Area code
646
646 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 646
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 646 at a glance
NANPA lists 781 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 646, held by 39 holders across 1 rate center.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1999-07-01 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 212 (1947-01-01), 917 (1992-01-01), 332 (2017-06-10) |
| Prefixes in use | 781 |
| Pooled prefixes | 667 (85%) |
| Rate centers | 1 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 39 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-23 to 2023-11-15 (381 prefixes) |
Rate centers in area code 646
The largest rate center is NWYRCYZN01, with 781 prefixes (100%).
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NWYRCYZN01 | 781 | 100% |
Who holds the prefixes in 646
Omnipoint Communications holds the most prefixes, 192 (25%). 85% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Omnipoint Communications | 192 | 25% |
| Verizon New York | 88 | 11% |
| Verizon Wireless | 84 | 11% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 72 | 9% |
| Paetec Itel | 66 | 8% |
| Level 3 Communications | 59 | 8% |
| 33 other carriers | 220 | 28% |
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 646
- 1947-01-01 Area code 212, named as the parent of 646 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1999-07-01 Area code 646 went into service.
Complaints on file for 646 numbers
7,253 FCC complaints are on file for 4,112 numbers in 646, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 117 |
| 2024 | 162 |
| 2025 | 172 |
Other area codes in New York
New York is one state with 23 area codes in the NANPA table. 646 is one of them.
Next to 646 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 646 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 646 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 646 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 646
Where is area code 646?
NANPA assigns area code 646 to New York, United States.
In which state does area code 646 sit?
New York. 646 is one of 23 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Who owns area code 646?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 646, Omnipoint Communications holds the most prefixes, 192 prefixes or 25%.
Which time zone does 646 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 646 as Eastern (E).
What year did 646 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1999-07-01, so 646 has been in use since 1999.
Does area code 646 have an overlay?
Yes. 212 (in service 1947-01-01), 917 (in service 1992-01-01) and 332 (in service 2017-06-10) share the same area with 646, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
How many prefixes does area code 646 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 781 prefixes in service in 646, spread over 1 rate center and 39 holders.
Are there complaints about 646 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 7,253 complaints for 4,112 numbers in 646. 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.