The 314 area code serves the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County, the historic core of eastern Missouri. One of the original area codes assigned in 1947, 314 covers the Gateway to the West and its inner-ring suburbs along the Mississippi River.
Quick Summary of the 314 Area Code
| Area Code | 314 |
| State | Missouri (MO) |
| Region | St. Louis City & County |
| Major Cities | St. Louis, Clayton, Florissant, University City, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Maryland Heights, Ferguson |
| Time Zone | Central Time (CT) – CST / CDT |
| Dialing Format | 10-digit dialing required |
Geographic Coverage
The 314 area code is concentrated in the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County, covering the county seat of Clayton, the northern suburbs of Florissant and Ferguson, the university city of University City, and the western suburbs of Kirkwood, Webster Groves, and Maryland Heights. Bordered by the Mississippi River and Illinois to the east and the 636 area code to the west, it forms the urban heart of the metro.
Time Zone
The 314 area code observes Central Time (CT). Clocks follow Central Standard Time (UTC−6) in winter and shift to Central Daylight Time (UTC−5) from mid-March through early November. All of Missouri is on Central Time. From the West Coast, this region is two hours ahead of Pacific Time, so a 9:00 AM call in California reaches a 314 number at 11:00 AM local time.
Tip: Business hours across the 314 region generally run 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday.
How to Dial a 314 Number
Because area code 314 operates as part of an overlay, 10-digit dialing is mandatory for every local and long-distance call. You must dial the full 10-digit number (314 + the seven-digit line number) even when calling a neighbor across the street. For international callers, dial your country’s exit code, then +1 (the North American country code), then 314, followed by the seven-digit local number.
Scam Alerts for the 314 Area Code
Like every U.S. area code, 314 has been used by scammers who spoof local numbers to appear trustworthy. Residents in St. Louis, Clayton, Florissant, University City, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Maryland Heights, Ferguson should stay alert to the following common tactics:
| Scam Type | What to Watch For |
|---|---|
| IRS / Tax Scams | Callers claiming you owe back taxes and threatening arrest unless you pay immediately. |
| Utility Shut-off | Fake Ameren Missouri reps demanding payment to avoid disconnection. |
| Bank Fraud Alerts | Robocalls impersonating your bank about “suspicious activity” to phish account details. |
| Grandparent Scam | A caller posing as a relative in trouble asking for emergency wire transfers. |
If you receive a suspicious call from a 314 number, take these steps to protect yourself:
- Do not share personal information such as Social Security numbers, bank details, or passwords over the phone.
- Hang up and verify by calling the organization back using an official number from its website.
- Report the call to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.
- Block the number and consider registering with the National Do Not Call Registry.
Red Flag: Legitimate agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration, or your local utility company (Ameren Missouri or Evergy) will never demand immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Any 314 caller making such a demand is a scammer.
History and Economy of the 314 Region
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Area code 314 is one of the original 86 codes established in 1947, and it once covered much of eastern Missouri before 573 (1996) and 636 (1999) were split off, leaving 314 focused on the St. Louis core. As demand continued, the 557 overlay was introduced in 2024 across the same territory. The regional economy is anchored by world-class healthcare and bioscience – BJC HealthCare and the Washington University medical campus are among the largest employers – along with a major plant-science and agtech cluster, the Anheuser-Busch brewing headquarters, aerospace and defense manufacturing led by Boeing, and a strong financial-services sector including Edward Jones and Stifel.
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Looking Up a 314 Number
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To identify a 314 caller, use a reverse phone lookup service or search the full 10-digit number online. Many St. Louis businesses, government offices, and healthcare providers list their 314 numbers publicly, so a quick search often confirms a legitimate caller. For unknown numbers, let the call go to voicemail – genuine callers usually leave a message.
Nearby & Related Area Codes
Missouri is served by several area codes. If you are researching 314, these neighboring and overlay codes are worth knowing:
- 557 – St. Louis overlay (same region)
- 636 – St. Louis suburbs / East Central MO
- 573 – Central & Eastern MO / Columbia
- 816 – Kansas City metro
- 417 – Southwest MO / Springfield
You can also browse our full directory of Missouri area codes for more regional guides.
↑ See the complete list of All US Area Codes by State – every area code across all 50 states in one directory.
Explore Neighboring States
Researching area codes just across the state line? Start with these codes in the states that border Missouri:
- Iowa – area code 515
- Illinois – area code 312
- Kentucky – area code 502
- Tennessee – area code 615
- Arkansas – area code 501
- Oklahoma – area code 405
- Kansas – area code 316
- Nebraska – area code 402
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the 314 area code located?
The 314 area code covers the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County, including Clayton, Florissant, University City, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, and Ferguson.
Do I need to dial 10 digits for 314?
Yes. Because 314 shares an overlay with the 557 area code, you must dial all 10 digits for every local call.
What time zone is the 314 area code in?
The 314 area code is in the Central Time Zone (CST/CDT), like all of Missouri.
Is 314 the same area as 557?
Yes. 557 is an overlay of 314, so both codes serve the exact same St. Louis region.
Related 314 Guides
- Is a 314 call safe? Read Is area code 314 a scam? Spam & safety guide.
- Local coverage: see the St. Louis area code guide.
- Worried about spam or robocalls? Browse our Scam Alerts directory.