408 Area Code: Location, History, And Fun Facts

Senior Writer: Supriya Bajaj

Published : June 12, 2025

Key Overview:

What Is the 408 Area Code?

• Local area code in Northern California, mainly covering San Jose, Cupertino, and Santa Clara.
• Startups, tech firms, and local businesses use part of Silicon Valley’s identity.
• Not toll-free; overlay code: 669.

Coverage & Nearby Codes

• Covers Santa Clara County.
• Nearby area codes: 415, 650, 510, 831.
• Time Zone: Pacific Time (PT).

Business Advantages

• Builds local trust and credibility.
• Helps with higher call answer rates.
• Enhances brand image for tech-focused or Bay Area-facing companies.

Who Should Get It?

• Startups, freelancers, remote teams, and growing enterprises targeting the West Coast market.

You’ve probably seen the 408 area code pop up on your caller ID and thought, What area code is 408? Is it spam? Or could it be a business you know?

The 408 area code is a part of the identity of Silicon Valley, the tech capital of the world. From billion-dollar startups to neighborhood coffee shops, many businesses carry a 408 phone number to reflect their roots in this innovative region.

Whether you’re curious about its location or considering getting a local phone number in California for your business, this guide will break it all down. Let’s start.

Where Is the 408 Area Code Located?

The area code 408 is in Northern California, mostly Santa Clara County, including San Jose and most of Silicon Valley, and is known for its bustling activity, innovation, and identity as a business center.

Cities And Counties Covered

The 408 area code serves a significant portion of Santa Clara County, located in Northern California. The 408 area code includes many major cities: 

• San Jose – the largest city in the area, famous on a worldwide level for being the center of Silicon Valley.
• Cupertino – home of Apple Inc.
• Campbell, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy – Upcoming cities with strong urban activity, community, and local economies.

These cities make up a strong tech ecosystem, and having a 408 phone number gives your brand an advantage over others, which is associated with where this energy and innovation springs from.

State And Regional Context

Are you still wondering where area code 408 is located? It lives within California, that very special state of unique economic power, cultural influence, and technological prowess, which has been the area of total international innovation for many years. 

It contains thousands of tech companies and start-ups, and corresponding entrepreneurs. As far as any business associating with California, it is an association with a progressive, modern brand image.

Time Zone Of The 408 Area Code

The 408 area code is located in the Pacific Time Zone (PT). That’s UTC-8 during standard time and UTC-7 when daylight saving time is in effect.

Why does this matter?  If you are communicating with or making arrangements for meetings with clients and customers in the local market 408 region, you should really pay attention to tweaking your business hours.  

Tip: If you’re in another time zone, be mindful. Don’t call a client in San Jose at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time!

History Of The 408 Area Code

When looking at the value of a 408 phone number, it is good to understand where it all started.

The 408 area code was first introduced in 1959, after the area code split off from the original 415 area code to handle increasing demand in the region. Back then, it covered a much wider area. But as California’s population and economy grew, especially in the Bay Area, it became necessary to divide and overlay area codes to keep up.

Fast-forward to 2012, and 669 was introduced as an overlay to ensure there were enough numbers to meet the needs of Silicon Valley’s exploding tech scene. Today, both area codes coexist and are used interchangeably across the region.

Note: In an overlay, a new area code is created covering the same geographical area as the existing area code.

Business Scenario And Outlook In The 408 Area Code

If you are thinking of starting a business, the 408 area code has amazing strategic value. The anchor city is San Jose, and it is not only a great place to live, but it is also a global hub for business. Companies like Adobe, PayPal, Cisco, and Zoom are all headquartered in San Jose. There also happens to be a rich ecosystem of mid-market firms and rapidly-growing startups.

The demand for products and services—tech and otherwise—is high. From real estate to retail, education to healthcare, businesses in the 408 region cater to one of the most tech-savvy and high-income populations in the country.

For your business to have a local feel while tapping into a dynamic, influential market, consider putting a local phone number in California, with a 408 area code, on your business cards.

