---
title: "Area code 216: Ohio, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/216.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/216"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 216 serves Ohio, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Ohio."
---

# Area code 216: Ohio, United States

Area code 216 serves Ohio, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Ohio.

NANPA lists 608 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 216, held by 39 holders across 4 rate centers.
The largest rate center is CLEVELAND, with 482 prefixes (79%).
Ohio Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 211 (35%). 58% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 3,950 complaints on file for 2,702 numbers in 216, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1947-01-01
- Time zone: Eastern (E)
- Prefixes in use: 608
- Pooled prefixes: 354 (58%)
- Rate centers: 4
- Companies holding prefixes: 39
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-08 to 2026-07-30 (179 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 40

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CLEVELAND | 482 | 79% |
| TERRACE | 53 | 9% |
| INDEPNDNCE | 41 | 7% |
| MONTRSE | 32 | 5% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ohio Bell Tel | 211 | 35% |
| Verizon Wireless | 84 | 14% |
| T-Mobile USA | 64 | 11% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 31 | 5% |
| Mcimetro Access Transmission Services | 29 | 5% |
| Onvoy | 28 | 5% |
| 33 other carriers | 161 | 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.

## History

- 1947-01-01: Area code 216 went into service.
- 1996-03-09: Area code 330 went into service and names 216 as its parent.
- 1997-08-16: Area code 440 went into service and names 216 as its parent.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 216, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 440 (about 6 miles), 234 (about 41 miles), 330 (about 41 miles), 567 (about 100 miles) and 586 (about 102 miles).

## ZIP codes

40 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Cleveland, OH (40 ZIP codes). 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

3,950 complaints for 2,702 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 154
- 2024: 229
- 2025: 182

## Questions

### Where is area code 216?

NANPA assigns area code 216 to Ohio, United States.

### In which state does area code 216 sit?

Ohio. 216 is one of 15 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 216 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 216 are Cleveland, OH. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 216?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 216, Ohio Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 211 prefixes or 35%.

### Which time zone does 216 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 216 as Eastern (E).

### What year did 216 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 216 has been in use since 1947.

### Does area code 216 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 216.

### Which area codes are nearest to 216?

The area codes closest to 216, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 440 (about 6 miles), 234 (about 41 miles), 330 (about 41 miles), 567 (about 100 miles) and 586 (about 102 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 216 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 608 prefixes in service in 216, spread over 4 rate centers and 39 holders.

### Are there complaints about 216 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 3,950 complaints for 2,702 numbers in 216. 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).