Area code
272
272 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Pennsylvania, which has 15 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 272
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 272 at a glance
NANPA lists 326 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 272, held by 37 holders across 131 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 2013-10-21 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 570 (1998-12-05) |
| Prefixes in use | 326 |
| Pooled prefixes | 326 (100%) |
| Rate centers | 131 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 37 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2014-09-26 to 2026-04-29 (312 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 101 |
Rate centers in area code 272
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| WILLIAMSPT | 20 | 6% |
| NEWMILFORD | 17 | 5% |
| PITTSTON | 17 | 5% |
| PLEASANTMT | 17 | 5% |
| CARBONDALE | 15 | 5% |
| SCRANTON | 13 | 4% |
| STROUDSBG | 9 | 3% |
| WILKSBARRE | 8 | 2% |
| 123 other rate centers | 210 | 64% |
Who holds the prefixes in 272
New Cingular Wireless PCS holds the most prefixes, 80 (25%). 100% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 80 | 25% |
| Onvoy | 58 | 18% |
| Ton80 Communications | 35 | 11% |
| Onvoy Spectrum | 21 | 6% |
| IP Horizon | 17 | 5% |
| Omnipoint Communications Enterprises | 11 | 3% |
| 31 other carriers | 104 | 32% |
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 272
- 1998-12-05 Area code 570, named as the parent of 272 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2013-10-21 Area code 272 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 272
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 272
101 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Scranton, PA | 13 |
| Pittston, PA | 3 |
| Danville, PA | 2 |
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 272 numbers
264 FCC complaints are on file for 245 numbers in 272, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 45 |
| 2025 | 36 |
Other area codes in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is one state with 15 area codes in the NANPA table. 272 is one of them.
Next to 272 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 272 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 272 was first assigned in Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania next to a 272 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 272
Where is area code 272?
NANPA assigns area code 272 to Pennsylvania, United States.
In which state does area code 272 sit?
Pennsylvania. 272 is one of 15 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 272 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 272 are Scranton, PA, Pittston, PA and Danville, PA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 272?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 272, New Cingular Wireless PCS holds the most prefixes, 80 prefixes or 25%.
Which time zone does 272 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 272 as Eastern (E).
What year did 272 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2013-10-21, so 272 has been in use since 2013.
Does area code 272 have an overlay?
Yes. 570 (in service 1998-12-05) shares the same area with 272, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 272?
The area codes closest to 272, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 835 (about 58 miles), 484 (about 61 miles), 610 (about 61 miles), 607 (about 74 miles) and 445 (about 78 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 272 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 326 prefixes in service in 272, spread over 131 rate centers and 37 holders.
Are there complaints about 272 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 264 complaints for 245 numbers in 272. 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.