Introduction
The 248 area code identifies phone numbers across Oakland County, Michigan, and this guide breaks down exactly what territory it covers today.
Anyone tracing an unfamiliar call, or building a business presence near Troy or Southfield, needs to know how this prefix works.
You will learn the history behind the 248 area code, its current coverage, the time zone it runs on, and the dialing rules now in effect. By the end, you will know exactly how to put a local Oakland County number to work for your business.
- The 248 area code launched in 1997 when it split away from area code 810.
- It covers Oakland County, including Troy, Southfield, Farmington Hills, and Pontiac.
- Ten-digit dialing has been mandatory across the region since the split.
- Cloud VoIP lets any business claim a 248 number without opening a local office.
What Is the 248 Area Code?
Area code 248 split away from area code 810 in 1997, back when 810 covered a much wider stretch of southeast Michigan than it does now.
As Oakland County's population and business base grew, regulators carved out a dedicated code so the region would not compete with the rest of 810's territory for the same block of numbers.
That 1997 split was a clean geographic boundary, not an overlay — but Oakland County's own number supply eventually ran low too.
Regulators added area code 947 as an overlay on top of 248's territory, so today the same seven-digit sequence can exist under either code.
That layered history is exactly why what area code is 248 covers today still matches its original 1997 boundary, even though a second prefix now shares that same ground.
- Activated: 1997
- Split from: area code 810
- Overlay status: overlaid by area code 947, added later to relieve number exhaustion
- Dialing rule: mandatory 10-digit local dialing since the split
Cities and Counties the 248 Area Code Covers
The 248 area code covers Oakland County, anchored by Troy, one of Michigan's largest suburban business centers, and Southfield, a dense corridor of corporate offices just north of Detroit.
That footprint stretches through Farmington Hills, Pontiac, Royal Oak, and Bloomfield Hills, plus dozens of smaller Oakland County communities.
Major cities carrying a 248 area code number include Troy, Southfield, Farmington Hills, Pontiac, Royal Oak, and Novi. Troy and Southfield anchor the region's automotive engineering base, home to major OEM technical centers and hundreds of parts suppliers.
Bloomfield Hills and Royal Oak add an affluent residential and retail mix that draws consultants, healthcare providers, and professional services firms.
Businesses growing across the region often pair a local number with a modern VoIP phone system so every Oakland County call routes cleanly no matter which office picks it up.
Most long-established landlines in the region still carry the original 248 prefix issued after the 1997 split. Newer mobile numbers and business lines increasingly draw from the 947 overlay instead, since 248's own supply has grown tighter over time.
Either prefix reads as authentically local to someone in Troy, Southfield, or Farmington Hills.
248 Area Code Time Zone and Dialing Rules
The 248 area code sits entirely inside the Eastern Time Zone, matching the rest of Michigan. Eastern Standard Time (EST) runs UTC −5:00 from early November through mid-March.
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) runs UTC −4:00 the rest of the year. That places Troy in the same time zone as New York and three hours ahead of Los Angeles, a gap worth planning around for cross-country calls.
Because area code 248 shares its territory with the 947 overlay, the same seven-digit sequence can exist under either code. Ten-digit dialing has been mandatory across the region since the 947 overlay went live, and it still applies today.
Even a call between two offices on the same Troy block needs the full prefix: (248) XXX-XXXX. International callers dial +1 (248) XXX-XXXX.
- Eastern Standard Time (EST): UTC −5:00, early November through mid-March
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): UTC −4:00, mid-March through early November
- vs. New York: same time zone
- vs. Los Angeles: three hours ahead
- Local dialing format: (248) XXX-XXXX — 10 digits required
- International format: +1 (248) XXX-XXXX
📞 Building a presence in Troy or Southfield without a local office? A 248 area code number gives Oakland County customers a familiar local caller ID the moment your phone rings. 👉 Start Your Free Teloz Trial · 👉 Get Your Business Number Today
How to Get a Business Phone Number from Teloz
Teloz is a cloud phone system that hands out local numbers, including area code 248, without requiring hardware or a physical Michigan office.
Every number runs through a browser-based webphone, so a team scattered across the Midwest or across the country can share one business line.
