---
title: "Area code 512: Texas, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/512.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/512"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 512 serves Texas, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Texas."
---

# Area code 512: Texas, United States

Area code 512 serves Texas, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Texas.

NANPA lists 785 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 512, held by 36 holders across 36 rate centers.
The largest rate center is AUSTIN, with 585 prefixes (75%).
Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 273 (35%). 67% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 5,814 complaints on file for 4,249 numbers in 512, 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: 737 (2013-07-01)
- Prefixes in use: 785
- Pooled prefixes: 523 (67%)
- Rate centers: 36
- Companies holding prefixes: 36
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-08 to 2024-11-01 (225 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 107

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AUSTIN | 585 | 75% |
| GEORGETOWN | 29 | 4% |
| SAN MARCOS | 26 | 3% |
| BASTROP | 19 | 2% |
| LEANDER | 12 | 2% |
| LOCKHART | 11 | 1% |
| BURNET | 8 | 1% |
| TAYLOR | 7 | <1% |
| 28 other rate centers | 88 | 11% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Southwestern Bell | 273 | 35% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 98 | 12% |
| T-Mobile USA | 70 | 9% |
| Verizon Wireless | 49 | 6% |
| Level 3 Of Telecom Of Texas | 45 | 6% |
| Frontier Comm Of Texas | 37 | 5% |
| 30 other carriers | 213 | 27% |

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 512 went into service.
- 1992-11-01: Area code 210 went into service and names 512 as its parent.
- 1999-02-13: Area code 361 went into service and names 512 as its parent.
- 2013-07-01: Area code 737 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 512.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 512, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 210 (about 76 miles), 726 (about 76 miles), 830 (about 86 miles), 254 (about 89 miles) and 979 (about 93 miles).

## ZIP codes

107 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Austin, TX (74 ZIP codes), Georgetown, TX (4 ZIP codes) and Leander, TX (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

5,814 complaints for 4,249 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 185
- 2024: 155
- 2025: 204

## Questions

### Where is area code 512?

NANPA assigns area code 512 to Texas, United States.

### In which state does area code 512 sit?

Texas. 512 is one of 29 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 512 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 512 are Austin, TX, Georgetown, TX and Leander, TX. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 512?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 512, Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 273 prefixes or 35%.

### Which time zone does 512 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 512 as Central (C).

### What year did 512 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 512 has been in use since 1947.

### Does area code 512 have an overlay?

Yes. 737 (in service 2013-07-01) shares the same area with 512, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.

### Which area codes are nearest to 512?

The area codes closest to 512, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 210 (about 76 miles), 726 (about 76 miles), 830 (about 86 miles), 254 (about 89 miles) and 979 (about 93 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 512 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 785 prefixes in service in 512, spread over 36 rate centers and 36 holders.

### Are there complaints about 512 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 5,814 complaints for 4,249 numbers in 512. 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).