267 Area Code: Philadelphia, PA — Cities, History & Full Guide

The 267 area code serves southeastern Pennsylvania as an overlay for the original 215 prefix. Both codes cover exactly the same five-county territory centred on Philadelphia. Maybe you received a call from a 267 phone number. Maybe you need a Philadelphia-area number for your business without setting foot in Pennsylvania. Either way, this guide has everything you need.

We cover every major city and county in the 267 zone. We walk through the full history of the 1999 overlay and the Eastern Time dialling rules. We also explain scam call awareness and how to activate a virtual 267 number in under 60 seconds. Philadelphia is one of America's oldest and most storied cities. Its two-prefix overlay system is among the most interesting in the northeastern US.

Key Takeaways

• The 267 area code overlays 215 across Philadelphia and its four surrounding Pennsylvania counties — Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester.
• 267 was activated on January 1, 1999, when the 215 region ran out of available phone numbers due to the surge in mobile and internet dial-up lines.
• Because 267 is an overlay, all calls within the territory — even local calls — require mandatory 10-digit dialling.
• The entire 267 coverage area is in the Eastern Time Zone (EST/EDT), aligned with New York City and Washington D.C.
• You can get a virtual 267 phone number in under 60 seconds — no Pennsylvania address, US SIM card, or office lease required.

What Is the 267 Area Code?

The 267 area code is an overlay code for southeastern Pennsylvania. It is assigned to the same five-county territory as the 215 area code. It covers Philadelphia County and the four counties immediately surrounding it: Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester.

A geographic split works differently. There, a new code takes over one portion of a territory while the old code stays in another. An overlay like 267 works the other way. Every address in the region can hold either a 215 number or a 267 number. Both reach the same location.

At a Glance

267 History: The 1999 Overlay of 215

Philadelphia's original area code, 215, was one of the first area codes assigned in North America under AT&T's 1947 North American Numbering Plan. For decades, 215 comfortably served all of southeastern Pennsylvania — a region dense with history but not yet overwhelmed by the number demands of the digital age.

The Philadelphia Numbering Crunch

By the mid-1990s, the situation had changed dramatically. Mobile phone subscriptions surged. Internet dial-up lines grew explosively, and each one needed its own dedicated phone number. Together, they began to drain the available supply of 215 numbers at an unprecedented rate.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission weighed a geographic split, where the suburbs might receive a new code while Philadelphia kept 215. That option would create confusion. It would also force millions of businesses and residents to change their numbers. An overlay was the less disruptive solution: add a new code to the same territory, then assign new subscribers to it from that point on.

Area code 267 was officially activated on January 1, 1999. An overlay requires callers within the territory to dial 10 digits even for local calls. So mandatory 10-digit dialling was introduced across the 215/267 region at the same time. It was a significant shift for Philadelphia-area residents accustomed to seven-digit local calls.

Geographic Boundaries

The 267 and 215 territory covers Philadelphia County and four neighbours:

• Bucks County to the north
• Montgomery County to the northwest
• Delaware County to the southwest
• Chester County to the west

To the east, the region borders New Jersey across the Delaware River, home to the 609 and 856 codes. To the west and north lies the 484/610 territory of the Lehigh Valley and western Philadelphia suburbs.

Cities and Counties Covered by the 267 Area Code

Southeastern Pennsylvania is one of the most historically rich and economically diverse regions in the United States, home to a mix of urban density, prestigious suburbs, and historic small towns.

Philadelphia — America's Birthplace City

Philadelphia is the anchor of the 267 region. It is the sixth largest city in the United States. About 1.6 million people live within city limits, and nearly 6 million across the greater metro area. Founded in 1682 by William Penn, Philadelphia served as the nation's first capital. It hosted the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the drafting of the US Constitution. It is also home to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Today Philadelphia is a major hub across several sectors:

• Finance — Comcast's global headquarters
• Healthcare — Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Jefferson Health, and Penn Medicine
• Higher education — University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Drexel University, and La Salle
• Professional sports — Eagles, Phillies, 76ers, and Flyers

The Philadelphia Museum of Art draws millions of visitors annually. Its front steps were made famous by the Rocky film series.

Bucks County

Bucks County sits north of Philadelphia along the Delaware River. Its county seat is Doylestown, a walkable historic borough home to the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle. Other major communities include Levittown, one of the original postwar planned suburbs, along with Bristol and Perkasie. New Hope is a celebrated arts and theatre destination on the Delaware.

Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester Counties

• Montgomery County — home to Norristown (county seat) and King of Prussia, one of the largest shopping malls in the US. Pharmaceutical company headquarters cluster along the Route 202 corridor.
• Delaware County — county seat at Media, the borough that calls itself "Everybody's Hometown." Also home to the city of Chester, one of the oldest cities in Pennsylvania.
• Chester County — county seat at West Chester. It holds some of the highest per-capita incomes in Pennsylvania. Pharmaceutical and biotech firms sit alongside horse-country estates and Brandywine Valley cultural institutions.

For the original Philadelphia prefix that 267 overlays, see the 215 area code guide.

267 Area Code Time Zone

Every community across the 267 and 215 territory — from Center City Philadelphia to the Chester County countryside — operates on a single time zone: Eastern Time (ET).

Eastern Time at a Glance

• Eastern Standard Time (EST): UTC−5, from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March
• Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): UTC−4, from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November
• Same zone as: New York City, Washington D.C., Boston, Atlanta, and Miami

For callers in the UK, the Philadelphia area is 5 hours behind London in winter (GMT). It is 4 hours behind during British Summer Time. A 5 PM London call reaches Philadelphia at noon in winter. That is a comfortable window for business calls on both sides of the Atlantic.

