Area code
862
862 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to New Jersey, which has 10 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 862
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 862 at a glance
NANPA lists 380 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 862, held by 50 holders across 40 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 2001-12-29 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 973 (1997-06-01) |
| Prefixes in use | 380 |
| Pooled prefixes | 373 (98%) |
| Rate centers | 40 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 50 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-10-17 to 2026-08-13 (358 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 68 |
Rate centers in area code 862
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NEWARK | 84 | 22% |
| PASSAIC | 39 | 10% |
| ORANGE | 25 | 7% |
| PATERSON | 23 | 6% |
| BLOOMFIELD | 22 | 6% |
| MORRISTOWN | 19 | 5% |
| CALDWELL | 13 | 3% |
| POMPTONLKS | 12 | 3% |
| 32 other rate centers | 143 | 38% |
Who holds the prefixes in 862
Omnipoint Communications holds the most prefixes, 70 (18%). 98% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Omnipoint Communications | 70 | 18% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 56 | 15% |
| Onvoy | 50 | 13% |
| Verizon Wireless | 36 | 9% |
| Metropcs | 25 | 7% |
| Bandwidth.com CLEC | 18 | 5% |
| 44 other carriers | 125 | 33% |
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 862
- 1997-06-01 Area code 973, named as the parent of 862 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2001-12-29 Area code 862 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 862
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 862
68 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Newark, NJ | 20 |
| Paterson, NJ | 14 |
| Morristown, NJ | 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 862 numbers
1,121 FCC complaints are on file for 780 numbers in 862, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 44 |
| 2024 | 49 |
| 2025 | 74 |
Other area codes in New Jersey
New Jersey is one state with 10 area codes in the NANPA table. 862 is one of them.
Next to 862 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 862 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 862 was first assigned in New Jersey. 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 Jersey next to a 862 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 862
Where is area code 862?
NANPA assigns area code 862 to New Jersey, United States.
In which state does area code 862 sit?
New Jersey. 862 is one of 10 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 862 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 862 are Newark, NJ, Paterson, NJ and Morristown, NJ. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 862?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 862, Omnipoint Communications holds the most prefixes, 70 prefixes or 18%.
Which time zone does 862 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 862 as Eastern (E).
What year did 862 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2001-12-29, so 862 has been in use since 2001.
Does area code 862 have an overlay?
Yes. 973 (in service 1997-06-01) shares the same area with 862, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 862?
The area codes closest to 862, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 201 (about 9 miles), 551 (about 13 miles), 908 (about 23 miles), 732 (about 38 miles) and 848 (about 38 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 862 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 380 prefixes in service in 862, spread over 40 rate centers and 50 holders.
Are there complaints about 862 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 1,121 complaints for 780 numbers in 862. 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.