---
title: "Area code 402: Nebraska, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/402.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/402"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 402 serves Nebraska, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Nebraska."
---

# Area code 402: Nebraska, United States

Area code 402 serves Nebraska, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Nebraska.

NANPA lists 782 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 402, held by 57 holders across 281 rate centers.
Windstream Nebraska holds the most prefixes, 185 (24%). 72% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 3,350 complaints on file for 2,593 numbers in 402, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1947-01-01
- Time zone: Central (C)
- Assigned overlays: 531 (2011-03-26)
- Prefixes in use: 782
- Pooled prefixes: 563 (72%)
- Rate centers: 281
- Companies holding prefixes: 57
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-02-21 to 2024-07-08 (164 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 330

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OMAHA | 268 | 34% |
| LINCOLN | 80 | 10% |
| NORFOLK | 19 | 2% |
| FREMONT | 15 | 2% |
| HASTINGS | 12 | 2% |
| COLUMBUS | 9 | 1% |
| BEATRICE | 8 | 1% |
| YORK | 7 | <1% |
| 273 other rate centers | 364 | 47% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Windstream Nebraska | 185 | 24% |
| Qwest | 160 | 20% |
| Verizon Wireless | 110 | 14% |
| Aerial Communications | 35 | 4% |
| Great Plains Communications | 33 | 4% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 22 | 3% |
| 51 other carriers | 237 | 30% |

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 402 went into service.
- 2011-03-26: Area code 531 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 402.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 402, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 712 (about 107 miles), 785 (about 139 miles), 308 (about 177 miles), 515 (about 177 miles) and 816 (about 191 miles).

## ZIP codes

330 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Omaha, NE (48 ZIP codes), Lincoln, NE (29 ZIP codes) and Blair, NE (2 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

3,350 complaints for 2,593 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 105
- 2024: 124
- 2025: 83

## Questions

### Where is area code 402?

NANPA assigns area code 402 to Nebraska, United States.

### In which state does area code 402 sit?

Nebraska. 402 is one of 3 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 402 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 402 are Omaha, NE, Lincoln, NE and Blair, NE. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 402?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 402, Windstream Nebraska holds the most prefixes, 185 prefixes or 24%.

### Which time zone does 402 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 402 as Central (C).

### What year did 402 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 402 has been in use since 1947.

### Does area code 402 have an overlay?

Yes. 531 (in service 2011-03-26) shares the same area with 402, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.

### Which area codes are nearest to 402?

The area codes closest to 402, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 712 (about 107 miles), 785 (about 139 miles), 308 (about 177 miles), 515 (about 177 miles) and 816 (about 191 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 402 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 782 prefixes in service in 402, spread over 281 rate centers and 57 holders.

### Are there complaints about 402 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 3,350 complaints for 2,593 numbers in 402. 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).