Quick answer
Area code 336 serves north-central and north-western North Carolina, including the Piedmont Triad. Cities in it include Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, Asheboro and Kernersville. This guide covers where 336 is, how it came to be, how to dial it and what to know before using a 336 number for a business.
- Area code 336 covers most of north-central and north-western North Carolina, including the Piedmont Triad.
- It was created on December 15, 1997, in a split from area code 910.
- Area code 743 was announced as an overlay in 2014. Ten-digit dialing became mandatory on April 23, 2016, and the first 743 numbers were issued in May 2016.
- No long-distance charges apply to calls within the 336 territory because of the overlay.
Where is area code 336?
Area code 336 covers most of north-central and north-western North Carolina, including the Piedmont Triad region and parts of the Foothills and the Mountains. Its cities include Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point (the three Triad cities), plus Burlington, Asheboro, Kernersville, Clemmons, Eden, Elkin, Archdale, Graham, King and Jefferson, among others.
The code follows the I-85 corridor through the middle of the state, then reaches up into the north-west. A 336 number therefore tells a caller that you are in the Triad or its surrounding region rather than in Charlotte or the Triangle, which use other codes.
| City | Where it is |
|---|---|
| Greensboro | Part of the Piedmont Triad |
| Winston-Salem | Part of the Piedmont Triad |
| High Point | Part of the Piedmont Triad |
| Burlington | Along the I-85 corridor |
| Asheboro | Central North Carolina |
| Kernersville | Between Greensboro and Winston-Salem |
336 area code history
The code has a short, well-documented history. These are the dates that matter:
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| December 15, 1997 | Area code 336 is created in a split from area code 910. |
| August 20, 2014 | The 743 overlay is announced because 336 was projected to run out of numbers. |
| October 24, 2015 | Permissive ten-digit dialing begins, ahead of the 743 overlay. |
| April 23, 2016 | Ten-digit dialing becomes mandatory. |
| May 2016 | The first 743 numbers are issued. |
How to dial
Because 743 overlays 336, every local call in the area is dialed with ten digits. Existing 336 numbers were kept, and calls within the 336 territory do not become long distance. Calls from outside the area use 1 + the area code + the seven-digit number.
If you manage a team in the Triad, make sure contact lists, alarm dialers and phone-system routes include the area code. A neighbour's new number may start with 743 rather than 336.
Will the area code change?
Before the overlay, 336 was projected to be exhausted sometime in 2016. The 743 overlay supplied new numbers without splitting the area, so existing numbers did not change.
Time zone and business hours
North Carolina observes Eastern Time. A call to a 336 or 743 number at 9 AM Eastern reaches businesses as they open, which is 6 AM in Los Angeles.
Using a 336 number for business
The Triad is a regional business centre with logistics, manufacturing, healthcare and universities. A 336 number tells local customers that a business is based in their region, and it is the code most associated with Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point.
Ringflow lets you run a 336 number with call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, an auto-attendant and text messaging. Porting an existing 336 number is free, and there is a 14-day free trial. Availability varies by area code, so confirm which codes you can get at signup.
If you also work in nearby areas, see our guides to area code 252 and area code 919, or read how a virtual phone number works and how to add a second business number.
Spam and scam calls
A familiar 336 caller ID can be faked. If a caller says they are from a bank, utility or government agency, hang up and call back using a number from the organisation's official website. Report scam calls at reportfraud.ftc.gov and register at donotcall.gov.
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FAQ
Area code 336 covers most of north-central and north-western North Carolina, including the Piedmont Triad cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point.
Area code 743 is an overlay on 336, announced in 2014. Ten-digit dialing became mandatory on April 23, 2016, and the first 743 numbers were issued in May 2016.
It was created on December 15, 1997, in a split from area code 910.
No. No long-distance charges apply to calls within the 336 territory.
Eastern Time.
