---
title: "Area code 253: Washington, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/253.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/253"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 253 serves Washington, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Washington."
---

# Area code 253: Washington, United States

Area code 253 serves Washington, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Washington.

NANPA lists 508 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 253, held by 26 holders across 10 rate centers.
The largest rate center is TACOMA, with 228 prefixes (45%).
Qwest holds the most prefixes, 141 (28%). 60% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 2,861 complaints on file for 2,079 numbers in 253, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- 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

| 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% |

## Carriers

| 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.

## History

- 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.

## Nearest area codes

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).

## ZIP codes

58 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Tacoma, WA (35 ZIP codes), Kent, WA (7 ZIP codes) and Puyallup, WA (5 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

2,861 complaints for 2,079 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 111
- 2024: 124
- 2025: 102

## Questions

### 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.

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).