Area code
816
816 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Missouri, which has 9 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 816
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 816 at a glance
NANPA lists 785 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 816, held by 51 holders across 73 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1947-01-01 |
| Time zone | Central (C) |
| Assigned overlays | 975 (2023-10-13) |
| Prefixes in use | 785 |
| Pooled prefixes | 584 (74%) |
| Rate centers | 73 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 51 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-23 to 2025-04-22 (246 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 143 |
Rate centers in area code 816
The largest rate center is KANSASCITY, with 442 prefixes (56%).
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| KANSASCITY | 442 | 56% |
| ST JOSEPH | 40 | 5% |
| LEESSUMMIT | 20 | 3% |
| BELTON | 17 | 2% |
| LIBERTY | 16 | 2% |
| BLUE SPG | 15 | 2% |
| CAMERON | 13 | 2% |
| EXCELSRSPG | 8 | 1% |
| 65 other rate centers | 214 | 27% |
Who holds the prefixes in 816
Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 220 (28%). 74% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Bell | 220 | 28% |
| Aerial Communications | 83 | 11% |
| Onvoy | 69 | 9% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 59 | 8% |
| Centurylink | 47 | 6% |
| Verizon Wireless | 43 | 5% |
| 45 other carriers | 264 | 34% |
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 816
- 1947-01-01 Area code 816 went into service.
- 1997-10-12 Area code 660 went into service and names 816 as its parent.
- 2023-10-13 Area code 975 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 816.
Area codes nearest to 816
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 816
143 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | 71 |
| Saint Joseph, MO | 8 |
| Lees Summit, MO | 7 |
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 816 numbers
2,497 FCC complaints are on file for 1,942 numbers in 816, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 83 |
| 2024 | 140 |
| 2025 | 135 |
Other area codes in Missouri
Missouri is one state with 9 area codes in the NANPA table. 816 is one of them.
Next to 816 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 816 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 816 was first assigned in Missouri. 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 Missouri next to a 816 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 816
Where is area code 816?
NANPA assigns area code 816 to Missouri, United States.
In which state does area code 816 sit?
Missouri. 816 is one of 9 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 816 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 816 are Kansas City, MO, Saint Joseph, MO and Lees Summit, MO. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 816?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 816, Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 220 prefixes or 28%.
Which time zone does 816 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 816 as Central (C).
What year did 816 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 816 has been in use since 1947.
Does area code 816 have an overlay?
Yes. 975 (in service 2023-10-13) shares the same area with 816, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 816?
The area codes closest to 816, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 913 (about 28 miles), 660 (about 66 miles), 417 (about 151 miles), 785 (about 154 miles) and 235 (about 172 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 816 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 785 prefixes in service in 816, spread over 73 rate centers and 51 holders.
Are there complaints about 816 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 2,497 complaints for 1,942 numbers in 816. 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.