Local numbers · USA
Get Washington virtual phone numbers
Unlimited calling and texting.
Get a real Washington, DC phone number with a 202 or 771 area code, the same codes locals have used for years. Keep your personal number private while showing a number people in the District actually recognize. Download Ghost and start in minutes.
See why thousands trust Ghost for their virtual phone number
Why choose a Washington virtual phone number?
Sell without giving out your real number
Listing furniture or a car on a local marketplace means strangers texting you at all hours. A 202 or 771 number keeps those conversations off your personal line.
Dating with a buffer
Match with someone in Dupont Circle or Capitol Hill and give them a number that's still local, not your real one, until you're ready to share it.
Moving to DC
If you're relocating for a job or a fellowship, a 202 number signals you're already local, even before your address changes.
Job hunting in the District
Recruiters and hiring managers in DC often prefer to see a local area code on a resume or application. A 771 or 202 number does that without switching carriers.
Keep your old number when you leave
Moving out of DC but not ready to lose your 202 identity? Keep a Ghost number with that area code and use it however you want.
Separate work from personal life
Freelancing for a DC-based client or consulting on the side? A second local number keeps that work off your main line.
How to get a Washington phone number
- 1
Pick your area code
Choose any Washington area code, or any other US or Canadian code.
- 2
Choose your number
See available numbers instantly and pick the one you like.
- 3
Start calling and texting
Your number works over WiFi or data for everyday calling and texting. No SIM card, no new phone plan.
- 4
Stay in control
Mute it, set it to Do Not Disturb, or delete and replace it whenever you want.
Ghost can't be used for 911 or emergency calls, so keep your regular line for those.
Get My Washington NumberMost popular Washington virtual phone numbers
Pick the area code your contacts recognize. Every code below is in service in Washington today.
| Area code | Serves | |
|---|---|---|
| +1 202 | Washington | Get a 202 number |
| +1 771 | Washington | Get a 771 number |
Area code coverage from public numbering and census data. Sources
Washington virtual phone number features
Any Area Code
Pick a local number in seconds.Unlimited Calls & Texts
Call and text from your Ghost number.Encrypted Voicemail
Read your voicemail at a glance.Auto-Reply
Answer even when you are busy.Disposable Numbers
Delete it when you are done.Custom Contacts
Saved to your account, not one phone.Business Hours
Your number keeps your hours.Text Signature
Sign every text automatically.Email Notifications
Texts land in your inbox too.Message Previews
Decide what your lock screen shows.Every Device Rings
Phone, tablet, and browser together.Local economy
Why do business in Washington?
Washington, DC's economy centers on the federal government and the wide network of organizations that work alongside it, which shapes how people here use a second number.
Government and public administration
As the seat of the federal government, DC has a workforce heavily tied to agencies, offices, and the contractors that support them, many of whom value keeping a local number for professional use.
Nonprofits and policy organizations
The District hosts a large concentration of nonprofits, associations, and advocacy groups, where staff often juggle public-facing outreach numbers and personal lines.
Higher education
DC's universities bring in students, faculty, and researchers year-round, many of whom want a local number for apartment hunting, job searches, or dating before they've settled in.
About Washington
Area codes in service
2
Population
702,250
The 202 area code has covered Washington, DC since the earliest days of area codes, and it's the one most people associate with the city. The newer 771 code was added later as an overlay, covering the same geography as 202 rather than a separate part of town.
Washington, DC runs on Eastern Time, same as New York and Atlanta. Calls and texts through Ghost work like normal calls and texts, so timing your calls to match DC business hours is the only real adjustment if you're calling from elsewhere.
Washington, DC is home to 702,250 people packed into a compact footprint, which is part of why local numbers carry weight here. Everyone from longtime residents to new arrivals recognizes a 202 or 771 number on sight.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can I get a Washington, DC phone number?
You can pick a 202 or 771 number and start using it within minutes of downloading Ghost. No paperwork, no waiting on a carrier.
Can I choose between 202 and 771?
Yes. Both cover Washington, DC, so you can pick whichever one you prefer when you set up your number.
Does a Ghost number work for calling and texting people outside DC?
Yes. Once you have your Washington, DC number, you can call and text contacts anywhere in the US and Canada, not just people in the District.
What does Ghost cost?
Ghost Premium is $60 every 2 months and includes 5 phone numbers, unlimited calling and texting in the US and Canada, your choice of area code, and the ability to delete and replace your number. Cancel anytime. No contracts.
Ready for your Washington number?
Pick a 202, 771 or any other area code and start calling and texting in minutes.
Get My Washington Number