🇺🇸United States • Idaho

Idaho Calling Codes
208 & 986

Need to call Boise, Coeur d'Alene, or Idaho Falls? Use area codes 208 or 986. Connect instantly to any mobile or landline in the Gem State directly from your browser.

How to Dial
Calling Idaho (US)Line Active
🇺🇸

How to Call Idaho Step-by-Step

Calling Idaho follows the standard North American Numbering Plan (NANP).

1

Country Code (+1)

Dial +1 or 001 if calling from outside North America.

2

Area Code (208/986)

Dial the 3-digit area code.
208 (Original)
986 (Overlay)

3

Local Number

Dial the 7-digit subscriber number.
Example: +1 208 555 0123

The Idaho Time Zone Split

Idaho is one of the few states split into two time zones. Knowing which city you are calling is crucial for business hours.

Southern Idaho (Boise)
Mountain Time (MT)
UTC-7 (MST) / UTC-6 (MDT)
Northern Idaho (Coeur d'Alene)
Pacific Time (PT)
UTC-8 (PST) / UTC-7 (PDT)

Idaho City & Region Guide

All cities in Idaho use 208 or 986, but regions determine time zones.

CityRegion / CountyArea Codes
BoiseAda County (South)208 / 986
MeridianAda County (South)208 / 986
NampaCanyon County (South)208 / 986
Idaho FallsBonneville (East)208 / 986
PocatelloBannock (East)208 / 986
CaldwellCanyon County (South)208 / 986
Coeur d'AleneKootenai (North)208 / 986
Twin FallsTwin Falls (South)208 / 986
LewistonNez Perce (North)208 / 986
RexburgMadison (East)208 / 986

Why Use VoIP to
Call Idaho?

Whether you are calling for business in Boise or reaching family in the Panhandle, StartACall offers the most reliable connection without the need for physical phones or contracts.

  • Instant connection to 208 & 986 numbers
  • No hardware required - use your browser
  • Perfect for sales teams targeting Idaho
  • Crystal clear HD Voice quality

Cost Effective

Avoid international long-distance fees if calling from abroad.

Global Access

Call Idaho from anywhere in the world with just WiFi.

Secure

Encrypted WebRTC technology protects your privacy.

Fast Setup

No apps to install. Sign up and dial in seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the area codes for Idaho?

Idaho uses area codes 208 and 986. 208 is the original code, and 986 was added as an overlay in 2017. Both codes cover the entire state.

Do I need to dial the area code for local calls in Idaho?

Yes. Since the introduction of the 986 overlay, mandatory 10-digit dialing (Area Code + Phone Number) is required for all local calls within Idaho.

Why does Idaho have two time zones?

Geographically, Northern Idaho (the Panhandle) is closely tied to Spokane, Washington, so it observes Pacific Time (PT). The rest of the state, including the capital Boise, observes Mountain Time (MT).

How do I call Idaho from outside the US?

Dial your country's exit code (e.g., 00), then the US country code (1), then the Idaho area code (208 or 986), and finally the 7-digit number.

Ready to call Idaho?

Start making calls in seconds. No credit card required to sign up.

Idaho phone codes from abroad: 208, the 986 overlay, and a split clock

In short

Idaho kept a single area code, 208, for over seventy years before adding the 986 overlay in 2017. Dialing is simple, but the state straddles two time zones, with Boise on Mountain Time and the northern panhandle around Coeur d'Alene running an hour behind on Pacific Time. Here is what international callers should know.

208 and 986 are the same place

Area code 208 covered all of Idaho from 1947 until number demand, driven by Boise's rapid growth, forced the 986 overlay in 2017. Both codes now serve the entire state, so a 986 number is not a different region, it is simply a newer assignment, often a mobile.

Because two codes share the territory, Idahoans dial ten digits for local calls. For you that changes nothing: from abroad every Idaho number is +1, then either 208 or 986, then seven digits, whether it rings in Boise, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls or a mountain town.

Two time zones in one state

Southern Idaho, including Boise, Pocatello and Idaho Falls, observes Mountain Time, seven hours behind UTC in winter. The northern panhandle, including Coeur d'Alene, Moscow and Lewiston, follows Pacific Time with Spokane, Washington, one hour further back. The split follows the Salmon River country through the middle of the state.

The area code cannot tell you which zone applies, so check the city first. From London, Boise's 9am arrives at 4pm UK time, while Coeur d'Alene's does not arrive until 5pm. Getting this wrong by an hour is the most common mistake when calling Idaho from overseas.

Idaho observes daylight saving, so both halves of the state shift together each March and November and the internal one-hour gap never changes. Only the reference point moves for callers in countries that keep fixed time, such as India, China and Japan, so recheck your offset twice a year.

Who answers when in Idaho

Boise has become a technology and back-office hub, and its firms keep standard 8am to 5pm Mountain hours. Agricultural businesses across the Snake River Plain start earlier, often reachable from 7am, and can be hard to catch by late afternoon during planting and harvest.

Resort operators around Sun Valley and McCall answer seasonally extended hours in winter and summer but thin out in the shoulder months. For households, 6pm to 9pm local time remains the dependable window, which is early morning in much of Asia and late night nowhere in Europe worth avoiding.

Boise State and the University of Idaho in Moscow generate steady international admissions traffic, and their offices answer on 208 numbers during Mountain and Pacific business hours respectively. Recruiters respond fastest in their local mid-morning, which for European callers means late afternoon or early evening at home.

Cost of calling Idaho numbers

Idaho mobiles use the same 208 and 986 codes as landlines and cost the same to reach. StartACall bills one per-minute rate for both, pay-as-you-go with no subscription, no connection fee and credits that never expire, and the call runs in your browser over WebRTC with no app or SIM.

If you are relocating to Boise ahead of a move, a US virtual number, priced between $2.14 and $5 per month, lets landlords and employers call you back at their local rate while you are still abroad. The number can ring your browser abroad now and a handset later.

Frequently asked questions

What area code is Boise Idaho?+

Boise numbers use 208 or the newer 986 overlay. Both codes cover the whole of Idaho, so either can appear on a Boise mobile or landline. Both are dialed identically and cost the same from abroad.

Is 986 a real Idaho area code?+

Yes. 986 was activated in 2017 as a statewide overlay when 208 began running out of numbers. It serves exactly the same territory as 208. New Idaho mobiles are commonly assigned 986 numbers today.

What time zone is Idaho in?+

Southern Idaho, including Boise and Idaho Falls, uses Mountain Time. The northern panhandle, including Coeur d'Alene and Lewiston, uses Pacific Time, one hour behind the south. Boise is seven hours behind London during the winter months.

How do I dial an Idaho number from overseas?+

Dial + or your international exit code, then 1, then the ten digits, for example +1 208 555 0164. The same format works for mobiles and landlines. Ten-digit dialing is standard because two codes share the state.

Does calling an Idaho mobile cost extra?+

No. US mobiles share geographic codes with landlines, and StartACall charges the same per-minute rate for both, with no connection fee and a free first call from your browser. Credits are pay-as-you-go and never expire between calls.

Last reviewed June 2026Reviewed by the StartACall calling teamDialing rules cross checked against ITU international dialing procedures
Nearby dialing codes

Other country and area codes

Related country codes, area codes, and regional dialing guides for your next call.

Alabama area codes
Alaska area codes
Arizona area codes
Arkansas area codes
Bermuda country code
California area codes
Canada country code
Canada Business country code
Colorado area codes
Connecticut area codes
Delaware area codes
District Of Columbia area codes
See all international calling routes