Area code · Illinois
Get a 224 phone number
Unlimited calling and texting.
Get a real 224 phone number without moving to Evanston or anywhere else in the overlay. The code covers Chicago, Elgin, Waukegan, Cicero, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, and Palatine, plus Evanston itself, so the number fits right in wherever you're calling from. Pick your area code in the app and start in minutes.
See why thousands trust Ghost for their virtual phone number
Why choose a 224 virtual phone number?
You share the code with Chicago
224 overlays the same footprint as Chicago's 312, 773, and 872 codes, so a 224 number reads as local across the whole city, not just the suburbs. If you're posting a listing or meeting someone from Chicago, the number won't tip them off that you're calling from out of town.
Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, and Palatine all carry 224
These northwest suburbs sit inside the same overlay as Evanston, so a 224 number looks native whether you're coordinating a move to Palatine, hunting for work near Schaumburg, or messaging someone in Arlington Heights.
Elgin and Waukegan are still in your area code
Both cities sit well outside downtown Chicago but fall under the same 224, 708, 773, and 872 overlay. A second number with this code keeps you reachable across that whole stretch without changing numbers when your search takes you from Waukegan to Elgin.
Cicero shares the same overlay
Cicero, just west of Chicago, is covered by the same 224, 312, 708, 773, and 872 group. A 224 number doesn't stand out on a marketplace listing or dating profile there, it looks like every other local prefix.
Evanston sits right on the Chicago line
Evanston borders Chicago directly and shares its overlay codes with the city. Keep one number for Evanston contacts and a separate one for people you meet through Chicago-based apps or job listings.
How to get a 224 phone number
- 1
Pick your area code
Choose any 224 area code, or any other US or Canadian code.
- 2
Choose your number
Pick one from the available list.
- 3
Call and text
Over Wi-Fi or data. No SIM card.
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.
Get My 224 NumberAbout the 224 area code
Area code
224
State
Illinois
Overlay codes
312, 708, 773, 872
Cities served
12+
The 224 area code overlays the same region as 312, 708, 773, and 872, covering Chicago, Elgin, Waukegan, Cicero, Schaumburg, Evanston, Arlington Heights, and Palatine. All eight cities can carry a 224 number, so it doesn't belong to one town, it belongs to the whole overlay.
The region runs on America/Chicago time. Because 224 is an overlay rather than a split, it shares its geographic footprint with 312, 708, 773, and 872 instead of covering a separate area of its own.
Residents across this part of northern Illinois commonly report unwanted robocalls and calls that spoof familiar local numbers to the FTC. Keeping a separate number for anything public, like a listing or a profile, keeps that traffic off your main line.
Coverage from public numbering and census data. Sources
Local economy
Why do business in Evanston?
The 224 region sits inside the Chicago metro, a hub for logistics, healthcare, and education that spans everything from Evanston to Elgin.
Logistics and transportation
Chicago's role as a major rail and trucking hub means many people in Elgin, Waukegan, and the northwest suburbs work in warehousing and freight.
Healthcare
Hospital systems based in and around Chicago employ residents across Evanston, Schaumburg, and Arlington Heights.
Education
School districts across Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, and Cicero keep education among the region's steady employers.
224 numbers by city
Frequently asked questions
How fast can I get a 224 area code phone number?
You can pick a 224 number and start using it in minutes. Download Ghost, choose 224 as your area code, and you're set up to call and text right away.
Can I use a 224 number if I live outside Evanston?
Yes. 224 overlays a wide stretch of northern Illinois, including Chicago, Elgin, Waukegan, Cicero, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, and Palatine, so the number works the same no matter which of those cities you're in.
Can I keep my 224 number if I move?
Yes. Your Ghost number stays with your account, so you can keep using it even if you move outside the 224 region.
Ready for your 224 number?
Pick a 224 (or 312, 708, 773, 872) number and start calling and texting in minutes.
Get My 224 Number