---
title: "Area code 401: Rhode Island, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/401.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/401"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 401 serves Rhode Island, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Rhode Island."
---

# Area code 401: Rhode Island, United States

Area code 401 serves Rhode Island, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Rhode Island.

NANPA lists 579 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 401, held by 39 holders across 25 rate centers.
The largest rate center is PROVIDENCE, with 234 prefixes (40%).
Verizon New England holds the most prefixes, 164 (28%). 73% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 2,831 complaints on file for 2,089 numbers in 401, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1947-01-01
- Time zone: Eastern (E)
- Prefixes in use: 579
- Pooled prefixes: 421 (73%)
- Rate centers: 25
- Companies holding prefixes: 39
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-16 to 2026-03-27 (153 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 32

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PROVIDENCE | 234 | 40% |
| PAWTUCKET | 38 | 7% |
| WOONSOCKET | 34 | 6% |
| NEWPORT | 26 | 4% |
| WARWICK | 21 | 4% |
| CENTREDALE | 20 | 3% |
| NARRAGNSTT | 19 | 3% |
| W WARWICK | 19 | 3% |
| 17 other rate centers | 168 | 29% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Verizon New England | 164 | 28% |
| Paetec Itel | 65 | 11% |
| Verizon Wireless | 42 | 7% |
| Omnipoint Miami E License | 40 | 7% |
| Comcast IP Phone | 35 | 6% |
| Level 3 Communications | 32 | 6% |
| 33 other carriers | 201 | 35% |

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 401 went into service.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 401, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 774 (about 21 miles), 508 (about 28 miles), 339 (about 45 miles), 617 (about 46 miles) and 781 (about 46 miles).

## ZIP codes

32 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Providence, RI (12 ZIP codes), Warwick, RI (4 ZIP codes) and Pawtucket, RI (3 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

2,831 complaints for 2,089 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 112
- 2024: 129
- 2025: 123

## Questions

### Where is area code 401?

NANPA assigns area code 401 to Rhode Island, United States.

### In which state does area code 401 sit?

Rhode Island. 401 is one of 1 area code the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 401 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 401 are Providence, RI, Warwick, RI and Pawtucket, RI. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 401?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 401, Verizon New England holds the most prefixes, 164 prefixes or 28%.

### Which time zone does 401 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 401 as Eastern (E).

### What year did 401 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 401 has been in use since 1947.

### Does area code 401 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 401.

### Which area codes are nearest to 401?

The area codes closest to 401, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 774 (about 21 miles), 508 (about 28 miles), 339 (about 45 miles), 617 (about 46 miles) and 781 (about 46 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 401 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 579 prefixes in service in 401, spread over 25 rate centers and 39 holders.

### Are there complaints about 401 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 2,831 complaints for 2,089 numbers in 401. 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).