Area code
540
540 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Virginia, which has 10 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 540
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 540 at a glance
NANPA lists 786 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 540, held by 52 holders across 117 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1995-07-15 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 826 (2022-06-14) |
| Prefixes in use | 786 |
| Pooled prefixes | 628 (80%) |
| Rate centers | 117 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 52 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-10 to 2023-09-28 (330 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 143 |
Rate centers in area code 540
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| ROANOKE | 105 | 13% |
| FREDECKSBG | 63 | 8% |
| HARRISONBG | 43 | 5% |
| WINCHESTER | 38 | 5% |
| CULPEPER | 33 | 4% |
| STAUNTON | 29 | 4% |
| BLACKSBURG | 21 | 3% |
| CHRISTISBG | 18 | 2% |
| 109 other rate centers | 436 | 55% |
Who holds the prefixes in 540
Verizon Virginia holds the most prefixes, 155 (20%). 80% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Virginia | 155 | 20% |
| Verizon Wireless | 79 | 10% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 66 | 8% |
| Omnipoint Communications Cap Operations | 64 | 8% |
| Level 3 Communications | 50 | 6% |
| Verizon South, INC. - Va (contel) | 35 | 4% |
| 46 other carriers | 337 | 43% |
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 540
- 1947-01-01 Area code 703, named as the parent of 540 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1995-07-15 Area code 540 went into service.
- 2001-09-01 Area code 276 went into service and names 540 as its parent.
- 2022-06-14 Area code 826 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 540.
Area codes nearest to 540
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
- 434 about 60 mi
- 304 about 95 mi
- 681 about 95 mi
- 686 about 106 mi
- 804 about 110 mi
Overlay codes in the same area
ZIP codes in area code 540
143 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Roanoke, VA | 41 |
| Blacksburg, VA | 4 |
| Winchester, VA | 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 540 numbers
3,240 FCC complaints are on file for 2,601 numbers in 540, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 210 |
| 2024 | 140 |
| 2025 | 177 |
Other area codes in Virginia
Virginia is one state with 10 area codes in the NANPA table. 540 is one of them.
Next to 540 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 540 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 540 was first assigned in Virginia. 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 Virginia next to a 540 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 540
Where is area code 540?
NANPA assigns area code 540 to Virginia, United States.
In which state does area code 540 sit?
Virginia. 540 is one of 10 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 540 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 540 are Roanoke, VA, Blacksburg, VA and Winchester, VA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 540?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 540, Verizon Virginia holds the most prefixes, 155 prefixes or 20%.
Which time zone does 540 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 540 as Eastern (E).
What year did 540 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1995-07-15, so 540 has been in use since 1995.
Does area code 540 have an overlay?
Yes. 826 (in service 2022-06-14) shares the same area with 540, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 540?
The area codes closest to 540, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 434 (about 60 miles), 304 (about 95 miles), 681 (about 95 miles), 686 (about 106 miles) and 804 (about 110 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 540 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 786 prefixes in service in 540, spread over 117 rate centers and 52 holders.
Are there complaints about 540 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 3,240 complaints for 2,601 numbers in 540. 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.