Area code
442
442 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to California, which has 41 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 442
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 442 at a glance
NANPA lists 353 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 442, held by 43 holders across 78 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 2009-11-21 |
| Time zone | Pacific (P) |
| Assigned overlays | 760 (1997-03-22) |
| Prefixes in use | 353 |
| Pooled prefixes | 351 (99%) |
| Rate centers | 78 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 43 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2011-06-29 to 2026-06-04 (313 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 66 |
Rate centers in area code 442
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| VICTORVL | 28 | 8% |
| PALM SPG | 26 | 7% |
| INDIO | 24 | 7% |
| ESCONDIDO | 22 | 6% |
| EL CENTRO | 21 | 6% |
| BRAWLEY | 19 | 5% |
| VTVL HSPR | 14 | 4% |
| PALMDESERT | 12 | 3% |
| 70 other rate centers | 187 | 53% |
Who holds the prefixes in 442
New Cingular Wireless PCS holds the most prefixes, 56 (16%). 99% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 56 | 16% |
| T-Mobile USA | 53 | 15% |
| Fractel | 51 | 14% |
| Onvoy | 45 | 13% |
| Verizon Wireless | 25 | 7% |
| Bandwidth.com CLEC | 17 | 5% |
| 37 other carriers | 106 | 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. Find which carrier a number is on, or browse the prefix holders.
History of area code 442
- 1997-03-22 Area code 760, named as the parent of 442 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2009-11-21 Area code 442 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 442
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 442
66 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Escondido, CA | 7 |
| Palm Desert, CA | 4 |
| San Marcos, CA | 4 |
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 442 numbers
785 FCC complaints are on file for 570 numbers in 442, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 39 |
| 2024 | 58 |
| 2025 | 45 |
Other area codes in California
California is one state with 41 area codes in the NANPA table. 442 is one of them.
- 209
- 213
- 279
- 310
- 323
- 341
- 350
- 357
- 369
- 408
- 415
- 424
- 510
- 530
- 559
- 562
- 619
- 626
- 628
- 650
- 657
- 661
- 669
- 707
- 714
- 738
- 747
- 760
- 805
- 818
- 820
- 831
- 837
- 840
- 858
- 909
- 916
- 925
- 949
- 951
Next to 442 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 442 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 442 was first assigned in California. 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 California next to a 442 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 442
Where is area code 442?
NANPA assigns area code 442 to California, United States.
In which state does area code 442 sit?
California. 442 is one of 41 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 442 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 442 are Escondido, CA, Palm Desert, CA and San Marcos, CA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 442?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 442, New Cingular Wireless PCS holds the most prefixes, 56 prefixes or 16%.
Which time zone does 442 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 442 as Pacific (P).
What year did 442 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2009-11-21, so 442 has been in use since 2009.
Does area code 442 have an overlay?
Yes. 760 (in service 1997-03-22) shares the same area with 442, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 442?
The area codes closest to 442, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 909 (about 42 miles), 951 (about 43 miles), 840 (about 46 miles), 626 (about 67 miles) and 657 (about 67 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 442 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 353 prefixes in service in 442, spread over 78 rate centers and 43 holders.
Are there complaints about 442 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 785 complaints for 570 numbers in 442. 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.