---
title: "Area code 515: Iowa, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/515.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/515"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 515 serves Iowa, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Iowa."
---

# Area code 515: Iowa, United States

Area code 515 serves Iowa, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Iowa.

NANPA lists 577 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 515, held by 71 holders across 98 rate centers.
The largest rate center is DES MOINES, with 257 prefixes (45%).
Qwest holds the most prefixes, 146 (25%). 74% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 2,516 complaints on file for 1,695 numbers in 515, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1947-01-01
- Time zone: Central (C)
- Prefixes in use: 577
- Pooled prefixes: 426 (74%)
- Rate centers: 98
- Companies holding prefixes: 71
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-10 to 2026-03-31 (282 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 152

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DES MOINES | 257 | 45% |
| AMES | 38 | 7% |
| WINTERSET | 17 | 3% |
| FORT DODGE | 14 | 2% |
| BOONE | 13 | 2% |
| PLEASANTVL | 11 | 2% |
| INDIANOLA | 9 | 2% |
| ALGONA | 8 | 1% |
| 90 other rate centers | 210 | 36% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Qwest | 146 | 25% |
| Verizon Wireless | 54 | 9% |
| T-Mobile USA | 47 | 8% |
| United States Cellular | 44 | 8% |
| Onvoy | 26 | 5% |
| MCC Telephony Of Iowa | 23 | 4% |
| 65 other carriers | 237 | 41% |

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 515 went into service.
- 2000-07-09: Area code 641 went into service and names 515 as its parent.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 515, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 641 (about 33 miles), 712 (about 85 miles), 319 (about 104 miles), 507 (about 136 miles) and 563 (about 141 miles).

## ZIP codes

152 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Des Moines, IA (57 ZIP codes), Ames, IA (5 ZIP codes) and Boone, IA (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

2,516 complaints for 1,695 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 101
- 2024: 75
- 2025: 101

## Questions

### Where is area code 515?

NANPA assigns area code 515 to Iowa, United States.

### In which state does area code 515 sit?

Iowa. 515 is one of 5 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 515 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 515 are Des Moines, IA, Ames, IA and Boone, IA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 515?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 515, Qwest holds the most prefixes, 146 prefixes or 25%.

### Which time zone does 515 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 515 as Central (C).

### What year did 515 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 515 has been in use since 1947.

### Does area code 515 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 515.

### Which area codes are nearest to 515?

The area codes closest to 515, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 641 (about 33 miles), 712 (about 85 miles), 319 (about 104 miles), 507 (about 136 miles) and 563 (about 141 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 515 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 577 prefixes in service in 515, spread over 98 rate centers and 71 holders.

### Are there complaints about 515 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 2,516 complaints for 1,695 numbers in 515. 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).