Area code 581 — Quebec
Eastern Quebec (overlay of 418). Overlay assignment, in service since 2008.
At a glance
- Country
- Canada
- Province / territory
- Quebec
- Service area
- Eastern Quebec (overlay of 418)
- Time zone
- Eastern Time (EST/EDT, UTC-5/-4) · current offset -04:00
- Type
- Overlay
- In service since
- 2008
- Country code
- +1 (NANP)
Map
Cities served by 581
Related & overlay area codes
Area code 581 shares geography with 2 other codes serving the same region. A call placed inside this overlay must dial all 10 digits regardless of which code your own line uses.
Carriers operating in 581
The following national and regional telecommunications carriers hold central office (CO) code assignments within numbering plan area 581. Number portability means a phone number originally issued by one carrier may now ride on another carrier's network.
About area code 581
Area code 581 is a Canadian numbering plan area covering Eastern Quebec (overlay of 418). It was placed into service in 2008 as a overlay code, and today operates under the Eastern Time (EST/EDT, UTC-5/-4) time zone.
Numbers in the 581 NPA are issued in central office (CO) blocks of 10,000 to local exchange carriers, who then assign them to subscribers. Because Canada uses a competitive carrier model under CRTC oversight, multiple carriers — both incumbent and competitive — hold blocks within 581. The current carrier of record for any specific number can be looked up via the Canadian Local Number Portability Consortium, but the originally issued carrier is no longer a reliable signal of who actually serves that line.
If you receive a call from a number beginning with 581, the caller is either physically located in or has historically been associated with Eastern Quebec (overlay of 418). The same applies to overlay codes 418, 367: any of these area codes can correspond to a phone in the same geography, and many households carry numbers from two or three different overlays simultaneously across landlines and mobile devices.
To call a number in 581 from outside Canada and the United States, dial your country's international access prefix, then +1 581 followed by the 7-digit local number. Within the NANP, simply dial 1 followed by all 10 digits — or just the 10 digits if you are also located in an overlay region where 7-digit local dialling is no longer permitted.
Frequently asked questions
Where is area code 581?
Area code 581 serves Eastern Quebec (overlay of 418) in Quebec, Canada.
What time zone is 581?
Numbers in 581 are in the Eastern Time (EST/EDT, UTC-5/-4) time zone.
Is 581 a toll-free or mobile-only code?
No. Canadian area codes are geographic — they apply to both landline and mobile numbers in Eastern Quebec (overlay of 418). Toll-free codes in the NANP (800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888) are a separate category.
Why do I see calls from 581 if I do not know anyone there?
Two reasons. First, mobile portability: someone who moved away from Quebec can keep their 581 number anywhere in the world. Second, scam callers frequently spoof Canadian area codes to appear local. If you do not recognise the number, it is generally safe to let it go to voicemail.