Area code
903
903 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Texas, which has 29 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 903
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 903 at a glance
NANPA lists 771 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 903, held by 49 holders across 194 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1990-11-04 |
| Time zone | Central (C) |
| Assigned overlays | 430 (2003-02-15) |
| Prefixes in use | 771 |
| Pooled prefixes | 524 (68%) |
| Rate centers | 194 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 49 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-05 to 2026-06-29 (253 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 182 |
Rate centers in area code 903
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TYLER | 75 | 10% |
| LONGVIEW | 72 | 9% |
| TEXARKANA | 39 | 5% |
| SHERMAN | 31 | 4% |
| GREENVILLE | 28 | 4% |
| PARIS | 19 | 2% |
| ATHENS | 15 | 2% |
| CORSICANA | 15 | 2% |
| 186 other rate centers | 477 | 62% |
Who holds the prefixes in 903
Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 126 (16%). 68% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Bell | 126 | 16% |
| Verizon Wireless | 96 | 12% |
| Frontier Comm Of Texas | 89 | 12% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 70 | 9% |
| Level 3 Communications | 64 | 8% |
| Windstream Comm SW | 60 | 8% |
| 43 other carriers | 266 | 35% |
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 903
- 1947-01-01 Area code 214, named as the parent of 903 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1990-11-04 Area code 903 went into service.
- 2003-02-15 Area code 430 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 903.
Area codes nearest to 903
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 903
182 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Tyler, TX | 15 |
| Longview, TX | 9 |
| Texarkana, TX | 6 |
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 903 numbers
2,486 FCC complaints are on file for 1,999 numbers in 903, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 90 |
| 2024 | 102 |
| 2025 | 85 |
Other area codes in Texas
Texas is one state with 29 area codes in the NANPA table. 903 is one of them.
Next to 903 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 903 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 903 was first assigned in Texas. 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 Texas next to a 903 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 903
Where is area code 903?
NANPA assigns area code 903 to Texas, United States.
In which state does area code 903 sit?
Texas. 903 is one of 29 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 903 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 903 are Tyler, TX, Longview, TX and Texarkana, TX. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 903?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 903, Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 126 prefixes or 16%.
Which time zone does 903 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 903 as Central (C).
What year did 903 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1990-11-04, so 903 has been in use since 1990.
Does area code 903 have an overlay?
Yes. 430 (in service 2003-02-15) shares the same area with 903, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 903?
The area codes closest to 903, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 469 (about 79 miles), 945 (about 79 miles), 972 (about 79 miles), 214 (about 81 miles) and 817 (about 109 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 903 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 771 prefixes in service in 903, spread over 194 rate centers and 49 holders.
Are there complaints about 903 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 2,486 complaints for 1,999 numbers in 903. 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.