AI Receptionist with
208 Area Code
for Boise Businesses

Area code 208 is the telephone area code for the entire state of Idaho, serving major cities like Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and Idaho Falls. It operates in the Mountain Time Zone and has one overlay code (986) that covers the same geographic region.

Area code 208 holds the distinction of being one of the original 86 area codes established in October 1947 when the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) was created. For over 70 years, 208 served the entire state of Idaho without any splits or overlays, making it one of the few single-area-code states in the nation. The code's longevity is a testament to Idaho's controlled growth and efficient number management. However, by the early 2010s, increasing population and the proliferation of mobile devices and VoIP services began straining the available number supply, particularly in the Boise metropolitan area. To address this without splitting the state into multiple area codes, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission approved the implementation of an overlay plan. On August 5, 2017, area code 986 was introduced as an overlay, requiring all Idaho residents to dial 10 digits for local calls. This solution preserved the statewide identity associated with 208 while ensuring sufficient numbering resources for decades to come.