Area code
217
217 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Illinois, which has 17 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 217
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 217 at a glance
NANPA lists 786 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 217, held by 51 holders across 265 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1947-01-01 |
| Time zone | Central (C) |
| Assigned overlays | 447 (2021-03-27) |
| Prefixes in use | 786 |
| Pooled prefixes | 552 (70%) |
| Rate centers | 265 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 51 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-03-12 to 2024-12-13 (210 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 237 |
Rate centers in area code 217
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| SPRINGFLD | 91 | 12% |
| CHAMPAURBN | 81 | 10% |
| DECATUR | 44 | 6% |
| DANVILLE | 27 | 3% |
| QUINCY | 25 | 3% |
| MATTOON | 24 | 3% |
| JACKSONVL | 21 | 3% |
| LINCOLN | 14 | 2% |
| 257 other rate centers | 459 | 58% |
Who holds the prefixes in 217
Illinois Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 129 (16%). 70% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Bell Tel | 129 | 16% |
| Frontier North | 114 | 15% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 72 | 9% |
| Level 3 Communications | 59 | 8% |
| Verizon Wireless | 51 | 6% |
| Illinois Consolidated Tel | 45 | 6% |
| 45 other carriers | 316 | 40% |
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 217
- 1947-01-01 Area code 217 went into service.
- 2021-03-27 Area code 447 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 217.
Area codes nearest to 217
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
- 309 about 75 mi
- 314 about 100 mi
- 557 about 100 mi
- 618 about 104 mi
- 636 about 116 mi
Overlay codes in the same area
ZIP codes in area code 217
237 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Decatur, IL | 6 |
| Quincy, IL | 3 |
| Danville, IL | 2 |
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 217 numbers
6,041 FCC complaints are on file for 5,121 numbers in 217, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,498 |
| 2024 | 493 |
| 2025 | 197 |
Other area codes in Illinois
Illinois is one state with 17 area codes in the NANPA table. 217 is one of them.
Next to 217 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 217 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 217 was first assigned in Illinois. 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 Illinois next to a 217 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 217
Where is area code 217?
NANPA assigns area code 217 to Illinois, United States.
In which state does area code 217 sit?
Illinois. 217 is one of 17 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 217 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 217 are Decatur, IL, Quincy, IL and Danville, IL. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 217?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 217, Illinois Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 129 prefixes or 16%.
Which time zone does 217 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 217 as Central (C).
What year did 217 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 217 has been in use since 1947.
Does area code 217 have an overlay?
Yes. 447 (in service 2021-03-27) shares the same area with 217, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 217?
The area codes closest to 217, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 309 (about 75 miles), 314 (about 100 miles), 557 (about 100 miles), 618 (about 104 miles) and 636 (about 116 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 217 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 786 prefixes in service in 217, spread over 265 rate centers and 51 holders.
Are there complaints about 217 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 6,041 complaints for 5,121 numbers in 217. 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.