Area code
202
202 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to District of Columbia, which has 2 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 202
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 202 at a glance
NANPA lists 784 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 202, held by 37 holders across 1 rate center.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1947-01-01 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 771 (2021-11-09) |
| Prefixes in use | 784 |
| Pooled prefixes | 442 (56%) |
| Rate centers | 1 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 37 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-23 to 2026-06-26 (304 prefixes) |
Rate centers in area code 202
The largest rate center is WSHNGTNZN1, with 784 prefixes (100%).
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| WSHNGTNZN1 | 784 | 100% |
Who holds the prefixes in 202
Verizon Washington DC holds the most prefixes, 327 (42%). 56% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Washington DC | 327 | 42% |
| Verizon Wireless | 88 | 11% |
| Omnipoint Communications Cap Operations | 55 | 7% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 53 | 7% |
| Metropcs | 42 | 5% |
| Onvoy | 34 | 4% |
| 31 other carriers | 185 | 24% |
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 202
- 1947-01-01 Area code 202 went into service.
- 2021-11-09 Area code 771 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 202.
Complaints on file for 202 numbers
17,361 FCC complaints are on file for 10,699 numbers in 202, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 212 |
| 2024 | 631 |
| 2025 | 505 |
Other area codes in District of Columbia
District of Columbia is one state with 2 area codes in the NANPA table. 202 is one of them.
- 771
Next to 202 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 202 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 202 was first assigned in District of Columbia. 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 District of Columbia next to a 202 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 202
Where is area code 202?
NANPA assigns area code 202 to District of Columbia, United States.
In which state does area code 202 sit?
District of Columbia. 202 is one of 2 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Who owns area code 202?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 202, Verizon Washington DC holds the most prefixes, 327 prefixes or 42%.
Which time zone does 202 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 202 as Eastern (E).
What year did 202 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 202 has been in use since 1947.
Does area code 202 have an overlay?
Yes. 771 (in service 2021-11-09) shares the same area with 202, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
How many prefixes does area code 202 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 784 prefixes in service in 202, spread over 1 rate center and 37 holders.
Are there complaints about 202 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 17,361 complaints for 10,699 numbers in 202. 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.