The 939 area code is a legitimate US area code that serves the entire Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is one of two primary area codes for the island, working as an overlay for the original 787 area code.
If you have a phone number with the 939 area code or receive a call from one, you are communicating with a location governed by the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), but you are placing a long-distance call to the Caribbean. This article provides detailed information on the location, dialing requirements, and important scam warnings associated with the 939 area code.
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Location and Origin of the 939 Area Code
The 939 area code covers the entirety of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. This area code does not serve a specific city or region but rather overlays the pre-existing 787 area code to accommodate the massive demand for new phone numbers, particularly for mobile devices and internet services.
| Feature | Detail |
| Location | Puerto Rico (entire territory/commonwealth) |
| Status | U.S. Area Code (Part of the North American Numbering Plan – NANP) |
| Type | Overlay Code (for 787) |
| Largest City | San Juan (Capital) |
| Time Zone | Atlantic Standard Time (AST) |
History: Why 939 Was Added
Puerto Rico was initially served by the area code 809 until 1996, when it was split and assigned 787. However, within just five years, the rapid proliferation of cell phones and internet dial-up lines led to the impending exhaustion of 787 numbers. To solve this, area code 939 was introduced as an overlay on September 15, 2001.
The use of an overlay code means that all calls within the 787/939 region must be dialed using ten digits (the three-digit area code plus the seven-digit local number), even for local calls.
Major Cities Covered
Since 939 covers the entire territory, it includes every municipality and major urban center on the island. Key cities and municipalities include:
- San Juan (Capital and largest city)
- Bayamón
- Ponce
- Caguas
- Carolina
- Mayagüez
- Dialing Instructions and Time Zone
While Puerto Rico is part of the NANP, travelers and residents on the US mainland need to understand the dialing logistics, especially regarding the time difference.
How to Dial a 939 Number
Calling a number in the 939 area code from the mainland U.S. or Canada is treated as a standard long-distance call within the U.S.
- Dial 1 (the NANP country code).
- Dial the Area Code (939).
- Dial the 7-digit local number.
Important: Many mobile phone plans and VoIP services now include calls to Puerto Rico at no extra charge, but always confirm with your carrier before calling to avoid potential long-distance fees.
Time Zone Information
The 939 area code operates within the Atlantic Standard Time (AST) zone.
- AST is UTC-4.
- Crucially, Puerto Rico does NOT observe Daylight Saving Time (DST).
| Time of Year | Time Difference from New York (EST/EDT) |
| Winter (Standard Time) | AST is 1 hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST). |
| Summer (Daylight Saving) | AST is the SAME as Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). |
For example, when it is 3:00 PM EST in New York in the winter, it is 4:00 PM AST in Puerto Rico. When it is 3:00 PM EDT in New York in the summer, it is also 3:00 PM AST in Puerto Rico.
- Scam and Spam Risk with the 939 Area Code
Like other U.S. territories and non-contiguous areas, phone numbers from the 939 area code are sometimes leveraged by scammers targeting the mainland US.
The Phishing and Verification Scam Risk
Scammers often use numbers from Puerto Rico and other Caribbean area codes (which can be costly to call back) for the following purposes:
- Verification Texts: Sending unsolicited text messages (phishing) asking for personal information or claiming to be from a well-known service (like Amazon or USPS) to trick you into clicking a link or replying.
- Number Harvesting: Sending “wrong number” texts or calls to see which numbers are active. If you reply to a text from a 939 area code number, you confirm your line is active, making you a target for more spam or fraud calls.
- Costly Return Calls: If you are unfamiliar with the 939 code, you might mistake it for an expensive international number. While calling 939 is usually free for modern US mobile plans, the number is often used to mask a scam’s international or non-local origins.
Actionable Consumer Advice
- Do Not Engage: If you receive an unsolicited call or text from an unfamiliar 939 area code number, do not answer, reply, or call back.
- Block and Report: Use your phone’s built-in features to block the number, and if the message is clearly spam or a scam, report it to your carrier.
- Silence Unknown Callers: Enable the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature on your smartphone to automatically send all calls from numbers not in your contacts straight to voicemail.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is 939 a toll-free area code?
No. The 939 area code is a standard geographic area code for Puerto Rico. It is neither a toll-free number (which typically starts with 800, 888, etc.) nor is it a premium-rate number (which would incur high fees to call).
Does a call from the 939 area code cost extra?
For most modern mobile phone plans in the United States, calling the 939 area code is included as part of your unlimited domestic long-distance minutes, just like calling any other U.S. state. However, if you are on a limited or older plan, you may be charged a long-distance fee, so it is best to confirm with your specific carrier.
Why do some Puerto Rico numbers start with 787 and others with 939?
Both 787 and 939 cover the exact same geographic area (all of Puerto Rico). 787 was the original code, and 939 was added later as an overlay code in 2001 when the demand for new phone numbers exceeded the capacity of 787. Both codes are equally valid across the entire island.
