The 253 area code
The 253 area code covers Tacoma, Kent and Puyallup in Washington State, in the Pacific time zone. Here is which cities use it, the current local time, how 253 numbers are written, and how to get a local 253 number for your business.
253 covers Tacoma, Kent and Puyallup in Washington State. It sits in the Pacific time zone, where it is currently 8:26 PM. Numbers are written as (253) XXX-XXXX.
Where is the 253 area code?
The 253 area code serves Tacoma, Kent and Puyallup in Washington State. It is one of the active area codes in the North American Numbering Plan, the system that assigns phone numbers across the United States, Canada, and nearby regions. A caller seeing a 253 number knows, at a glance, that the line is tied to Washington State.
What cities use the 253 area code?
These are the places with numbering prefixes in 253, the ones with the most prefixes first:
Tacoma accounts for the largest share of 253 prefixes, with Kent and Puyallup next. A local number in any of them reads as local to everyone else on the list, because they all dial on 253.
What time is it in the 253 area code?
The 253 area code is in the Pacific time zone. Right now it is about 8:26 PM there. If you are calling a 253 number, check the local time first so you reach someone during business hours. If you run a business on a 253 line, missing a call after hours means the caller moves on to the next name on their list.
How to write a 253 phone number
A full 253 number is ten digits: the three-digit area code, then a three-digit prefix, then a four-digit line number. It is usually written as (253) XXX-XXXX, or 253-XXX-XXXX. To dial it from outside the United States, add the country code: +1 253 XXX XXXX.
Area codes near 253
These area codes also serve Washington State:
Getting a local 253 number for your business
People are far more likely to answer a call from a local number. If you do business in Tacoma, Kent and Puyallup, a 253 number tells customers you are one of them, not an out-of-town call center. A virtual phone service can assign you a 253 number in minutes, no new hardware required.
The catch is answering it. A local number only helps if someone picks up. HiThisIs gives you a local number and a front desk that answers every call on the first ring, day or night, has a real conversation, and texts you the lead in seconds. It is a fraction of the cost of a human answering service, from $99 a month. See plans and pricing, or hear it answer on your own phone.
Common questions about the 253 area code
Where is the 253 area code?
The 253 area code covers Tacoma, Kent and Puyallup in Washington State, in the Pacific time zone.
What cities use the 253 area code?
Tacoma, Kent, Puyallup, Auburn, Federal Way, Gig Harbor, Lakewood and Fife all have numbering prefixes in 253.
What time zone is the 253 area code in?
The 253 area code is in the Pacific time zone. The current local time there is 8:26 PM.
Is 253 a real area code?
Yes. 253 is an active North American Numbering Plan area code serving Tacoma, Kent and Puyallup in Washington State.
How do I get a 253 phone number for my business?
A virtual phone service can assign you a local 253 number so customers in Tacoma, Kent and Puyallup see a familiar area code when you call, and so your business looks local. HiThisIs includes a local number with every plan and answers it around the clock.