Top 4 Benefits Of A 408 Phone Number For Business

Choosing a 408 phone number goes beyond the fact that you have a local code on your phone number. It’s a business advantage that helps you connect better to customers in California’s tech-savvy area. Here’s why you need a 408 phone number. 

1. Local Presence

One of the top advantages of a 408 area code phone number is that you can present as a local business to customers in the Bay Area, even when your team operates remotely. Let’s face it; people are more likely to answer calls from numbers they know (or feel that they know), and a 408 area code gets you onto people’s radar in the Bay Area. 

2. Build Trust

Would you rather answer a call from an unknown number or from one that looks local? Most people would lean toward the number that has a local appearance. Having a 408 area code phone number helps you establish a level of trust with clients, leads, and even applicants. 

3. Market Campaign

Whether you’re using email marketing, social media campaigns, or digital ads to prospect, visitors who see your 408 phone number advertising will see your campaign as more of a local installation/initiative, and you will stick in their heads as a local business. You’re not just another online business; you are part of their community, and if your service is the right fit, the prospect will feel more connected to you. 

4. Brand Image

If you want to be seen as modern and tech-aware, a 408 virtual number offers a level of professionalism. Having a 408 number lends a sense of being regionally relevant. This might be subtle, but this nuance is definitely powerful, especially when targeting West Coast markets.

How To Get A 408 Phone Number (From CallHippo)

You don’t need an actual office in San Jose to get a 408 phone number. With the advent of virtual phone providers like CallHippo, it is only a few steps to set up your number:

Step 1: Go to CallHippo

Step 2: Sign up for an account

Step 3: Pick United States > California > 408

Step 4: Select a plan and features

Step 5: Activate your number and start calling.

Now, you can manage calls, text, voice mail, and routing using your 408 virtual number from the dashboard without having to install any hardware.

“We activated our 408 number through CallHippo in under 10 minutes—no hardware needed.”

– Apurva, Business Sales Specialist

Want to expand your business presence in the 408 region?

Try CallHippo today for reliable and clear communication - no more interruptions.

Sign Up Now See Pricing

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Features To Look For While Selecting A 408 Area Code Number

Getting the number is one thing. Picking the right provider with strong features? That is where the true value is. Here are the biggest features you want to look for:

1. On Hold Music

Nobody likes being on hold, listening to silence. On-hold music helps give your business a polished, professional feel. Whether you decide to choose easy listening tunes or a branded message, it helps to keep the caller engaged and gets them over their frustration with being on hold. 

2. Call Recording

This feature allows you to record incoming or outgoing calls. This is helpful for staff training, compliance, or the resolution of disputes. Want to revisit a call because you weren’t paying attention to a detail? Call recordings allow you to do that.

3. Local Presence Dialing

When you dial out in the 408 area code, the person on the other end sees a familiar number and therefore, is more likely to answer. That is trust, especially if you’re looking to get to Bay Area customers–even if you’re not in California.

4. Call Forwarding

Don’t let a missed call become a missed opportunity! Call forwarding can be sent to your mobile, a teammate, or another office. Just like it sounds, call forwarding will make sure you’re reachable no matter where you are.

5. Call Routing

This is like traffic control for your calls. You can set rules to route calls to the right team or person based on business hours, input from callers, or types of issues. This will shorten customer wait time and increase customer satisfaction.

6. Real-time Call Transcription

This will take the conversation you are having on the phone and transcribe it as you are speaking. This is a unique approach to record keeping and accessibility, but also provides an unprecedented ability to analyze customer conversations–to see how they interacted, without relying on your memory.

7. Voicemail

Voicemail may come off as traditional, but it’s still a necessity. You can create unique greetings and listen to voice messages while you’re away from the office. A majority of voicemail systems will even email or text you when someone leaves you a voicemail.

8. Power Dialer

Great for teams doing sales outreach, power dialers expedite outbound calls by consecutively dialing numbers from a list. This type of software minimizes dialing effort for your reps and increases efficiency while allowing your reps to focus on conversations, rather than dialing.

