Area Code 878: Get a Pittsburgh Phone Number

878 · Pittsburgh

What is the area code for Pittsburgh?

The area code for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is 878, with overlay code 412 sharing the same geographic footprint. The 878 area code is a North American Numbering Plan geographic code assigned in 2001, covering the Greater Pittsburgh region. It serves approximately 1,300,000 residents on the Eastern Time (ET) (UTC-5 / UTC-4 DST).

The 878 area code has 190 assigned central-office prefixes (NXX codes, the three digits after the area code) across 104 rate centers, with numbers allocated to roughly 42 carriers.

At 190 of the ~792 usable central-office prefixes, the 878 area code has about 24% of its numbering capacity assigned, and that near-exhaustion is part of why overlay code 412 was added to the region. See how 878 compares in our NXX prefix allocation analysis across 338 US area codes. (Prefix data: localcallingguide.com / NANPA, 2026.)

Where is area code 878? Location and map area

Area code 878 is located in Pennsylvania, the United States. Its coverage area centers on Pittsburgh and spans the Greater Pittsburgh region. If you received a call from a 878 number, the caller's number was assigned in this area — though with number porting and virtual numbers, the person may be calling from anywhere.

The 878 location sits in Eastern Time (ET), so local business hours run roughly 9 a.m.–5 p.m. ET. Neighboring Pennsylvania area codes include 215, 223, 267.

For the full story — every city covered, overlay history, and local scam patterns — read the complete Pittsburgh area code guide.

All Pittsburgh area codes

Pittsburgh is served by 2 area codes across the metro area. 878 is the 2001 addition; the others were added as overlays or for surrounding suburbs.

• 412 — Pittsburgh — 1947 original
• 878 (current page) — Overlay on the same metro, assigned 2001

Cities served by the 878 area code

The 878 area code covers 4 major cities and towns across the Greater Pittsburgh region (PA):

Businesses across Pittsburgh and surrounding cities use 878 numbers to project local presence and lift call answer rates. Industry studies of local presence dialing consistently report answer-rate gains of 20–40% over toll-free or out-of-area numbers — a caller ID that matches the recipient's region looks familiar and gets picked up.

878 area code time zone and business hours

The 878 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET) zone (UTC-5 / UTC-4 DST). Standard business hours in 878 run 9 AM to 5 PM ET.

If you're calling into 878 from a different time zone, factor in the offset. For example, an Eastern Time business calling 878 at 9 AM ET reaches Pittsburgh at local time — likely outside standard business hours.

History of the 878 area code

The 878 area code was introduced in 2001 when the North American Numbering Plan was first deployed. As Pittsburgh grew and number demand increased, overlay code 412 was added to serve the same geographic region — a common solution that avoids forcing existing subscribers to change their numbers.

• 1947 412 added to serve the same region
• 2001 878 entered service

Is the 878 area code safe? Spam and scam calls

878 is a legitimate geographic area code for Pittsburgh — it is not a scam code or a premium-rate prefix, and a call from a 878 number is most likely a genuine local caller. The risk is not the area code itself but a tactic called neighbor spoofing: scammers fake their caller ID so an unwanted call appears to come from your own area code, because people answer familiar numbers more readily.

If you get an unexpected 878 call, a few signals point to a likely scam — a pre-recorded message, urgent pressure to act now, a demand for payment by gift card or wire transfer, or anyone asking for passwords, Social Security, or account numbers. Let suspicious calls go to voicemail, never share personal information, and report fraud to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

The FCC consumer guide on spoofing explains your rights under the Truth in Caller ID Act. A real Pittsburgh business will leave a clear voicemail and will not pressure you.

US carriers verify caller ID with the STIR/SHAKEN framework, which flags many spoofed numbers as "Spam Likely" before they ring. DialPhone 878 numbers are registered for STIR/SHAKEN attestation, so calls from your business are verified as genuine and reach customers without a false spam label. See the DialPhone guide to VoIP security for more.

Why get a 878 area code number for your business?

Getting a 878 number gives your business three measurable advantages over a toll-free or out-of-area number:

1. Local trust signal. Customers in Pittsburgh recognize 878 as their home area code. Caller ID matching builds immediate credibility for service businesses, sales outreach, and patient communication.
2. Higher answer rate. Calls from a familiar local area code are answered far more often than unknown or toll-free numbers — industry measurements of local presence dialing put the lift at 20–40%, which matters most for outbound sales, appointment confirmations, and time-sensitive service callbacks.
3. Targeted marketing. Businesses serving Pittsburgh and the broader Greater Pittsburgh can advertise a local number across print, radio, billboards, and digital channels for higher conversion than a national 800 number.

For businesses in Pittsburgh and surrounding cities, top industries that benefit from local 878 presence include Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Education. DialPhone's AI receptionist is available for every 878 number — never miss a call, even after standard business hours.

How to get a 878 area code number

Setting up a 878 business number with DialPhone takes under 10 minutes:

1. Sign up for a DialPhone plan. Choose any plan starting at $24/user/month. Free 14-day trial, no credit card required.
2. Search available 878 numbers. Filter the DialPhone number inventory by area code, city, or pattern.
3. Choose your number and configure. Assign your new 878 number to a user or team, set up call routing, voicemail, AI receptionist, and business SMS.
4. Port your existing number (optional). Already have a 878 number? Free number porting in 2 to 5 business days with zero service interruption.

New to local numbers? The complete guide to getting a local phone number covers choosing the right area code, porting an existing line, and avoiding spam flags.

878 area code overlay codes

The Greater Pittsburgh region is served by multiple overlay area codes:

Area Code	Coverage
878	Primary area code for Greater Pittsburgh, assigned 2001
412	Overlay — same geography (assigned 1947)

All overlay codes serve the same Pittsburgh region. New subscribers may be assigned any available code; existing numbers retain their original prefix.

AI receptionist for 878 area code businesses

Every DialPhone 878 number includes optional AI receptionist coverage, available 24/7. The AI handles calls when your team is unavailable — answering common questions, booking appointments, routing urgent callers to on-call staff, and capturing voicemail with full transcription and intent tagging.

For businesses in Pittsburgh that handle high call volume, run extended hours, or need bilingual support (especially valuable in service areas with diverse customer bases), the AI receptionist reduces voicemail backlog and improves first-call resolution.

All area codes in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has 12 active geographic area codes. The 878 area code is part of the same numbering plan as the codes listed below — calls between them are typically local within the state, depending on the carrier.

Nearby area codes

Related area codes in Pennsylvania and the Eastern Time (ET) region:

• 215 area code — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• 223 area code — Lancaster, Pennsylvania
• 267 area code — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• 412 area code — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• 445 area code — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• 484 area code — Allentown, Pennsylvania

All Pennsylvania area codes → · Browse all US area codes →

More area codes: ← 873 Gatineau · 879 St. Johns →

How this page is verified

DialPhone re-verifies every area code page every 90 days. Area code geography, timezone, and overlay data come from the official North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) database. Pricing reflects the published DialPhone plan tiers — see the pricing page for current details. Number availability varies; check the DialPhone signup flow for live inventory in the 878 region.

What to know before getting a 878 number

• Number availability is finite. Popular Pittsburgh area codes can be inventory-constrained — request specific vanity patterns early.
• Porting timing varies. Most 878 ports complete in 2-5 business days; complex multi-line legacy contracts can take 7-10.
• HIPAA tier required for healthcare. The Core $24 plan doesn't include a BAA — healthcare users need Advanced ($34) or above.