---
title: "Area code 254: Texas, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/254.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/254"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 254 serves Texas, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Texas."
---

# Area code 254: Texas, United States

Area code 254 serves Texas, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Texas.

NANPA lists 665 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 254, held by 52 holders across 111 rate centers.
Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 93 (14%). 77% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 2,925 complaints on file for 2,172 numbers in 254, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1997-05-25
- Time zone: Central (C)
- Prefixes in use: 665
- Pooled prefixes: 511 (77%)
- Rate centers: 111
- Companies holding prefixes: 52
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-15 to 2026-04-01 (368 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 114

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WACO | 117 | 18% |
| KILLEEN | 88 | 13% |
| TEMPLE | 46 | 7% |
| HILLSBORO | 17 | 3% |
| STEPHENVL | 15 | 2% |
| COPPERASCV | 14 | 2% |
| MARLIN | 11 | 2% |
| GATESVILLE | 10 | 2% |
| 103 other rate centers | 347 | 52% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Southwestern Bell | 93 | 14% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 77 | 12% |
| Onvoy | 77 | 12% |
| Verizon Wireless | 43 | 6% |
| Brightspeed Of Texas | 41 | 6% |
| Level 3 Communications | 36 | 5% |
| 46 other carriers | 298 | 45% |

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

- 1953-01-01: Area code 817, named as the parent of 254 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1997-05-25: Area code 254 went into service.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 254, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 682 (about 78 miles), 817 (about 81 miles), 512 (about 89 miles), 737 (about 89 miles) and 469 (about 92 miles).

## ZIP codes

114 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Waco, TX (16 ZIP codes), Killeen, TX (6 ZIP codes) and Gatesville, TX (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

2,925 complaints for 2,172 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 228
- 2024: 192
- 2025: 100

## Questions

### Where is area code 254?

NANPA assigns area code 254 to Texas, United States.

### In which state does area code 254 sit?

Texas. 254 is one of 29 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 254 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 254 are Waco, TX, Killeen, TX and Gatesville, TX. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 254?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 254, Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 93 prefixes or 14%.

### Which time zone does 254 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 254 as Central (C).

### What year did 254 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1997-05-25, so 254 has been in use since 1997.

### Does area code 254 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 254.

### Which area codes are nearest to 254?

The area codes closest to 254, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 682 (about 78 miles), 817 (about 81 miles), 512 (about 89 miles), 737 (about 89 miles) and 469 (about 92 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 254 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 665 prefixes in service in 254, spread over 111 rate centers and 52 holders.

### Are there complaints about 254 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 2,925 complaints for 2,172 numbers in 254. 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).