Area code
224
224 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 224
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.
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Area code 224 at a glance
NANPA lists 591 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 224, held by 27 holders across 41 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 2002-01-05 |
| Time zone | Central (C) |
| Assigned overlays | 847 (1996-01-20) |
| Prefixes in use | 591 |
| Pooled prefixes | 580 (98%) |
| Rate centers | 41 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 27 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-09-14 to 2026-06-15 (570 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 56 |
Rate centers in area code 224
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NORTHBROOK | 71 | 12% |
| ARLIGTNHTS | 70 | 12% |
| DESPLAINES | 48 | 8% |
| ELGIN | 44 | 7% |
| WAUKEGAN | 38 | 6% |
| ALGONQUIN | 35 | 6% |
| DEERFIELD | 20 | 3% |
| BARRINGTON | 19 | 3% |
| 33 other rate centers | 246 | 42% |
Who holds the prefixes in 224
T-Mobile USA holds the most prefixes, 137 (23%). 98% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile USA | 137 | 23% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 90 | 15% |
| Verizon Wireless | 76 | 13% |
| Onvoy | 67 | 11% |
| Illinois Bell Tel | 34 | 6% |
| Fractel | 29 | 5% |
| 21 other carriers | 158 | 27% |
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 224
- 1996-01-20 Area code 847, named as the parent of 224 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2002-01-05 Area code 224 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 224
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
Overlay codes in the same area
ZIP codes in area code 224
56 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Palatine, IL | 7 |
| Evanston, IL | 6 |
| Elgin, IL | 5 |
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 224 numbers
1,822 FCC complaints are on file for 1,430 numbers in 224, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 151 |
| 2024 | 97 |
| 2025 | 93 |
Other area codes in Illinois
Illinois is one state with 17 area codes in the NANPA table. 224 is one of them.
Next to 224 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 224 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 224 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 224 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 224
Where is area code 224?
NANPA assigns area code 224 to Illinois, United States.
In which state does area code 224 sit?
Illinois. 224 is one of 17 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 224 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 224 are Palatine, IL, Evanston, IL and Elgin, IL. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 224?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 224, T-Mobile USA holds the most prefixes, 137 prefixes or 23%.
Which time zone does 224 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 224 as Central (C).
What year did 224 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2002-01-05, so 224 has been in use since 2002.
Does area code 224 have an overlay?
Yes. 847 (in service 1996-01-20) shares the same area with 224, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 224?
The area codes closest to 224, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 312 (about 12 miles), 630 (about 23 miles), 331 (about 26 miles), 708 (about 29 miles) and 464 (about 37 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 224 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 591 prefixes in service in 224, spread over 41 rate centers and 27 holders.
Are there complaints about 224 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 1,822 complaints for 1,430 numbers in 224. 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.