What is 208 Area Code?

The 208 area code is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) serving the entire state of Idaho. Established in 1947, it was one of the original area codes in the USA. Due to Idaho’s growth, an overlay (986 area code) was later introduced in 2017, but 208 remains the state’s iconic and most recognized code.

  • State: Idaho
  • Major Cities: Boise, Nampa, Meridian, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Coeur d’Alene, Twin Falls
  • Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST) / Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)—some regions observe Pacific Time
  • Established: 1947 (original NANP code)
  • Overlay Area Code: 986
  • Region Population: Approx. 1.9 million
  • Primary Uses: Local business lines, residential calls, VoIP, and mobile numbers

Regions Covered by 208 Area Code

The 208 area code spans the entire state of Idaho, from northern Panhandle towns to the southern Treasure Valley region. Here’s a breakdown of its counties and cities:

Ada County
  • Boise
  • Garden City
  • Meridian
  • Eagle
  • Kuna
  • Star
Adams County
  • Council
  • Indian Valley
  • New Meadows
Bannock County
  • Arimo
  • Downey
  • Inkom
  • McCammon
  • Swan Lake
  • Chubbuck
  • Fort Hall
  • Lava Hot Springs
  • Pocatello
  • Tyhee
Bear Lake County
  • Bern
  • Dingle
  • Saint Charles
  • Georgetown
  • Paris
  • Bloomington
  • Fish Haven
  • Geneva
  • Montpelier
Benewah County
  • De Smet
  • Fernwood
  • Plummer
  • Tensed
  • Emida
  • Parkline
  • Saint Maries
Bingham County
  • Aberdeen
  • Basalt
  • Firth
  • Moreland
  • Shelley
  • Atomic City
  • Blackfoot
  • Groveland
  • Rockford
  • Sterling
Blaine County
  • Bellevue
  • Gannett
  • Ketchum
  • Sun Valley
  • Carey
  • Hailey
  • Picabo
Boise County
  • Banks
  • Garden Valley
  • Idaho City
  • Robie Creek
  • Crouch
  • Horseshoe Bend
  • Placerville
Bonner County
  • Blanchard
  • Clark Fork
  • Coolin
  • Hope
  • Laclede
  • Ponderay
  • Sandpoint
  • Careywood
  • Cocolalla
  • Dover
  • Kootenai
  • Oldtown
  • Priest River
Bonneville County
  • Ammon
  • Iona
  • Irwin
  • UConn
  • Bone
  • Idaho Falls
  • Swan Valley
Boundary County
  • Bonners Ferry
  • Moyie Springs
  • Porthill
  • Eastport
  • Naples
Butte County
  • Arco
  • Darlington
  • Moore
  • Butte City
  • Howe
Camas County
  • Corral
  • Hill City
  • Fairfield
  • Soldier
Canyon County
  • Caldwell
  • Huston
  • Middleton
  • Notus
  • Star
  • Greenleaf
  • Melba
  • Nampa
  • Parma
  • Wilder
Caribou County
  • Bancroft
  • Grace
  • Wayan
  • Conda
  • Soda Springs
Cassia County
  • Acequia
  • Almo
  • Declo
  • Malta
  • Paul
  • Albion
  • Burley
  • Elba
  • Oakley
Clark County
  • Dubois
  • Spencer
  • Kilgore
Clearwater County
  • Ahsahka
  • Orofino
  • Weippe
  • Elk River
  • Pierce
Custer County
  • Challis
  • Lost River
  • Stanley
  • Clayton
  • Mackay
Elmore County
  • Atlanta
  • Featherville
  • Hammett
  • Mountain Home
  • Prairie
  • Dixie
  • Glenns Ferry
  • King Hill
  • Pine
Franklin County
  • Clifton
  • Franklin
  • Weston
  • Dayton
  • Preston
Fremont County
  • Ashton
  • Newdale
  • Saint Anthony
  • Island Park
  • Parker
  • Teton
Gem County
  • Emmett
  • Letha
Gooding County
  • Bliss
  • Hagerman
  • Gooding
  • Wendell
Idaho County
  • Cottonwood
  • Fenn
  • Grangeville
  • Harpster
  • Kooskia
  • Riggins
  • Elk City
  • Ferdinand
  • Greencreek
  • Kamiah
  • Lucile
  • White Bird
Jefferson County
  • Hamer
  • Lorenzo
  • Mud Lake
  • Roberts
  • Lewisville
  • Menan
  • Rigby
Jerome County
  • Eden
  • Jerome
  • Hazelton
Kootenai County
  • Athol
  • Cataldo
  • Harrison
  • Hayden
  • Huetter
  • Kingston
  • Mullan
  • Pinehurst
  • Rathdrum
  • Spirit Lake
  • Wallace
  • Bayview
  • Coeur d'Alene
  • Hauser
  • Hayden Lake
  • Kellogg
  • Medimont
  • Osburn
  • Post Falls
  • Smelterville
  • Wardner
  • Worley
Latah County
  • Bovill
  • Genesee
  • Kendrick
  • Onaway
  • Troy
  • Deary
  • Juliaetta
  • Moscow
  • Potlatch
  • Viola
Lemhi County
  • Carmen
  • Leadore
  • May
  • Salmon
  • Challis
  • Lemhi
  • North Fork
  • Shoup
Lewis County
  • Craigmont
  • Kamiah
  • Winchester
  • Ferdinand
  • Nezperce
Lincoln County
  • Dietrich
  • Shoshone
  • Richfield
Madison County
  • Rexburg
  • Thornton
Minidoka County
  • Heyburn
  • Minidoka
  • Rupert
Nez Perce County
  • Culdesac
  • Lapwai
  • Pierce
  • Lewiston
  • Orofino
Oneida County
  • Holbrook
  • Malad City
  • Stone
Owyhee County
  • Bruneau
  • Grand View
  • Murphy
  • Riddle
  • Givens Hot Springs
  • Homedale
  • Oreana
  • Wilder
Payette County
  • Fruitland
  • New Plymouth
  • Payette
Power County
  • American Falls
  • Rockland
Shoshone County
  • Avery
  • Kingston
  • Mullan
  • Pinehurst
  • Wallace
  • Kellogg
  • Osburn
  • Smelterville
  • Wardner
Teton County
  • Driggs
  • Tetonia
  • Victor
Twin Falls County
  • Buhl
  • Hollister
  • Kimberly
  • Murtaugh
  • Filer
  • Hansen
  • Jerome
  • Rock Creek
Valley County
  • Cascade
  • McCall
  • Donnelly
  • Yellow Pine
Washington County
  • Cameo
  • Midvale
  • Weiser

Population & Demographics of 208 Area Code

The 208 area code covers all of Idaho, a state known for its low population density. Home to about 1.9 million people, Idaho combines urban centers like Boise with scenic small towns and rural communities.

The demographics include a mix of families, college students, agricultural workers, and professionals. The population is predominantly White, with growing Hispanic and Native American communities, as well as a significant student base around universities in Boise, Moscow, and Rexburg.

Idaho’s leading industry is science and technology, which contributes more than a quarter of the state’s total revenue and makes up over 70% of its exports. The capital city of Idaho is also called the Boise Valley Tech. At the same time, Idaho remains a major hub for agriculture, supplying nearly one-third of all potatoes produced in the United States.

208 Area Code Time Zone

Most of the 208 area code operates in the Mountain Time Zone (MT), aligning with Denver and Salt Lake City. Northern Idaho counties near the Washington border (e.g., Coeur d’Alene, Moscow) follow Pacific Time (PT).