Area code
608
608 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Wisconsin, which has 8 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 608
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 608 at a glance
NANPA lists 785 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 608, held by 72 holders across 159 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1955-01-01 |
| Time zone | Central (C) |
| Assigned overlays | 353 (2023-09-15) |
| Prefixes in use | 785 |
| Pooled prefixes | 588 (75%) |
| Rate centers | 159 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 72 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-15 to 2025-08-21 (358 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 165 |
Rate centers in area code 608
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| MADISON | 197 | 25% |
| JANESVILLE | 45 | 6% |
| LA CROSSE | 41 | 5% |
| BELOIT | 25 | 3% |
| MIDDLETON | 17 | 2% |
| STOUGHTON | 13 | 2% |
| BARABOO | 12 | 2% |
| MONROE | 11 | 1% |
| 151 other rate centers | 424 | 54% |
Who holds the prefixes in 608
Wisconsin Bell holds the most prefixes, 80 (10%). 75% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Bell | 80 | 10% |
| United States Cellular | 76 | 10% |
| Frontier North | 55 | 7% |
| Verizon Wireless | 54 | 7% |
| Onvoy | 50 | 6% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 46 | 6% |
| 66 other carriers | 424 | 54% |
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 608
- 1955-01-01 Area code 608 went into service.
- 2023-09-15 Area code 353 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 608.
Area codes nearest to 608
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
- 563 about 81 mi
- 262 about 95 mi
- 920 about 100 mi
- 274 about 114 mi
- 779 about 126 mi
Overlay codes in the same area
- 353
ZIP codes in area code 608
165 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Madison, WI | 35 |
| Janesville, WI | 4 |
| La Crosse, WI | 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 608 numbers
2,123 FCC complaints are on file for 1,750 numbers in 608, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 84 |
| 2024 | 115 |
| 2025 | 125 |
Other area codes in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is one state with 8 area codes in the NANPA table. 608 is one of them.
Next to 608 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 608 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 608 was first assigned in Wisconsin. 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 Wisconsin next to a 608 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 608
Where is area code 608?
NANPA assigns area code 608 to Wisconsin, United States.
In which state does area code 608 sit?
Wisconsin. 608 is one of 8 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 608 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 608 are Madison, WI, Janesville, WI and La Crosse, WI. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 608?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 608, Wisconsin Bell holds the most prefixes, 80 prefixes or 10%.
Which time zone does 608 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 608 as Central (C).
What year did 608 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1955-01-01, so 608 has been in use since 1955.
Does area code 608 have an overlay?
Yes. 353 (in service 2023-09-15) shares the same area with 608, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 608?
The area codes closest to 608, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 563 (about 81 miles), 262 (about 95 miles), 920 (about 100 miles), 274 (about 114 miles) and 779 (about 126 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 608 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 785 prefixes in service in 608, spread over 159 rate centers and 72 holders.
Are there complaints about 608 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 2,123 complaints for 1,750 numbers in 608. 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.