457 area code — Northern and central Louisiana (overlay of 318)
Louisiana’s first area-code overlay: every earlier change in the state redrew the map instead. 457 joined 318 on September 25, 2025, a month after seven-digit local calls stopped working across Shreveport, Monroe and Alexandria.
New numbers available in 457Area code 457 covers northern and central Louisiana: Shreveport and Bossier City in the north-west, Monroe and West Monroe in the north-east, and Alexandria, Ruston, Natchitoches and Minden between them.
It is an overlay, not a separate region. 457 shares every street with 318, the area’s code since 1957, and a new line there can come from either. Every local call is dialled with ten digits.
Area code 457 at a glance
- State
- Louisiana
- Region
- Northern and central Louisiana
- Time zone
- Central Time (CT)
- In service since
- September 25, 2025
- Type
- Overlay code
How a 457 number is built
Every North American number has four parts. Knowing where the seams fall answers most of what people ask about 457.
The code and the exchange together are the NPA-NXX: what each group of digits means.
Cities and areas served by 457
- Shreveport
- Bossier City
- Monroe
- West Monroe
- Alexandria
- Ruston
- Natchitoches
- Minden
Codes sharing the same area
One other code covers the same ground as 457.
Nearby area codes
Bordering Louisiana and the surrounding region. A number in one of these is close to 457 but not in it.
How 457 came about
Split from 504, split again for Acadiana, then Louisiana’s first overlay.
- 1957318 takes the north and westMost of Louisiana west of the Mississippi River splits from 504 as 318.
- October 11, 1999Lafayette and Lake Charles become 337Acadiana and the south-west — Lafayette and Lake Charles — split from 318 as 337. Calls could still be dialled the old way until March 13, 2000.
- May 5, 2023The state’s first overlay is approvedWith 318 forecast to run out of prefixes by early 2026, the Louisiana Public Service Commission approves 457 as an overlay — the first in Louisiana.
- August 25, 2025Seven-digit calls stopAfter six months of permissive dialling that began on February 24, 2025, local calls dialled with seven digits no longer go through.
- September 25, 2025457 goes into serviceNew lines can now be given 457 numbers. Prefixes in 457 are assigned only once 318’s assignable prefixes are used up, and every existing 318 number stays as it is.
Which code should you choose?
Two codes cover northern and central Louisiana identically. The codes around them are different regions.
| Code | Covers | How it reads |
|---|---|---|
| 318 | Shreveport, Monroe and Alexandria since 1957 | The established code |
| 457 | The same area since 2025 | Newest, with the most numbers still free |
| 337 | Lafayette, Lake Charles and Acadiana | Not north Louisiana |
| 225 | Baton Rouge | Not north Louisiana |
| 903 | Tyler and north-east Texas, across the state line | Not Louisiana |
Callers read 318 and 457 as equally local. Pick 318 for familiarity, 457 if you want a choice of patterns.
What people get wrong about 457
Is 457 used for spam calls?
Because 457 is new, an unfamiliar 457 number can look suspicious — but it is as local as a 318 one. Caller ID is a field the calling system fills in, not proof of where a call started. Carriers check STIR/SHAKEN attestation, but an unexpected request for payment, a code or personal details should still be checked by calling back a number you already trust.
Sources
- NANPA area code report: 457 (npa_report.csv, file dated October 19, 2026: in service 25-Sep-2025; parent 318; overlay complex 318/457; ten-digit local dialling; 318 in service 1957; 337 in service 11-Oct-1999, parent 318)
- Area codes 318 and 457 (the 1957 split from 504, 318 in the early dialling trials, the 337 split, Louisiana PSC approval May 5, 2023, permissive and mandatory dialling dates, cities served, neighbouring codes)
Area code 457 FAQ
Where is area code 457?
Area code 457 is northern and central Louisiana: Shreveport and Bossier City, Monroe and West Monroe, Alexandria, Ruston, Natchitoches and Minden.
What state is the 457 area code in?
Louisiana. 457 covers the same northern and central Louisiana territory as 318.
Is 457 a Shreveport area code?
Yes. 457 is Shreveport’s second area code, alongside 318, and it also covers Monroe and Alexandria. Both codes cover exactly the same area.
What is the difference between 457 and 318?
There is no geographic difference. 318 has served the area since 1957, and 457 was laid over the same territory on September 25, 2025. 318 is the established code; 457 is newer and has more numbers free.
When did the 457 area code start?
Its in-service date was September 25, 2025. The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved it on May 5, 2023, and ten-digit dialling became mandatory on August 25, 2025.
Is Lafayette in the 457 area code?
No. Lafayette, Lake Charles and Acadiana use 337, which was split from 318 in 1999.
What time zone is the 457 area code in?
Central Time: UTC−6 in winter and UTC−5 during daylight saving time.
Do I need to dial ten digits in the 318 and 457 area?
Yes. Since August 25, 2025, local calls dialled with seven digits no longer go through.
Getting a 457 business number
457 numbers are still being issued, so a business anywhere can hold one and route it to wherever its team actually works — you do not need an address in Louisiana.
- STIR/SHAKENAttested, so calls are less likely to show as spam
- AI receptionistCover for the hours nobody is at a desk
- Free portingIf you already hold a 457 number
- Recording & SMSOn the same line, no add-on