Provo, Orem and the rest of Utah County have two area codes, 801 and 385, and they cover exactly the same ground. A neighbor's number can start with either one. That's why you dial all 10 digits, even to call the house next door.
The short version
| 801 | 385 | 435 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covers | Wasatch Front: Weber, Morgan, Davis, Salt Lake and Utah counties | The same five counties, on top of 801 | The rest of Utah |
| Started | The original Wasatch Front code | Approved 2007; mandatory 10-digit dialing from March 1, 2009 | Covers the area outside the overlay |
| Who gets it | Older numbers, recycled numbers | New numbers since the overlay | Everyone outside the Wasatch Front |
Why there are two
By the mid-2000s the Wasatch Front was running out of 801 numbers. An April 2007 technical conference projected that new numbers would exhaust 801 by June 2008, the Deseret News reported.
The Utah Public Service Commission had two choices. A split would have drawn a line on the map and forced everyone on one side to change their area code. An overlay would add a new code across the same territory and give it only to new numbers. In July 2007 the commission chose the overlay, and the new code was 385.
The 385 code wasn't new on paper. It had first been ordered in 2000, when four public hearings were held and many people said they preferred a split, but number-conservation measures pushed the change back for years.
What it changed
Nobody's number changed. That was the main argument for the overlay: existing 801 customers kept their numbers.
Local calls need 10 digits. With two codes sharing the same map, a seven-digit number no longer says which phone you mean. A "permissive" period, when either 7 or 10 digits worked, began June 1, 2008, and mandatory 10-digit dialing began March 1, 2009, the Deseret News reported; from then on, local calls dialed with seven digits would not go through. KSL reported in 2010 that Utahns "had to start dialing 10 digits for all three Utah area codes, even for a call next door." Long-distance calls still take 11 digits, with the 1 in front.
801 numbers come back around. KSL also reported that disconnected 801 numbers return to the pool and can be assigned again, which is why some new phones still get an 801 number.
Is 801 "more local" than 385?
Only in the sense that 801 numbers tend to be older. A 385 number in Provo is exactly as local as an 801 number, and a 385 number only tells you the number was assigned after the overlay began. If you're giving out a number for a business, either code reads as Wasatch Front to anyone who lives here.
Where 435 starts
Drive out of the five Wasatch Front counties and you're in 435 country: Heber and Midway, Park City, Nephi, the Uinta Basin, Moab and all of southern Utah. Call a cabin rental in Heber or a trailhead office in Moab, and it'll be a 435 number. The 385 overlay didn't touch 435.
Related guides
- Provo ZIP codes, explained
- Provo population and city facts
- Provo's elevation and what it changes
- Setting up utilities in Provo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the area code for Provo, Utah?
Is 385 a Utah area code?
Why did Utah add the 385 area code?
Do I have to dial the area code for a local call in Provo?
Did existing 801 numbers change when 385 was added?
What area code is the rest of Utah?
Is a 385 number a scam or out of state?
Can I still get an 801 number?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- 385 area code means 10-digit dialing, Deseret News. Checked November 7, 2026.
- New area code still news to many, KSL. Checked November 7, 2026.
- 10-digit local call dialing starts today, Deseret News. Checked November 7, 2026.
