Area code
838
838 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 838
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 838 at a glance
NANPA lists 220 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 838, held by 41 holders across 107 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 2017-09-19 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 518 (1947-01-01) |
| Prefixes in use | 220 |
| Pooled prefixes | 211 (96%) |
| Rate centers | 107 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 41 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2017-08-02 to 2026-07-28 (212 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 120 |
Rate centers in area code 838
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| ALBANY | 28 | 13% |
| SCHENCTADY | 10 | 5% |
| TROY | 8 | 4% |
| COLONIE | 7 | 3% |
| JOHNSTOWN | 7 | 3% |
| HUDSON | 5 | 2% |
| AMSTERDAM | 4 | 2% |
| CATSKILL | 4 | 2% |
| 99 other rate centers | 147 | 67% |
Who holds the prefixes in 838
Onvoy, Llc- Ny holds the most prefixes, 53 (24%). 96% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Onvoy, Llc- Ny | 53 | 24% |
| Fractel | 33 | 15% |
| Onvoy Spectrum | 20 | 9% |
| Coretel New York | 16 | 7% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 15 | 7% |
| Peering Hub | 14 | 6% |
| 35 other carriers | 69 | 31% |
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 838
- 1947-01-01 Area code 518, named as the parent of 838 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2017-09-19 Area code 838 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 838
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
- 413 about 70 mi
- 802 about 96 mi
- 845 about 99 mi
- 329 about 104 mi
- 860 about 104 mi
Overlay codes in the same area
ZIP codes in area code 838
120 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Albany, NY | 50 |
| Troy, NY | 4 |
| Keeseville, NY | 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 838 numbers
448 FCC complaints are on file for 426 numbers in 838, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 24 |
| 2024 | 50 |
| 2025 | 195 |
Other area codes in New York
New York is one state with 23 area codes in the NANPA table. 838 is one of them.
Next to 838 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 838 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 838 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 838 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 838
Where is area code 838?
NANPA assigns area code 838 to New York, United States.
In which state does area code 838 sit?
New York. 838 is one of 23 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 838 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 838 are Albany, NY, Troy, NY and Keeseville, NY. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 838?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 838, Onvoy, Llc- Ny holds the most prefixes, 53 prefixes or 24%.
Which time zone does 838 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 838 as Eastern (E).
What year did 838 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2017-09-19, so 838 has been in use since 2017.
Does area code 838 have an overlay?
Yes. 518 (in service 1947-01-01) shares the same area with 838, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 838?
The area codes closest to 838, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 413 (about 70 miles), 802 (about 96 miles), 845 (about 99 miles), 329 (about 104 miles) and 860 (about 104 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 838 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 220 prefixes in service in 838, spread over 107 rate centers and 41 holders.
Are there complaints about 838 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 448 complaints for 426 numbers in 838. 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.