Area Code 336 is the telephone area code for the North Carolina Piedmont Triad region, covering most of the north-central and northwestern parts of the state. It serves major cities including Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. The 336 area code is now part of an overlay complex with area code 743, meaning that all local calls within this region require mandatory 10-digit dialing.
The user’s search intent is to pinpoint the location, understand the geographical coverage, and determine the time zone for the 336 area code. This article provides a clear breakdown of this important North Carolina code and its operational requirements.
Geographic Coverage of the 336 Area Code
The 336 area code was created in 1997 as a split from the original 910 area code and covers a large swath of North Carolina’s Piedmont and Foothills regions. It is defined by its service to the “Triad” cities:
Major Cities in the 336 Area Code
The core of the 336 area code lies within the Piedmont Triad region, encompassing several of North Carolina’s largest cities and surrounding communities.
| Major City | County | Key Areas Covered |
| Greensboro | Guilford | Largest city served by 336/743. |
| Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Major hub for finance and technology. |
| High Point | Guilford/Davidson/Randolph | Known for its furniture industry. |
| Burlington | Alamance | Industrial and educational center. |
| Asheboro | Randolph | Home to the North Carolina Zoo. |
| Lexington | Davidson | Known as the “Barbecue Capital of the World.” |
| Mount Airy | Surry | The inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry in The Andy Griffith Show. |
The area code extends to cover counties including Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, Randolph, Davidson, Rockingham, Surry, and Wilkes.
Time Zone and Dialing Requirements
The 336 area code operates entirely within the Eastern Time Zone (ET).
| Time Zone Detail | Description |
| Standard Time | Eastern Standard Time (EST) / UTC-5 |
| Daylight Saving | Observes Daylight Saving Time, switching to Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) / UTC-4 in the spring and summer. |
| Dialing Rule | Mandatory 10-digit dialing (Area Code + 7-digit number) for all local calls, due to the 743 overlay. |
Important: If you are calling a 336 number from anywhere within the same region (even if the number you are calling starts with 743), you must dial the area code first.
The 743 Area Code Overlay
The area code 336 reached its capacity for new numbers due to rapid population and telecommunications growth in the Piedmont Triad. To solve this problem, the 743 area code was introduced as an overlay in 2016.
- What this means: Both 336 and 743 serve the exact same geographic region and cities.
- Impact on Users: If you live in this region, new phone lines may be assigned either a 336 or a 743 area code. This system requires all residents and businesses in the region to dial the full 10 digits for every local call.
Scam and Spam Risk for Area Code 336
Since area code 336 is a standard, geographically located domestic code in the United States, receiving a call from it is usually not considered a high-risk international “one-ring” scam (unlike codes from the Caribbean). However, numbers from this and any other local area code are constantly used by scammers via Caller ID spoofing.
- Spoofing Risk: Scammers often deliberately display a local area code, like 336, because you are more likely to answer a call that appears to be local. The caller is often running a robocall scheme, a warranty scam, or a fake debt collection.
- Identifying a Scam: If you receive a call from a 336 number you don’t recognize and the caller makes urgent demands for money (especially via gift cards or wire transfers) or asks for personal financial information, it is a scam.
Actionable Tip: If the caller ID shows 336 but you don’t know the number, let it go to voicemail. Legitimate callers will leave a detailed message.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to dial ‘1’ before calling area code 336?
No. Since area code 336 is a domestic U.S. area code, you only need to dial the prefix if you are calling a 336 number from outside of the area code or region, which is standard long-distance practice in the U.S. and Canada. If you are calling from a landline, you may need to dial 1 regardless, but mobile users typically only need the 10 digits.
What is the difference between area code 336 and 743?
They cover the exact same area (the North Carolina Piedmont Triad). The 743 area code was introduced as an overlay because the available numbers in the 336 area code were depleted. Both codes coexist, requiring all residents to use 10-digit dialing.
Is the 336 area code a toll-free number?
No. The 336 area code is a standard geographic area code, and calls may incur long-distance charges if you are calling from outside the area and do not have an unlimited calling plan. Toll-free numbers always begin with prefixes like 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, or 833.
Conclusion
The area code 336 is a critical telecommunications hub for north-central and northwestern North Carolina, serving the major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point in the Eastern Time Zone. If you are communicating with anyone in the Piedmont Triad region, remember that 10-digit dialing is mandatory due to the presence of the 743 overlay code. Stay vigilant against scams, as the code is often spoofed to trick consumers into answering.
