The 617 area code
The 617 area code covers Boston, Cambridge and Quincy in Massachusetts, in the Eastern time zone. Here is which cities use it, the current local time, the codes it overlays, how 617 numbers are written, and how to get a local 617 number for your business.
617 covers Boston, Cambridge and Quincy in Massachusetts. It sits in the Eastern time zone, where it is currently 11:28 PM. It shares that ground with 857, so ten-digit dialling is required. Numbers are written as (617) XXX-XXXX.
Where is the 617 area code?
The 617 area code serves Boston, Cambridge and Quincy in Massachusetts. 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 617 number knows, at a glance, that the line is tied to Massachusetts.
What cities use the 617 area code?
These are the places with numbering prefixes in 617, the ones with the most prefixes first:
Boston accounts for the largest share of 617 prefixes, with Cambridge and Quincy next. A local number in any of them reads as local to everyone else on the list, because they all dial on 617.
Which area codes overlay 617?
617 is part of an overlay complex with 857. An overlay puts more than one area code over the same geography instead of splitting the region in two, so existing numbers keep their code and new ones get the added code. Two neighbours on the same street can hold different area codes. That is why ten-digit dialling is required here: you cannot assume a local call shares your area code.
What time is it in the 617 area code?
The 617 area code is in the Eastern time zone. Right now it is about 11:28 PM there. If you are calling a 617 number, check the local time first so you reach someone during business hours. If you run a business on a 617 line, missing a call after hours means the caller moves on to the next name on their list.
How to write a 617 phone number
A full 617 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 (617) XXX-XXXX, or 617-XXX-XXXX. To dial it from outside the United States, add the country code: +1 617 XXX XXXX.
Area codes near 617
These area codes also serve Massachusetts:
Getting a local 617 number for your business
People are far more likely to answer a call from a local number. If you do business in Boston, Cambridge and Quincy, a 617 number tells customers you are one of them, not an out-of-town call center. A virtual phone service can assign you a 617 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 617 area code
Where is the 617 area code?
The 617 area code covers Boston, Cambridge and Quincy in Massachusetts, in the Eastern time zone.
What cities use the 617 area code?
Boston, Cambridge, Quincy, Newton, Somerville, Brookline, Everett and Dorchester all have numbering prefixes in 617.
What time zone is the 617 area code in?
The 617 area code is in the Eastern time zone. The current local time there is 11:28 PM.
Does 617 overlay another area code?
Yes. 617 is part of an overlay complex with 857. An overlay puts more than one area code over the same geography, which is why ten-digit dialling is required there: two neighbours can hold different area codes on the same street.
Is 617 a real area code?
Yes. 617 is an active North American Numbering Plan area code serving Boston, Cambridge and Quincy in Massachusetts.
How do I get a 617 phone number for my business?
A virtual phone service can assign you a local 617 number so customers in Boston, Cambridge and Quincy 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.