Area code
847
847 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Illinois, which has 17 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 847
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 847 at a glance
NANPA lists 785 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 847, held by 19 holders across 46 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1996-01-20 |
| Time zone | Central (C) |
| Assigned overlays | 224 (2002-01-05) |
| Prefixes in use | 785 |
| Pooled prefixes | 407 (52%) |
| Rate centers | 46 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 19 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-02-09 to 2025-09-05 (60 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 60 |
Rate centers in area code 847
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NORTHBROOK | 122 | 16% |
| ROSELLE | 87 | 11% |
| ARLIGTNHTS | 38 | 5% |
| ELK GROVE | 37 | 5% |
| WAUKEGAN | 33 | 4% |
| DESPLAINES | 32 | 4% |
| SKOKIE | 31 | 4% |
| WHEELING | 31 | 4% |
| 38 other rate centers | 374 | 48% |
Who holds the prefixes in 847
Illinois Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 361 (46%). 52% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Bell Tel | 361 | 46% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 80 | 10% |
| Mcimetro Access Transmission Services | 67 | 9% |
| Teleport Communications America | 57 | 7% |
| T-Mobile USA | 54 | 7% |
| Level 3 Communications | 46 | 6% |
| 13 other carriers | 120 | 15% |
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 847
- 1989-11-11 Area code 708, named as the parent of 847 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1996-01-20 Area code 847 went into service.
- 2002-01-05 Area code 224 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 847.
Area codes nearest to 847
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 847
60 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Palatine, IL | 7 |
| Evanston, IL | 6 |
| Elgin, IL | 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 847 numbers
3,182 FCC complaints are on file for 2,420 numbers in 847, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 111 |
| 2024 | 123 |
| 2025 | 82 |
Other area codes in Illinois
Illinois is one state with 17 area codes in the NANPA table. 847 is one of them.
Next to 847 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 847 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 847 was first assigned in Illinois. 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 Illinois next to a 847 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 847
Where is area code 847?
NANPA assigns area code 847 to Illinois, United States.
In which state does area code 847 sit?
Illinois. 847 is one of 17 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 847 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 847 are Palatine, IL, Evanston, IL and Elgin, IL. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 847?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 847, Illinois Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 361 prefixes or 46%.
Which time zone does 847 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 847 as Central (C).
What year did 847 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1996-01-20, so 847 has been in use since 1996.
Does area code 847 have an overlay?
Yes. 224 (in service 2002-01-05) shares the same area with 847, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 847?
The area codes closest to 847, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 312 (about 11 miles), 630 (about 22 miles), 331 (about 25 miles), 708 (about 28 miles) and 464 (about 35 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 847 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 785 prefixes in service in 847, spread over 46 rate centers and 19 holders.
Are there complaints about 847 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 3,182 complaints for 2,420 numbers in 847. 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.