Area code
518
518 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to New York, which has 23 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 518
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 518 at a glance
NANPA lists 775 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 518, held by 62 holders across 135 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1947-01-01 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 838 (2017-09-19) |
| Prefixes in use | 775 |
| Pooled prefixes | 600 (77%) |
| Rate centers | 135 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 62 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-03-29 to 2024-12-06 (219 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 143 |
Rate centers in area code 518
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| ALBANY | 200 | 26% |
| SCHENCTADY | 50 | 6% |
| GLENSFALLS | 45 | 6% |
| COLONIE | 34 | 4% |
| TROY | 34 | 4% |
| PLATTSBG | 31 | 4% |
| SARATOGSPG | 21 | 3% |
| AMSTERDAM | 14 | 2% |
| 127 other rate centers | 346 | 45% |
Who holds the prefixes in 518
Verizon New York holds the most prefixes, 216 (28%). 77% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon New York | 216 | 28% |
| Paetec Itel | 59 | 8% |
| Verizon Wireless | 58 | 7% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 45 | 6% |
| TC Systems | 35 | 5% |
| Firstlight Fiber | 33 | 4% |
| 56 other carriers | 329 | 42% |
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 518
- 1947-01-01 Area code 518 went into service.
- 2017-09-19 Area code 838 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 518.
Area codes nearest to 518
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 518
143 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Albany, NY | 50 |
| Troy, NY | 4 |
| Keeseville, NY | 3 |
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 518 numbers
4,890 FCC complaints are on file for 3,588 numbers in 518, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 131 |
| 2024 | 135 |
| 2025 | 527 |
Other area codes in New York
New York is one state with 23 area codes in the NANPA table. 518 is one of them.
Next to 518 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 518 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 518 was first assigned in New York. 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 New York next to a 518 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 518
Where is area code 518?
NANPA assigns area code 518 to New York, United States.
In which state does area code 518 sit?
New York. 518 is one of 23 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 518 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 518 are Albany, NY, Troy, NY and Keeseville, NY. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 518?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 518, Verizon New York holds the most prefixes, 216 prefixes or 28%.
Which time zone does 518 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 518 as Eastern (E).
What year did 518 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 518 has been in use since 1947.
Does area code 518 have an overlay?
Yes. 838 (in service 2017-09-19) shares the same area with 518, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 518?
The area codes closest to 518, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 413 (about 75 miles), 802 (about 90 miles), 845 (about 105 miles), 315 (about 109 miles) and 860 (about 110 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 518 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 775 prefixes in service in 518, spread over 135 rate centers and 62 holders.
Are there complaints about 518 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 4,890 complaints for 3,588 numbers in 518. 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.