Area code
201
201 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to New Jersey, which has 10 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 201
Paste a full number and the tool checks it against the numbering plan. It returns the standard formats, the line type the plan assigns and the area code region.
Digits with or without punctuation work. Numbers outside the US are read with the +country code.
Area code 201 at a glance
NANPA lists 778 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 201, held by 32 holders across 27 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1947-01-01 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 551 (2001-12-29) |
| Prefixes in use | 778 |
| Pooled prefixes | 487 (63%) |
| Rate centers | 27 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 32 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-22 to 2024-05-15 (169 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 60 |
Rate centers in area code 201
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| HACKENSACK | 160 | 21% |
| JERSEYCITY | 137 | 18% |
| UNION CITY | 54 | 7% |
| RUTHERFORD | 39 | 5% |
| RAMSEY | 30 | 4% |
| FAIR LAWN | 28 | 4% |
| ORADELL | 26 | 3% |
| CLIFFSIDE | 25 | 3% |
| 19 other rate centers | 279 | 36% |
Who holds the prefixes in 201
Verizon New Jersey holds the most prefixes, 266 (34%). 63% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon New Jersey | 266 | 34% |
| Mcimetro Access Transmission Services | 76 | 10% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 69 | 9% |
| Verizon Wireless | 64 | 8% |
| Omnipoint Communications | 52 | 7% |
| Level 3 Communications | 46 | 6% |
| 26 other carriers | 205 | 26% |
A prefix holder is the company a code was assigned to, not necessarily a number's current carrier, because numbers can be ported to another company. Find which carrier a number is on, or browse the prefix holders.
History of area code 201
- 1947-01-01 Area code 201 went into service.
- 1957-01-01 Area code 609 went into service and names 201 as its parent.
- 1990-11-01 Area code 908 went into service and names 201 as its parent.
- 1997-06-01 Area code 973 went into service and names 201 as its parent.
- 2001-12-29 Area code 551 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 201.
Area codes nearest to 201
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
Overlay codes in the same area
ZIP codes in area code 201
60 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Newark, NJ | 20 |
| Jersey City, NJ | 12 |
| Morristown, NJ | 3 |
A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems. A ZIP code can sit in more than one area code, and an area code spans many ZIP codes.
Complaints on file for 201 numbers
7,024 FCC complaints are on file for 4,230 numbers in 201, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 167 |
| 2024 | 179 |
| 2025 | 169 |
Other area codes in New Jersey
New Jersey is one state with 10 area codes in the NANPA table. 201 is one of them.
Next to 201 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 201 when all are sorted by number. They are neighbours on the list, not necessarily on the map.
What the area code does and does not tell you
A number that starts with 201 was first assigned in New Jersey. That is a fact about where the number began, and it is a useful hint when you check a form entry, for example a billing address in New Jersey next to a 201 phone number.
It does not show where the person is today. A number stays with its owner after a move or a change of provider (number portability), and mobile numbers travel with the handset. The area code also cannot tell you whether the line is active, who the carrier is, or whether the number is mobile or fixed: the plan shares those ranges. Read more about the area code, the numbering plan and line type.
Check numbers in bulk with the API
| Product | Credits | Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Numbering-Plan Validation | 1 credit per valid number | API docs |
| Phone Intelligence (carrier and line status) | 1 credit per check (invalid numbers outside the US and Canada are free) | Product page |
Questions about area code 201
Where is area code 201?
NANPA assigns area code 201 to New Jersey, United States.
In which state does area code 201 sit?
New Jersey. 201 is one of 10 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 201 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 201 are Newark, NJ, Jersey City, NJ and Morristown, NJ. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 201?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 201, Verizon New Jersey holds the most prefixes, 266 prefixes or 34%.
Which time zone does 201 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 201 as Eastern (E).
What year did 201 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 201 has been in use since 1947.
Does area code 201 have an overlay?
Yes. 551 (in service 2001-12-29) shares the same area with 201, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 201?
The area codes closest to 201, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 862 (about 9 miles), 973 (about 9 miles), 908 (about 26 miles), 732 (about 35 miles) and 848 (about 35 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 201 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 778 prefixes in service in 201, spread over 27 rate centers and 32 holders.
Are there complaints about 201 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 7,024 complaints for 4,230 numbers in 201. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.
Area code assignments: North American Numbering Plan Administrator NPA report, file dated 10/17/2026, retrieved 2026-10-17. Source file. New codes are assigned several times a year. Prefixes, rate centers, holders, time zone, in-service date and overlays: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17 and NPA report dated 2026-10-18. Complaints: FCC consumer complaints open data, fetched 2026-10-17. ZIP code places: Postal code places and coordinates: GeoNames (geonames.org), licensed CC BY 4.0.