Direct answer
Area code 602 serves the Phoenix metropolitan area in Arizona. It is in the Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7, year-round), and ten-digit dialing is required there.
Facts
| Area code | 602 |
| State | Arizona (AZ) |
| Region | the Phoenix metropolitan area |
| Time zone | Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7, year-round) |
| Overlays | 480/602/623 |
| In service since | 1947 (NANPA tool date: 1 January 1947) |
| Dialing rule | Yes — ten-digit dialing is required across the combined overlay area. |
Areas covered
The 602 footprint covers Phoenix (central city), Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Peoria, Surprise, Avondale, Goodyear, Cave Creek, and Ahwatukee. That list describes the area the code serves today, not the larger territory it may have covered when it was first assigned. Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, so 602 stays on Mountain Standard Time all year. This is different from Mountain Time with daylight saving, which moves between MST in winter and MDT in summer. Callers in this area should always dial the full ten-digit number, including the area code, even for a local call.
History
Area code 602 is an original 1947 code and was Arizona’s only code at launch, covering the whole state. It stayed the state’s sole code for 48 years, until 1995, when 520 split off for the rest of Arizona. Area codes 480 for the East Valley and 623 for the West Valley split from 602 in March 1999. Those boundaries were then eliminated and the three codes became one combined overlay. NANPA Planning Letter PL-576 gives the milestones: permissive ten-digit dialing from 11 February 2023, mandatory ten-digit dialing from 12 August 2023, and central office codes effective throughout the combined overlay from 12 September 2023. Those three dates are different events and are not merged here.
Dialing
Dialing rule: Yes — ten-digit dialing is required across the combined overlay area. The reason is the overlay structure in the facts table above, except where this page states a different reason, as it does for 616. From outside the United States, the country code for the United States is 1, followed by the area code and the local number. This page explains the area code only; it does not identify who owns a number or where a phone is.
Calls and spoofing
A call that shows a familiar area code is not proof of who is calling. Caller ID can be spoofed, so a number that looks local may come from anywhere. Do not share personal or financial details because of the number on the screen, and hang up and call back on a number you trust if a caller asks for money, codes, or account access. This site does not identify callers or phone owners, and it does not list reported spam numbers.
Related codes
480, 623 (combined overlay).
Frequently asked questions
Where is 602 area code?
Area code 602 is in Arizona, covering the Phoenix metropolitan area. It does not cover the whole state.
What time zone is 602 area code?
Area code 602 is in the Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7, year-round). Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, so 602 stays on Mountain Standard Time all year. This is different from Mountain Time with daylight saving, which moves between MST in winter and MDT in summer.
What area codes overlay 602?
The overlay codes for 602 are 480; 623. The full overlay group is 480/602/623. New numbers in the same territory can carry any code in the group.
Is 602 area code a scam?
No area code is itself a scam. Scammers can spoof any area code, including this one, so judge a call by what the caller asks for, not by the number shown. This site does not identify callers.
When did 602 area code go into service?
Area code 602 has been in service since 1947 (NANPA tool date: 1 January 1947).
Sources
NANPA area code search; NANPA Planning Letter PL-576; List of Arizona area codes
Based on a recent search of NANPA and official sources.
This website provides general information about North American area codes, compiled from public sources including NANPA. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FCC, NANPA or any telephone carrier. Area code details can change; confirm with your carrier or the official NANPA website. This site does not identify callers or phone owners.