The 686 area code
The 686 area code covers Richmond, Midlothian and Mechanicsville in Virginia, in the Eastern time zone. Here is which cities use it, the current local time, the codes it overlays, how 686 numbers are written, and how to get a local 686 number for your business.
686 covers Richmond, Midlothian and Mechanicsville in Virginia. It sits in the Eastern time zone, where it is currently 11:28 PM. It shares that ground with 804, so ten-digit dialling is required. Numbers are written as (686) XXX-XXXX.
Where is the 686 area code?
The 686 area code serves Richmond, Midlothian and Mechanicsville in Virginia. 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 686 number knows, at a glance, that the line is tied to Virginia.
What cities use the 686 area code?
686 is an overlay on 804, which means it was added over the same ground rather than carved out of it. So 686 numbers are handed out across the same places:
Richmond accounts for the largest share of 686 prefixes, with Midlothian and Mechanicsville next. A local number in any of them reads as local to everyone else on the list, because they all dial on 686.
Which area codes overlay 686?
686 is part of an overlay complex with 804. 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 686 area code?
The 686 area code is in the Eastern time zone. Right now it is about 11:28 PM there. If you are calling a 686 number, check the local time first so you reach someone during business hours. If you run a business on a 686 line, missing a call after hours means the caller moves on to the next name on their list.
How to write a 686 phone number
A full 686 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 (686) XXX-XXXX, or 686-XXX-XXXX. To dial it from outside the United States, add the country code: +1 686 XXX XXXX.
Area codes near 686
These area codes also serve Virginia:
Getting a local 686 number for your business
People are far more likely to answer a call from a local number. If you do business in Richmond, Midlothian and Mechanicsville, a 686 number tells customers you are one of them, not an out-of-town call center. A virtual phone service can assign you a 686 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 686 area code
Where is the 686 area code?
The 686 area code covers Richmond, Midlothian and Mechanicsville in Virginia, in the Eastern time zone.
What cities use the 686 area code?
Richmond, Midlothian, Mechanicsville, Chester, Petersburg, Ashland, Colonial Heights and North Chesterfield all have numbering prefixes in 686. 686 overlays 804, so the two share the same geography.
What time zone is the 686 area code in?
The 686 area code is in the Eastern time zone. The current local time there is 11:28 PM.
Does 686 overlay another area code?
Yes. 686 is part of an overlay complex with 804. 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 686 a real area code?
Yes. 686 is an active North American Numbering Plan area code serving Richmond, Midlothian and Mechanicsville in Virginia.
How do I get a 686 phone number for my business?
A virtual phone service can assign you a local 686 number so customers in Richmond, Midlothian and Mechanicsville 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.