Area code
803
803 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to South Carolina, which has 6 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 803
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.
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Area code 803 at a glance
NANPA lists 783 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 803, held by 52 holders across 82 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1947-01-01 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 839 (2020-05-26) |
| Prefixes in use | 783 |
| Pooled prefixes | 535 (68%) |
| Rate centers | 82 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 52 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-18 to 2026-04-20 (318 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 111 |
Rate centers in area code 803
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| COLUMBIA | 251 | 32% |
| ROCK HILL | 42 | 5% |
| ORANGEBURG | 37 | 5% |
| AIKEN | 32 | 4% |
| NO AUGUSTA | 25 | 3% |
| SUMTER | 20 | 3% |
| CAMDEN | 19 | 2% |
| LANCASTER | 16 | 2% |
| 74 other rate centers | 341 | 44% |
Who holds the prefixes in 803
Southern Bell Tel & Tel holds the most prefixes, 173 (22%). 68% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Bell Tel & Tel | 173 | 22% |
| Verizon Wireless | 111 | 14% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 80 | 10% |
| T-Mobile USA | 44 | 6% |
| Paetec Itel | 40 | 5% |
| Level 3 Communications | 32 | 4% |
| 46 other carriers | 303 | 39% |
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 803
- 1947-01-01 Area code 803 went into service.
- 1995-12-03 Area code 864 went into service and names 803 as its parent.
- 1998-03-22 Area code 843 went into service and names 803 as its parent.
- 2020-05-26 Area code 839 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 803.
Area codes nearest to 803
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 803
111 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | 34 |
| Aiken, SC | 6 |
| Rock Hill, SC | 5 |
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 803 numbers
3,172 FCC complaints are on file for 2,668 numbers in 803, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 183 |
| 2024 | 178 |
| 2025 | 147 |
Other area codes in South Carolina
South Carolina is one state with 6 area codes in the NANPA table. 803 is one of them.
Next to 803 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 803 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 803 was first assigned in South Carolina. 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 South Carolina next to a 803 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 803
Where is area code 803?
NANPA assigns area code 803 to South Carolina, United States.
In which state does area code 803 sit?
South Carolina. 803 is one of 6 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 803 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 803 are Columbia, SC, Aiken, SC and Rock Hill, SC. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 803?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 803, Southern Bell Tel & Tel holds the most prefixes, 173 prefixes or 22%.
Which time zone does 803 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 803 as Eastern (E).
What year did 803 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 803 has been in use since 1947.
Does area code 803 have an overlay?
Yes. 839 (in service 2020-05-26) shares the same area with 803, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 803?
The area codes closest to 803, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 843 (about 71 miles), 854 (about 72 miles), 864 (about 86 miles), 704 (about 91 miles) and 980 (about 91 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 803 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 783 prefixes in service in 803, spread over 82 rate centers and 52 holders.
Are there complaints about 803 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 3,172 complaints for 2,668 numbers in 803. 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.