--- title: "Area code 518: New York, United States" url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/518.md" canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/518" last_updated: "2026-10-23" type: "reference" summary: "Area code 518 serves New York, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in New York." --- # Area code 518: New York, United States Area code 518 serves New York, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in New York. NANPA lists 775 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 518, held by 62 holders across 135 rate centers. 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. The FCC unwanted-call data has 4,890 complaints on file for 3,588 numbers in 518, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings. ## Facts - 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 | 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% | ## Carriers | 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. ## History - 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. ## Nearest area codes 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). ## ZIP codes 143 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Albany, NY (50 ZIP codes), Troy, NY (4 ZIP codes) and Keeseville, NY (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 4,890 complaints for 3,588 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year: - 2023: 131 - 2024: 135 - 2025: 527 ## Questions ### 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. 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).