---
title: "Area code 218: Minnesota, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/218.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/218"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 218 serves Minnesota, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Minnesota."
---

# Area code 218: Minnesota, United States

Area code 218 serves Minnesota, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Minnesota.

NANPA lists 706 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 218, held by 79 holders across 238 rate centers.
Qwest holds the most prefixes, 85 (12%). 63% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 1,811 complaints on file for 1,327 numbers in 218, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1947-01-01
- Time zone: Central (C)
- Prefixes in use: 706
- Pooled prefixes: 442 (63%)
- Rate centers: 238
- Companies holding prefixes: 79
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-14 to 2026-04-14 (310 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 200

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DULUTH | 78 | 11% |
| BRAINERD | 27 | 4% |
| BEMIDJI | 21 | 3% |
| MOORHEAD | 21 | 3% |
| VIRGINIA | 17 | 2% |
| FERGUS FLS | 14 | 2% |
| HIBBING | 14 | 2% |
| DETROITLKS | 13 | 2% |
| 230 other rate centers | 501 | 71% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Qwest | 85 | 12% |
| Verizon Wireless | 84 | 12% |
| Onvoy | 61 | 9% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 49 | 7% |
| Citizens Telecom CO Mn-Frontier Citizens Com-Mn | 46 | 7% |
| Aerial Communications | 29 | 4% |
| 73 other carriers | 352 | 50% |

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 218 went into service.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 218, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 320 (about 128 miles), 763 (about 138 miles), 952 (about 184 miles), 651 (about 203 miles) and 507 (about 229 miles).

## ZIP codes

200 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Duluth, MN (14 ZIP codes), Moorhead, MN (4 ZIP codes) and Bemidji, MN (2 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

1,811 complaints for 1,327 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 102
- 2024: 76
- 2025: 61

## Questions

### Where is area code 218?

NANPA assigns area code 218 to Minnesota, United States.

### In which state does area code 218 sit?

Minnesota. 218 is one of 8 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 218 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 218 are Duluth, MN, Moorhead, MN and Bemidji, MN. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 218?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 218, Qwest holds the most prefixes, 85 prefixes or 12%.

### Which time zone does 218 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 218 as Central (C).

### What year did 218 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 218 has been in use since 1947.

### Does area code 218 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 218.

### Which area codes are nearest to 218?

The area codes closest to 218, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 320 (about 128 miles), 763 (about 138 miles), 952 (about 184 miles), 651 (about 203 miles) and 507 (about 229 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 218 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 706 prefixes in service in 218, spread over 238 rate centers and 79 holders.

### Are there complaints about 218 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 1,811 complaints for 1,327 numbers in 218. 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).