Area code
281
281 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Texas, which has 29 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 281
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 281 at a glance
NANPA lists 786 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 281, held by 27 holders across 45 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1996-11-02 |
| Time zone | Central (C) |
| Assigned overlays | 713 (1947-01-01), 832 (1999-01-16), 346 (2014-07-01), 621 (2025-01-23) |
| Prefixes in use | 786 |
| Pooled prefixes | 453 (58%) |
| Rate centers | 45 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 27 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-04-27 to 2026-02-06 (102 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 239 |
Rate centers in area code 281
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| HOUSTON | 148 | 19% |
| HSTNSUBURB | 131 | 17% |
| BAMMEL | 60 | 8% |
| SUGAR LAND | 44 | 6% |
| SPRING | 35 | 4% |
| APOLLO | 28 | 4% |
| HUMBLE | 24 | 3% |
| LANGHAMCRK | 24 | 3% |
| 37 other rate centers | 292 | 37% |
Who holds the prefixes in 281
Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 283 (36%). 58% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Bell | 283 | 36% |
| Verizon Wireless | 66 | 8% |
| Frontier Comm Of Texas | 57 | 7% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 50 | 6% |
| Windstream Sugar Land | 38 | 5% |
| Mcimetro Access Transmission Services | 33 | 4% |
| 21 other carriers | 259 | 33% |
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 281
- 1947-01-01 Area code 713, named as the parent of 281 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1996-11-02 Area code 281 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 281
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 281
239 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Houston, TX | 178 |
| Spring, TX | 12 |
| Katy, TX | 6 |
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 281 numbers
5,104 FCC complaints are on file for 3,551 numbers in 281, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 107 |
| 2024 | 184 |
| 2025 | 151 |
Other area codes in Texas
Texas is one state with 29 area codes in the NANPA table. 281 is one of them.
Next to 281 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 281 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 281 was first assigned in Texas. 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 Texas next to a 281 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 281
Where is area code 281?
NANPA assigns area code 281 to Texas, United States.
In which state does area code 281 sit?
Texas. 281 is one of 29 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 281 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 281 are Houston, TX, Spring, TX and Katy, TX. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 281?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 281, Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 283 prefixes or 36%.
Which time zone does 281 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 281 as Central (C).
What year did 281 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1996-11-02, so 281 has been in use since 1996.
Does area code 281 have an overlay?
Yes. 713 (in service 1947-01-01), 832 (in service 1999-01-16), 346 (in service 2014-07-01) and 621 (in service 2025-01-23) share the same area with 281, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 281?
The area codes closest to 281, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 979 (about 53 miles), 936 (about 73 miles), 409 (about 78 miles), 512 (about 144 miles) and 737 (about 144 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 281 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 786 prefixes in service in 281, spread over 45 rate centers and 27 holders.
Are there complaints about 281 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 5,104 complaints for 3,551 numbers in 281. 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.