller leave a voicemail.
- Look up the organization’s official number and call that.
- Block repeat callers.
- In the US, report scam calls at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- In Canada, report them to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
- Forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM).
How to Get a 647 Phone Number
- Canadian mobile carriers hand out Toronto numbers when you open a line in the city. Which code you get depends on supply.
- VoIP and virtual number providers let you choose a Toronto number online. Calls can forward to a phone in any country.
A local Toronto number is a simple way for a US company to look established in Canada. Our guide to virtual phone numbers explains how it works.
Area Codes Near 647
| 416, 437, 942 | Same area as 647: City of Toronto |
| 905, 289, 365, 742 | Suburbs around Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara |
| 705, 249, 683 | Barrie, Sudbury and central Ontario |
| 519, 226, 548, 382 | London, Windsor and Kitchener |
| 613, 343, 753 | Ottawa and eastern Ontario |
For the newer Toronto code, see our 437 area code guide.
647 Area Code FAQs
What city is area code 647?
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Is 647 a cell phone area code?
Not officially. It can be used for landlines and mobiles. Most 647 numbers happen to be mobile because the code was introduced when cell phones were growing fast.
Is 647 a US area code?
No. It is Canadian. Canada and the US share the +1 country code, so the numbers look alike.
Is 647 toll-free?
No. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888. See the 800 area code guide.
What is the difference between 416 and 647?
Location is the same. 416 dates from 1947 and 647 from 2001.
Final Word
The 647 area code means Toronto, on Eastern Time, in service since 2001. If you know someone there, answer. If you do not, let the call go to voicemail first.