Teloz also layers in an AI receptionist and an omnichannel contact center, so one number can answer calls, texts, and web chats from a single dashboard.
- 1. Visit teloz.com and start a free trial or request a demo.
- 2. Create your account using your business email address.
- 3. Choose a plan that fits your team's size and expected call volume.
- 4. Select your business number — pick your preferred area code, toll-free prefix, or local number.
- 5. Set up your team, call routing, and IVR in the browser-based dashboard.
- 6. (Optional) Configure the AI Receptionist, voicemail, and SMS settings.
- 7. (Optional) Start making and receiving calls from the webphone or connected devices.
How to Identify and Avoid 248 Area Code Scam Calls
The same local recognition that makes a 248 area code number valuable for businesses also makes it attractive to scammers. Caller ID spoofing software lets fraudsters display a fake number on a screen.
The call can originate anywhere in the world, borrowing the prefix's trust without any real connection to Michigan.
Common scripts here include callers posing as utility billing agents or county government officials demanding fees. Others pose as bank fraud investigators or tech support reps citing a well-known local company.
None of these callers demand instant payment by gift card or wire transfer, and a real 248 area code prefix on the screen proves nothing about who is calling.
The FCC's spoofing guide publishes ongoing guidance covering exactly these tactics and how to report them.
Letting unknown calls go to voicemail, screening with your carrier's free tools, and reporting suspicious numbers all reduce the odds of losing money to a spoofed call.
- Let unrecognized calls go to voicemail; legitimate callers leave a message.
- Never confirm personal or financial details to an unexpected caller.
- Enable free call-screening tools offered by most major carriers.
- Report suspicious calls to the FCC and FTC.
“The 248 area code tells a Troy customer that the business calling them belongs here — and that recognition is worth more than any unfamiliar toll-free number.”
Why Businesses Choose a 248 Area Code Number
A local Oakland County number tells a Troy or Southfield customer the business belongs there, even if the team sits in another state.
That recognition drives higher answer rates, since an unfamiliar toll-free or out-of-state number is far more likely to be ignored than a prefix a customer already sees on friends' and neighbors' phones.
What area code is 248 tied to matters here: automotive engineering and corporate services anchor this market, so a local prefix builds trust faster than in a less established region.
Vendors and service businesses pitching Troy or Farmington Hills clients gain instant credibility with a local listing on their website and invoices.
That local identity helps a small team sound like an established local player rather than an outsider cold-calling into the market.
Cloud VoIP removes the old barrier to claiming a number in this prefix: the need for a physical Michigan address.
A remote sales team or a single founder elsewhere can activate a line in minutes and route every call to whichever device is closest at hand, whether that's a laptop, a mobile phone, or a desk phone back at headquarters.
Pairing that setup with reliable voice service providers keeps call quality high even as a team scales across multiple states.
That reliability matters most during the North American International Auto Show each January, when call volume to Oakland County suppliers and engineering firms spikes sharply.
Conclusion
The 248 area code has served Oakland County since 1997, splitting away from area code 810 to give the region its own dedicated prefix.
It covers Troy, Southfield, Farmington Hills, and Pontiac, all inside the Eastern Time Zone, now sharing its number pool with the 947 overlay.
Ten-digit dialing is mandatory everywhere it operates, a rule that keeps area code 248 and 947 from colliding on the same number.
Knowing what area code is 248 helps residents trace unfamiliar calls and helps businesses decide whether a local Oakland County presence makes sense.
For any business hoping to reach customers across Troy, Southfield, or Farmington Hills, claiming a 248 area code number is one of the fastest ways to build that local trust.
Cloud VoIP has removed every old barrier — no office lease, no hardware, no long provisioning wait — leaving only the decision to get started.
A local Oakland County number paired with modern call routing and an AI receptionist puts a small team on equal footing with an established local competitor. The next step is simply choosing a provider that can hand you a 248 area code number today.
📍 Ready to sound like a true Oakland County local on every call? Claim your 248 area code number and start routing calls from any device in minutes. 👉 Get Your Business Number Today · 👉 Start Your Free Teloz Trial
