--- title: "Area code 206: Washington, United States" url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/206.md" canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/206" last_updated: "2026-10-23" type: "reference" summary: "Area code 206 serves Washington, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Washington." --- # Area code 206: Washington, United States Area code 206 serves Washington, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Washington. NANPA lists 751 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 206, held by 50 holders across 5 rate centers. The largest rate center is SEATTLE, with 675 prefixes (90%). Qwest holds the most prefixes, 243 (32%). 55% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies. The FCC unwanted-call data has 7,983 complaints on file for 5,151 numbers in 206, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings. ## Facts - In service since: 1947-01-01 - Time zone: Pacific (P) - Assigned overlays: 564 (2017-08-28) - Prefixes in use: 751 - Pooled prefixes: 414 (55%) - Rate centers: 5 - Companies holding prefixes: 50 - Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-23 to 2026-02-20 (227 prefixes) - ZIP codes in its places: 60 ## Rate centers | Rate center | Prefixes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | | SEATTLE | 675 | 90% | | BAINBDG IS | 28 | 4% | | DES MOINES | 21 | 3% | | RICHMNDBCH | 19 | 3% | | VASHON | 8 | 1% | ## Carriers | Holder | Prefixes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | | Qwest | 243 | 32% | | T-Mobile USA | 95 | 13% | | Onvoy | 72 | 10% | | New Cingular Wireless PCS | 58 | 8% | | Verizon Wireless | 57 | 8% | | Mcimetro Access Transmission Services | 36 | 5% | | 44 other carriers | 190 | 25% | 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. ## History - 1947-01-01: Area code 206 went into service. - 1995-01-15: Area code 360 went into service and names 206 as its parent. - 1997-04-27: Area code 253 went into service and names 206 as its parent. - 1997-04-27: Area code 425 went into service and names 206 as its parent. ## Nearest area codes The area codes closest to 206, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 425 (about 8 miles), 253 (about 25 miles), 360 (about 56 miles), 971 (about 154 miles) and 503 (about 155 miles). ## ZIP codes 60 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Seattle, WA (59 ZIP codes) and Vashon, WA (1 ZIP code). A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems, so a ZIP code can sit in more than one area code and an area code spans many ZIP codes. ## Complaints on file 7,983 complaints for 5,151 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year: - 2023: 233 - 2024: 257 - 2025: 221 ## Questions ### Where is area code 206? NANPA assigns area code 206 to Washington, United States. ### In which state does area code 206 sit? Washington. 206 is one of 6 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state. ### Which places does area code 206 cover? The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 206 are Seattle, WA and Vashon, WA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them. ### Who owns area code 206? NANPA assigns area codes. Within 206, Qwest holds the most prefixes, 243 prefixes or 32%. ### Which time zone does 206 use? The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 206 as Pacific (P). ### What year did 206 enter service? The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 206 has been in use since 1947. ### Does area code 206 have an overlay? Yes. 564 (in service 2017-08-28) shares the same area with 206, so numbers from all of them are local to each other. ### Which area codes are nearest to 206? The area codes closest to 206, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 425 (about 8 miles), 253 (about 25 miles), 360 (about 56 miles), 971 (about 154 miles) and 503 (about 155 miles). ### How many prefixes does area code 206 have? NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 751 prefixes in service in 206, spread over 5 rate centers and 50 holders. ### Are there complaints about 206 numbers? The FCC data on file has 7,983 complaints for 5,151 numbers in 206. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe. Sources: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17; NANPA NPA report dated 2026-10-18; FCC unwanted-call complaints, data fetched 2026-10-17; ZIP code places from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).