Area code
318
318 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Louisiana, which has 6 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 318
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 318 at a glance
NANPA lists 761 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 318, held by 51 holders across 119 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1957-01-01 |
| Time zone | Central (C) |
| Assigned overlays | 457 (2025-09-25) |
| Prefixes in use | 761 |
| Pooled prefixes | 595 (78%) |
| Rate centers | 119 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 51 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-09 to 2026-02-27 (387 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 148 |
Rate centers in area code 318
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| SHREVEPORT | 172 | 23% |
| MONROE | 90 | 12% |
| ALEXANDRIA | 60 | 8% |
| RUSTON | 20 | 3% |
| NATCHITCHS | 19 | 2% |
| MINDEN | 13 | 2% |
| BASTROP | 12 | 2% |
| MARKSVILLE | 11 | 1% |
| 111 other rate centers | 364 | 48% |
Who holds the prefixes in 318
South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 208 (27%). 78% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Central Bell Tel | 208 | 27% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 109 | 14% |
| Verizon Wireless | 78 | 10% |
| Onvoy | 55 | 7% |
| Eliska Wireless Ventures Subsidiary I | 41 | 5% |
| Level 3 Communications | 35 | 5% |
| 45 other carriers | 235 | 31% |
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 318
- 1957-01-01 Area code 318 went into service.
- 1999-10-11 Area code 337 went into service and names 318 as its parent.
- 2025-09-25 Area code 457 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 318.
Area codes nearest to 318
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
- 457
ZIP codes in area code 318
148 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Shreveport, LA | 35 |
| Monroe, LA | 10 |
| Alexandria, LA | 7 |
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 318 numbers
2,489 FCC complaints are on file for 2,192 numbers in 318, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 61 |
| 2024 | 62 |
| 2025 | 1,003 |
Other area codes in Louisiana
Louisiana is one state with 6 area codes in the NANPA table. 318 is one of them.
Next to 318 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 318 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 318 was first assigned in Louisiana. 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 Louisiana next to a 318 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 318
Where is area code 318?
NANPA assigns area code 318 to Louisiana, United States.
In which state does area code 318 sit?
Louisiana. 318 is one of 6 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 318 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 318 are Shreveport, LA, Monroe, LA and Alexandria, LA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 318?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 318, South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 208 prefixes or 27%.
Which time zone does 318 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 318 as Central (C).
What year did 318 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1957-01-01, so 318 has been in use since 1957.
Does area code 318 have an overlay?
Yes. 457 (in service 2025-09-25) shares the same area with 318, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 318?
The area codes closest to 318, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 337 (about 135 miles), 903 (about 151 miles), 430 (about 152 miles), 225 (about 159 miles) and 409 (about 160 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 318 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 761 prefixes in service in 318, spread over 119 rate centers and 51 holders.
Are there complaints about 318 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 2,489 complaints for 2,192 numbers in 318. 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.