Area code
863
863 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Florida, which has 23 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 863
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 863 at a glance
NANPA lists 471 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 863, held by 41 holders across 22 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1999-09-20 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Prefixes in use | 471 |
| Pooled prefixes | 374 (79%) |
| Rate centers | 22 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 41 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-02-06 to 2026-07-07 (211 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 44 |
Rate centers in area code 863
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| LAKELAND | 114 | 24% |
| WINTER HVN | 77 | 16% |
| AVON PARK | 29 | 6% |
| HAINESCITY | 27 | 6% |
| LAKE WALES | 27 | 6% |
| SEBRING | 23 | 5% |
| BARTOW | 22 | 5% |
| ARCADIA | 18 | 4% |
| 14 other rate centers | 134 | 28% |
Who holds the prefixes in 863
Frontier Comm Of Florida holds the most prefixes, 78 (17%). 79% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Frontier Comm Of Florida | 78 | 17% |
| Centurylink Of Florida, INC. (united) | 46 | 10% |
| Verizon Wireless | 45 | 10% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 36 | 8% |
| Aerial Communications | 31 | 7% |
| Onvoy | 25 | 5% |
| 35 other carriers | 210 | 45% |
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 863
- 1995-05-28 Area code 941, named as the parent of 863 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1999-09-20 Area code 863 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 863
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
ZIP codes in area code 863
44 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Lakeland, FL | 13 |
| Sebring, FL | 5 |
| Arcadia, FL | 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 863 numbers
1,942 FCC complaints are on file for 1,369 numbers in 863, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 87 |
| 2024 | 69 |
| 2025 | 119 |
Other area codes in Florida
Florida is one state with 23 area codes in the NANPA table. 863 is one of them.
Next to 863 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 863 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 863 was first assigned in Florida. 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 Florida next to a 863 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 863
Where is area code 863?
NANPA assigns area code 863 to Florida, United States.
In which state does area code 863 sit?
Florida. 863 is one of 23 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 863 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 863 are Lakeland, FL, Sebring, FL and Arcadia, FL. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 863?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 863, Frontier Comm Of Florida holds the most prefixes, 78 prefixes or 17%.
Which time zone does 863 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 863 as Eastern (E).
What year did 863 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1999-09-20, so 863 has been in use since 1999.
Does area code 863 have an overlay?
The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 863.
Which area codes are nearest to 863?
The area codes closest to 863, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 656 (about 39 miles), 813 (about 53 miles), 941 (about 54 miles), 321 (about 62 miles) and 407 (about 62 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 863 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 471 prefixes in service in 863, spread over 22 rate centers and 41 holders.
Are there complaints about 863 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 1,942 complaints for 1,369 numbers in 863. 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.