The 986 area code
The 986 area code covers Boise, Meridian and Coeur d'Alene in Idaho, in the Mountain time zone. Here is which cities use it, the current local time, the codes it overlays, how 986 numbers are written, and how to get a local 986 number for your business.
986 covers Boise, Meridian and Coeur d'Alene in Idaho. It sits in the Mountain time zone, where it is currently 9:28 PM. It shares that ground with 208, so ten-digit dialling is required. Numbers are written as (986) XXX-XXXX.
Where is the 986 area code?
The 986 area code serves Boise, Meridian and Coeur d'Alene in Idaho. 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 986 number knows, at a glance, that the line is tied to Idaho.
What cities use the 986 area code?
986 is an overlay on 208, which means it was added over the same ground rather than carved out of it. So 986 numbers are handed out across the same places:
Boise accounts for the largest share of 986 prefixes, with Meridian and Coeur d'Alene next. A local number in any of them reads as local to everyone else on the list, because they all dial on 986.
Which area codes overlay 986?
986 is part of an overlay complex with 208. 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 986 area code?
The 986 area code is in the Mountain time zone. Right now it is about 9:28 PM there. If you are calling a 986 number, check the local time first so you reach someone during business hours. If you run a business on a 986 line, missing a call after hours means the caller moves on to the next name on their list.
How to write a 986 phone number
A full 986 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 (986) XXX-XXXX, or 986-XXX-XXXX. To dial it from outside the United States, add the country code: +1 986 XXX XXXX.
Getting a local 986 number for your business
People are far more likely to answer a call from a local number. If you do business in Boise, Meridian and Coeur d'Alene, a 986 number tells customers you are one of them, not an out-of-town call center. A virtual phone service can assign you a 986 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 986 area code
Where is the 986 area code?
The 986 area code covers Boise, Meridian and Coeur d'Alene in Idaho, in the Mountain time zone.
What cities use the 986 area code?
Boise, Meridian, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Post Falls, Caldwell, Lewiston and Sandpoint all have numbering prefixes in 986. 986 overlays 208, so the two share the same geography.
What time zone is the 986 area code in?
The 986 area code is in the Mountain time zone. The current local time there is 9:28 PM.
Does 986 overlay another area code?
Yes. 986 is part of an overlay complex with 208. 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 986 a real area code?
Yes. 986 is an active North American Numbering Plan area code serving Boise, Meridian and Coeur d'Alene in Idaho.
How do I get a 986 phone number for my business?
A virtual phone service can assign you a local 986 number so customers in Boise, Meridian and Coeur d'Alene 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.