Area code
240
240 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Maryland, which has 6 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 240
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 240 at a glance
NANPA lists 785 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 240, held by 41 holders across 63 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1997-06-01 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 301 (1947-01-01), 227 (2023-06-14) |
| Prefixes in use | 785 |
| Pooled prefixes | 727 (93%) |
| Rate centers | 63 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 41 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-09 to 2023-07-25 (443 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 42 |
Rate centers in area code 240
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| WSHNGTNZN3 | 73 | 9% |
| WSHNGTNZN2 | 64 | 8% |
| WSNGTNZN10 | 54 | 7% |
| FREDERICK | 43 | 5% |
| GAITHERSBG | 40 | 5% |
| LAUREL236 | 39 | 5% |
| HAGERSTOWN | 33 | 4% |
| WSHNGTNZN4 | 30 | 4% |
| 55 other rate centers | 409 | 52% |
Who holds the prefixes in 240
Omnipoint Communications Cap Operations holds the most prefixes, 117 (15%). 93% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Omnipoint Communications Cap Operations | 117 | 15% |
| Verizon Wireless | 85 | 11% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 69 | 9% |
| Paetec Itel | 63 | 8% |
| Level 3 Communications | 59 | 8% |
| Onvoy | 56 | 7% |
| 35 other carriers | 336 | 43% |
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 240
- 1947-01-01 Area code 301, named as the parent of 240 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1997-06-01 Area code 240 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 240
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 240
42 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Frederick, MD | 6 |
| Hagerstown, MD | 6 |
| Cumberland, MD | 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 240 numbers
4,173 FCC complaints are on file for 3,070 numbers in 240, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 210 |
| 2024 | 234 |
| 2025 | 136 |
Other area codes in Maryland
Maryland is one state with 6 area codes in the NANPA table. 240 is one of them.
Next to 240 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 240 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 240 was first assigned in Maryland. 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 Maryland next to a 240 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 240
Where is area code 240?
NANPA assigns area code 240 to Maryland, United States.
In which state does area code 240 sit?
Maryland. 240 is one of 6 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 240 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 240 are Frederick, MD, Hagerstown, MD and Cumberland, MD. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 240?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 240, Omnipoint Communications Cap Operations holds the most prefixes, 117 prefixes or 15%.
Which time zone does 240 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 240 as Eastern (E).
What year did 240 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1997-06-01, so 240 has been in use since 1997.
Does area code 240 have an overlay?
Yes. 301 (in service 1947-01-01) and 227 (in service 2023-06-14) share the same area with 240, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 240?
The area codes closest to 240, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 571 (about 36 miles), 703 (about 36 miles), 443 (about 75 miles), 223 (about 76 miles) and 717 (about 76 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 240 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 785 prefixes in service in 240, spread over 63 rate centers and 41 holders.
Are there complaints about 240 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 4,173 complaints for 3,070 numbers in 240. 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.