How to Dial a 267 Number — From the US and Abroad

From Within the US

Because 267 is an overlay, all calls within the 215/267 region require mandatory 10-digit dialling — even a local call to a neighbour one block away. From within the region, dial 267 + the 7-digit number. From outside the 215/267 territory, dial 1 + 267 + the 7-digit number.

From Abroad

• From the UK: 00 1 267 XXX XXXX
• From Australia: 0011 1 267 XXX XXXX
• From Europe: 00 1 267 XXX XXXX
• Using + notation (any smartphone): +1 267 XXX XXXX

5 Reasons Businesses Get a 267 Number

A 267 phone number signals to Philadelphia-area clients that you are already embedded in their market. You are not an outside vendor calling cold from across the country. Here is why businesses in finance, healthcare, education, tourism, and tech are choosing a local 267 prefix.

1. Philadelphia's Financial and Corporate Hub

Philadelphia is home to Comcast, one of the largest corporations in the United States by revenue. It also hosts major financial institutions, law firms, and a thriving Centre City business district. Vendors, consultants, and service providers who carry a 267 or 215 number project a local presence. That presence matters to Philadelphia-area procurement teams, especially in competitive B2B environments.

2. University and Research Ecosystem

Many colleges and universities sit inside the 267 footprint. These include the University of Pennsylvania (an Ivy League institution), Temple University, Drexel University, La Salle, and Villanova, plus dozens more. Ed-tech companies, research partners, academic publishers, and professional development providers serve this ecosystem. A recognisable Philadelphia-area number gives them instant credibility.

3. Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Powerhouse

The Philadelphia region is one of the most important life sciences corridors in the world. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Penn Medicine, and Jefferson Health all sit here. So do dozens of pharmaceutical and biotech firms headquartered along Montgomery County's Route 202 corridor. Together they make healthcare one of the region's largest economic drivers. A local 267 number opens doors with hospital procurement and research teams who prefer recognisably local partners.

4. Tourism, Hospitality, and Culture

Philadelphia draws more than 40 million visitors annually. They come for Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Reading Terminal Market, and its celebrated restaurant scene. Hotels, tour operators, event managers, and hospitality businesses often display a 267 number in booking and marketing materials. That projects authentic local credibility to travellers researching their trips.

5. Growing Tech and Start-up Scene

Philadelphia has emerged as one of the US East Coast's most active start-up ecosystems. It has strong clusters in healthtech, fintech, and edtech, anchored around the University City innovation district near Penn and Drexel. A local 267 number positions new businesses directly inside this community from launch day. No office lease required.

Businesses with a presence in other PA suburbs often pair a 267 number with one further north — see the 445 area code guide.

Get a 267 Number in Under 60 Seconds

Getting a virtual 267 number requires no Pennsylvania mailing address, no US SIM card, and no physical phone line. The entire process takes under a minute:

• Step 1 — Choose a provider: Select a virtual phone platform that covers the 267 region. It should support inbound calls, outbound calls, and SMS messaging.
• Step 2 — Browse available numbers: Filter by 267 and select your preferred number. Some providers list numbers tied to specific Philadelphia-area city prefixes.
• Step 3 — Set up call routing: Forward incoming calls to your mobile, laptop, tablet, or a shared team line, from wherever you work.
• Step 4 — Activate: Most virtual numbers go live within minutes of sign-up, with no hardware installation required.

What Comes with Your 267 Number

• Inbound and outbound calls displaying a Philadelphia-area 267 prefix
• SMS and text messaging from a recognised local number
• Voicemail-to-email or voicemail-to-text transcription
• Call forwarding to any device, anywhere in the world
• Number portability — transfer your number to another provider at any time

267 Scam Calls: How to Spot and Block Them

The 267 prefix is legitimate. It is used every day by Philadelphia residents, businesses, universities, hospitals, and government agencies across southeastern Pennsylvania. Like all US area codes, though, it can be spoofed. Scammers want their call to appear local and trustworthy to a Philadelphia-area recipient.

Warning Signs of a Spoofed 267 Call

• The caller creates immediate urgency — threatening arrest, legal action, or account suspension
• Payment is demanded by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or prepaid debit cards
• The caller claims to represent the IRS, Social Security Administration, Philadelphia courts, or a Pennsylvania state agency
• No verifiable callback number or official company name is given when asked directly
• The caller actively discourages you from hanging up to verify independently

What to Do

Hang up without providing any personal or financial details. Then contact the organisation the caller claimed to represent. Look up its official number independently, and do not call back the number that called you. Report suspicious 267 calls to the FTC fraud report service. A free reverse phone lookup can also help. It shows whether a 267 number belongs to a verified Philadelphia-area business or has been flagged as a known spam source.

The Complete 267 Picture

The 267 area code has defined southeastern Pennsylvania's expanded phone identity since January 1999. It overlays the original 215 code across Philadelphia and four surrounding counties. It operates on Eastern Time and requires 10-digit dialling for every local call within the territory. It also shares its footprint equally with 215, with no geographic boundary between them. Maybe you are identifying an unfamiliar caller from Philadelphia. Maybe you are scheduling a cross-time-zone meeting with a Bucks County client or researching a business contact in King of Prussia. Either way, the 267 picture is now complete.

Getting a virtual 267 phone number connects you directly to one of America's most historic, diverse, and economically important metros. You need no Pennsylvania address, no SIM card, and no office lease. Contacts across Philadelphia, Norristown, and West Chester see a familiar 267 prefix every time you call. That turns a cold outreach into a trusted local connection. If southeastern Pennsylvania matters to your business, a 267 prefix signals that you are already part of it. Activate your number today and start building local trust across the entire Philadelphia region.