9. Click to Dial

Click to Dial is integrated with either your CRM or browser, which allows you to directly make calls with one click, and you don’t have to copy-paste the number or enter the number manually, thus decreasing the number of steps it takes to dial. This will save you time, speed up the process, and reduce dialing mistakes.

10. Live Monitoring

Real-time live call monitoring is ideal for supervisors because it gives them the ability to listen to calls as they happen, without interfering with the agent’s interaction with the customer. Supervisors can even offer suggestions to their agents through whispering and can intrude if the call goes south. Live call monitoring is an excellent tool for training and quality assurance.

Nearby Area Codes

In addition to 408, here are the neighboring Area Codes that service the same or neighboring regions:

• 669 – An overlay code for 408, which covers the same cities
• 415 – Covers San Francisco
• 650 – Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and portions of San Mateo
• 510 – Oakland, Fremont, and East Bay
• 831 – Covers Monterey and Santa Cruz
• 818 – Primarily covers the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, including Burbank, Glendale, and Northridge
• 661 – Covers the northern part of Los Angeles County and parts of Kern County, including Santa Clarita, Palmdale, and Bakersfield
• 714 – Covers northern Orange County, including cities like Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Fullerton
• 657 – An overlay code for 714, serving the same areas in Orange County
• 747 – An overlay for 818, covering the San Fernando Valley, including areas like Van Nuys and Woodland Hills
• 279 – An overlay code for 916, covering the Sacramento metropolitan area
• 626 – Covers the San Gabriel Valley, including Pasadena, El Monte, and Alhambra
• 619 – Serves central San Diego and surrounding areas
• 925 – Covers the inland portions of the East Bay in Northern California, including Concord, Walnut Creek, and Livermore

If 408 is already taken or you are looking for more numbers for your team, these nearby codes provide strong alternatives.

Conclusion

The 408 area code represents innovation, local community pride, and business credibility. If you’re a new company that wants to start in the Bay Area or a company with a large presence looking to strengthen its place, a 408 phone number can be a great asset.

The 408 area code from San Jose to Cupertino is home to forward-thinking companies across the globe. While you’re impacting the economy by getting a local number, you’re joining a culture of trust, tech, and growth.

So, the next time someone asks, What area code is 408, or where is area code 408?, you’ll know exactly what it means and how your company can take advantage of it. Try for free now!

Ready to get your 408 number? With providers like CallHippo, getting connected to California from any location has never been easier.

FAQs

1. Can I use my 408 number on multiple devices?

Yes. If you use a virtual phone system like CallHippo, your 408 phone number can work on smartphones, laptops, desktops, and even tablets at the same time. 

2. Are there any limitations on calls and texts with a 408 area code number?

There are no limits. You can make calls and texts, just like with any other number. Plans differ by provider, but 408 phone numbers work perfectly for personal and business use.

3. Is 408 a toll-free number?

No, 408 area code phone numbers are geographic phone numbers, not toll-free. It is possible that callers could be charged depending on their carrier and location.

4. What is the San Jose area code?

The primary area code for San Jose is 408. To accommodate growth in the area, the 669 area code is an overlay to 408. Both area codes are valid and used equally across the city.

5. Can I use a 408 number outside California?

Yes. With virtual phone systems, 408 numbers work from anywhere.

6. Should I get 408 or 669?

Both cover the same area, but 408 is more recognizable.

7. Can I use one 408 number across multiple devices?

Yes. Virtual systems support mobile, desktop, and web access.

More California Phone Numbers With CallHippo

Updated : July 23, 2025

Supriya Bajaj

Supriya Bajaj is a senior content developer with immense experience in the VoIP telephony domain. With a deep knowledge of VoIP systems and emerging technologies in the field, she provides insightful and targeted content. Known for simplifying complex topics and her thought-leadership articles, Supriya delivers actionable content for both technical and non-technical audiences.

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