Quick answer
Area code 337 serves southwestern Louisiana. Cities in it include Lafayette, Lake Charles, Abbeville, Breaux Bridge, Broussard and Carencro. This guide covers where 337 is, how it came to be, how to dial it and what to know before using a 337 number for a business.
- Area code 337 serves southwestern Louisiana, including Lafayette and Lake Charles.
- It was created on October 11, 1999, from the southern half of area code 318.
- Area code 318 had covered most of Louisiana west of the Mississippi River since 1957.
- Ten-digit dialing was scheduled to become required by October 24, 2021, because 988 was designated as the number for suicide and crisis support.
Where is area code 337?
Area code 337 covers southwestern Louisiana. Its towns and cities include Lafayette and Lake Charles, along with Abbeville, Arnaudville, Baldwin, Basile, Breaux Bridge, Broussard, Cameron, Carencro and dozens of smaller communities. The northern part of the former territory, including Shreveport and Monroe, kept area code 318.
The code is closely tied to the Lafayette area and to the coast around Lake Charles, so a 337 number tells a caller that you are based in south-west Louisiana rather than anywhere in the state. For local service businesses that is the difference between "a Louisiana company" and "a company from around here".
| City | Where it is |
|---|---|
| Lafayette | South-central Louisiana |
| Lake Charles | Calcasieu Parish, on the Gulf coast side of the area |
| Abbeville | Southwest Louisiana |
| Breaux Bridge | St. Martin Parish |
| Broussard | Near Lafayette |
| Carencro | Near Lafayette |
337 area code history
The code has a short, well-documented history. These are the dates that matter:
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1957 | Area code 318 begins to cover most of Louisiana west of the Mississippi River. |
| October 11, 1999 | Area code 337 is created from the southern half of area code 318. |
| By October 24, 2021 | The area is scheduled to move to ten-digit dialing, because 988 was designated for suicide prevention and crisis support. |
How to dial
In area code 337, local calls are dialed with ten digits: 337 plus the seven-digit number. The change came about because 988 became the national number for suicide and crisis support, and a seven-digit number beginning with 988 could be confused with it. Calls from outside the area use 1 + 337 + the seven-digit number.
If you run a business in Lafayette or Lake Charles, check that stored numbers in your phone system, alarm panels, door entry systems and speed dials include the area code. Any device that still dials seven digits will not connect.
Will the area code change?
No split or overlay has been announced for 337. For now the code is simply 337, with ten-digit dialing as the rule.
Time zone and business hours
Louisiana, including the whole 337 area, observes Central Time. That is one hour behind New York and two hours ahead of Los Angeles. Many offices in Lafayette and Lake Charles open between 8 and 9 AM Central.
Using a 337 number for business
Customers in Lafayette and Lake Charles tend to favour businesses that look local. A 337 number is a simple way to show that, whether you run a clinic, a contractor, a restaurant or a field-service team.
With Ringflow you can answer a 337 number on any phone, route it to a team, send missed calls to voicemail-to-email and text customers from the same line. Porting an existing 337 number is free, and there is a 14-day free trial. Number availability varies by area code, so confirm it at signup.
If you also work in nearby areas, see our guides to area code 318 and area code 225, or read how a virtual phone number works and how to add a second business number.
Spam and scam calls
Unexpected calls from any area code can be scams, and local-looking numbers are often spoofed. Do not share one-time codes, bank details or a Social Security number with an inbound caller. Report scam calls at reportfraud.ftc.gov and register at donotcall.gov.
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FAQ
Area code 337 serves southwestern Louisiana, including Lafayette and Lake Charles.
It was created on October 11, 1999, from the southern half of area code 318.
No. Shreveport and the north of the state are in area code 318, which has been overlaid by area code 457 since 2025.
Yes. Local calls in the area use ten digits, the area code plus the seven-digit number.
Central Time.
