248 Area Code: Complete Guide to Location, Cities, and Everything You Need to Know (2026)

The 248 area code serves Oakland County, Michigan, including Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Royal Oak, Novi, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, and Rochester Hills, as well as small parts of Wayne County (Livonia and Northville). It sits in the Eastern Time Zone and has been in service since May 10, 1997, when it split off from area code 810. Since 2001, it has shared its numbering region with the overlay code 947.

What Is the 248 Area Code?

Area code 248 serves Oakland County, Michigan, one of the state’s most affluent and economically active counties, located just northwest of Detroit. As part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), area code primarily covers the northern suburbs of Metro Detroit. It supports residential, business, mobile, and VoIP telephone services.

Where Is the 248 Area Code Located?

The area code is 248​ is centered on Oakland County, Michigan, with a small extension into Wayne County. Key cities and communities served include:

  • Troy — Oakland County’s largest city, a major business and retail hub
  • Farmington Hills — a leading business center for Metro Detroit’s automotive and financial sectors
  • Southfield — a dense commercial district with numerous corporate headquarters
  • Royal Oak — a popular dining, arts, and nightlife destination
  • Novi — home to large retail centers and expo facilities
  • Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills — upscale residential communities
  • Rochester Hills and Pontiac — established suburban and historic communities
  • Auburn Hills, Clawson, Ferndale, Berkley, Hazel Park, Commerce Township, Lake Orion, and Clarkston — additional cities within the region
  • Portions of Livonia and Northville in Wayne County

Neighboring area codes include 313 (Detroit), 734 (western Wayne County/Ann Arbor), 586 (Macomb County), and 810 (Genesee/Flint area, the code originally split from).

History: When Was the Area Code Created?

Location of area code 248​ went into service on May 10, 1997, created as a geographic split from areas codes 810, which was running out of available phone numbers as Oakland County’s population and business activity grew rapidly through the 1990s. As the region’s growth continued to strain the numbering supply even after the split, regulators introduced area code 947 in 2000–2001 as an all-services overlay covering the same geographic area, rather than splitting the region again.

248 area code

Why Businesses Choose a Area Code Number

Oakland County is one of Michigan’s strongest economic centers, home to major employers in automotive manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, and technology, including the Automation Alley tech and manufacturing corridor.

Time Zone

248 area code in michigan​ operates in the Eastern Time Zone (ET), specifically America/New_York, observing both Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) in winter and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) during daylight saving time.

Is a Toll-Free or Legitimate Area Code?

248 is not a toll-free area code. It is a standard geographic area code assigned to a specific U.S. region (Oakland County, Michigan), unlike toll-free prefixes such as 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, and 888.

How to Dial a Number

  • Within the U.S.: Dial 1-248-XXX-XXXX
  • From outside the U.S.: Dial your country’s exit code, then +1-248-XXX-XXXX
  • Local calls within the overlay region: You must dial all 10 digits (area code + number), even for local calls, because of the 947 overlay.

248 Area Code: Key Facts at a Glance

DetailInformation
StateMichigan
Primary regionOakland County (plus parts of Wayne County)
Major citiesTroy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Royal Oak, Novi, Birmingham, Rochester Hills, Pontiac
Time zoneEastern Time (EST/EDT)
In service sinceMay 10, 1997
Split fromArea code 810
Overlay code947 (added 2000–2001)
Toll-free?No — standard geographic area code
Neighboring area codes313, 734, 586, 810

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

248 belongs to Michigan and primarily serves Oakland County, covering cities such as Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, and Royal Oak in the Metro Detroit area.

Yes, 248 is a legitimate, active U.S. area code. However, scammers can spoof any area code, so treat unexpected calls with the same caution you’d apply to any unknown number.

Area code 947 overlays 248, serving the exact same Oakland County region. Both codes require 10-digit dialing for all local calls.

Yes. VoIP and virtual phone number providers let individuals and businesses anywhere obtain a 248 number for a local Michigan presence.

248 was created in 1997 as a split from area code 810, which was running low on available phone numbers as the region grew.

Conclusion

The area code 248 location​ is more than just a set of digits; it’s the telephone identity of Oakland County, Michigan, one of the most economically vibrant and densely populated business regions in the state. From its origins as a 1997 split from area code 810 to its expansion through the 947 overlay, 248 has grown alongside the communities it serves, including Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Royal Oak, and Birmingham.

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