The 786 area code is in South Florida. It covers Miami, the rest of Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys. It works side by side with the older 305 area code and the newer 645 area code.
If a 786 number called or texted you, this guide shows where the number is from, what time it is there, and how to tell a real call from a scam.
786 Area Code Quick Facts
| State | Florida |
| Location | Miami, Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys |
| Time zone | Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 during daylight saving time) |
| In service since | March 1, 1998 |
| Type | Overlay area code on 305 |
| Shares its area with | 305 and 645 |
| Toll-free? | No, it is a regular geographic area code |
Check any other number with our free area code lookup tool.
Where Is the 786 Area Code Located?
Area code 786 is located in the southeastern tip of Florida. It serves two counties:
- Miami-Dade County
- Monroe County, the island part known as the Florida Keys
Main cities in the 786 area code
- Miami
- Hialeah
- Miami Beach
- Miami Gardens
- Coral Gables
- Homestead
- Doral
- North Miami
- Kendall
- Key Largo, Marathon and Key West in the Florida Keys
Fort Lauderdale and the rest of Broward County are not in 786. They use 954 and 754. The mainland part of Monroe County uses 239.
What Time Zone Is the 786 Area Code In?
The 786 area code is in the Eastern Time Zone.
- Eastern Standard Time (EST), UTC-5, in winter
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), UTC-4, from mid March to early November
Miami is on the same time as New York and three hours ahead of Los Angeles.
History of the 786 Area Code
The story of 786 starts with 305, one of the original area codes from 1947. Back then 305 covered the whole state of Florida. As the state grew, pieces were split off:
- 1953: 813 takes the western side of the peninsula.
- 1965: 904 is created for North Florida.
- April 16, 1988: 407 takes the east coast from Palm Beach north and the Orlando area.
- September 11, 1995: 954 is split off for Broward County.
After that, 305 could not be split again without forcing Miami residents to change numbers. So the next step was an overlay.
- March 1, 1998: 786 starts service as an overlay for Miami-Dade County.
- September 1, 2001: 786 is extended to the Florida Keys.
- August 4, 2023: 645 is added as a third code for the same area.
Fast growth in cell phones and pagers in the 1990s is the reason 305 ran short of numbers.
Why Do People Call It a Miami Area Code?
Locals often link 305 with “old Miami” and 786 with newer numbers. In daily use there is no difference. A 786 number and a 305 number can sit in the same house, and a call between them is local.
How to Dial a 786 Number
Three area codes share the same region, so you always dial ten digits:
- From the US or Canada: 1 + 786 + the seven-digit number
- From another country: your exit code + 1 + 786 + the seven-digit number
Is a Call From 786 a Scam?
The 786 area code is legitimate. It is used by residents, hotels, clinics, cruise and travel companies, and thousands of small businesses. Scammers also use Miami numbers, and they can fake any caller ID.
Calls and texts to be careful with:
- Offers for free cruises, vacations or timeshare buyouts
- Medicare, health insurance or car warranty robocalls
- Messages about an unpaid toll or a package that could not be delivered
- Anyone who asks for gift cards, wire transfers or crypto
What to do with an unknown 786 call
- Do not answer numbers you do not know. Let them leave a voicemail.
- Do not tap links in texts from unknown 786 numbers.
- Verify the caller by phoning the company on its official number.
- Block the number on your phone.
- Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Register your number at donotcall.gov.
- Forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM).
How to Get a 786 Phone Number
A Miami number is useful if you serve customers in South Florida or work with Latin American markets, where Miami is a major business hub.
- Mobile carriers assign Miami numbers to new lines in the area. You may get 786, 305 or 645 depending on supply.
- VoIP and virtual number providers let you choose a 786 number online and forward calls to any phone.
- Business phone systems can pair a local 786 number with a toll-free number.
Read our guide to virtual phone numbers to see how this works, or the 800 area code guide if you want a nationwide toll-free line.
Area Codes Near 786
| 305, 645 | Same area as 786: Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys |
| 954, 754 | Broward County: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach |
| 561, 728 | Palm Beach County: West Palm Beach, Boca Raton |
| 239 | Southwest Florida: Naples, Fort Myers, mainland Monroe County |
Planning to call the other end of the state? See our 850 area code guide for the Florida Panhandle.
786 Area Code FAQs
What city is area code 786?
Area code 786 is Miami, Florida. It also covers the rest of Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys.
Is 786 a cell phone area code?
It is used for both mobile phones and landlines. Many 786 numbers are mobile because the code launched in 1998, when cell phone use was growing quickly.
Is 786 a toll-free number?
No. It is a local area code. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
What is the difference between 305 and 786?
They cover the same area. 305 is the original code from 1947 and 786 was added in 1998 because 305 was running out of numbers.
Why do I keep getting calls from 786 numbers?
Telemarketers and scammers often use Miami numbers. If you do not have family, friends or business in South Florida, let the call go to voicemail and block repeat callers.
Final Word
The 786 area code means Miami, Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys, on Eastern Time, in service since 1998. Answer the calls you expect and screen the rest.
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