Area code
253
253 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Washington, which has 6 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 253
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 253 at a glance
NANPA lists 508 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 253, held by 26 holders across 10 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1997-04-27 |
| Time zone | Pacific (P) |
| Prefixes in use | 508 |
| Pooled prefixes | 305 (60%) |
| Rate centers | 10 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 26 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-23 to 2026-03-20 (186 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 58 |
Rate centers in area code 253
The largest rate center is TACOMA, with 228 prefixes (45%).
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TACOMA | 228 | 45% |
| AUBURN | 82 | 16% |
| TACOMAWVLY | 51 | 10% |
| KENT | 44 | 9% |
| PUYALLUP | 27 | 5% |
| DES MOINES | 23 | 5% |
| GIG HARBOR | 20 | 4% |
| SUMNER | 15 | 3% |
| 2 other rate centers | 18 | 4% |
Who holds the prefixes in 253
Qwest holds the most prefixes, 141 (28%). 60% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Qwest | 141 | 28% |
| T-Mobile USA | 77 | 15% |
| Onvoy | 49 | 10% |
| Verizon Wireless | 48 | 9% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 35 | 7% |
| Allstream | 30 | 6% |
| 20 other carriers | 128 | 25% |
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 253
- 1947-01-01 Area code 206, named as the parent of 253 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1997-04-27 Area code 253 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 253
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
ZIP codes in area code 253
58 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA | 35 |
| Kent, WA | 7 |
| Puyallup, WA | 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 253 numbers
2,861 FCC complaints are on file for 2,079 numbers in 253, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 111 |
| 2024 | 124 |
| 2025 | 102 |
Other area codes in Washington
Washington is one state with 6 area codes in the NANPA table. 253 is one of them.
Next to 253 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 253 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 253 was first assigned in Washington. 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 Washington next to a 253 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 253
Where is area code 253?
NANPA assigns area code 253 to Washington, United States.
In which state does area code 253 sit?
Washington. 253 is one of 6 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 253 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 253 are Tacoma, WA, Kent, WA and Puyallup, WA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 253?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 253, Qwest holds the most prefixes, 141 prefixes or 28%.
Which time zone does 253 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 253 as Pacific (P).
What year did 253 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1997-04-27, so 253 has been in use since 1997.
Does area code 253 have an overlay?
The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 253.
Which area codes are nearest to 253?
The area codes closest to 253, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 206 (about 25 miles), 425 (about 29 miles), 360 (about 33 miles), 564 (about 33 miles) and 971 (about 128 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 253 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 508 prefixes in service in 253, spread over 10 rate centers and 26 holders.
Are there complaints about 253 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 2,861 complaints for 2,079 numbers in 253. 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.