---
title: "Area code 908: New Jersey, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/908.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/908"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 908 serves New Jersey, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in New Jersey."
---

# Area code 908: New Jersey, United States

Area code 908 serves New Jersey, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in New Jersey.

NANPA lists 718 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 908, held by 44 holders across 48 rate centers.
Verizon New Jersey holds the most prefixes, 143 (20%). 72% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 2,567 complaints on file for 2,067 numbers in 908, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1990-11-01
- Time zone: Eastern (E)
- Prefixes in use: 718
- Pooled prefixes: 516 (72%)
- Rate centers: 48
- Companies holding prefixes: 44
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-15 to 2026-05-08 (214 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 53

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ELIZABETH | 83 | 12% |
| SOMERVILLE | 70 | 10% |
| PLAINFIELD | 48 | 7% |
| CRANFORD | 38 | 5% |
| SUMMIT | 37 | 5% |
| UNIONVILLE | 33 | 5% |
| BERNARDSVL | 27 | 4% |
| LINDEN | 27 | 4% |
| 40 other rate centers | 355 | 49% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Verizon New Jersey | 143 | 20% |
| Level 3 Communications | 83 | 12% |
| Verizon Wireless | 83 | 12% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 74 | 10% |
| Omnipoint Communications | 56 | 8% |
| Mcimetro Access Transmission Services | 45 | 6% |
| 38 other carriers | 234 | 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.

## History

- 1947-01-01: Area code 201, named as the parent of 908 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1990-11-01: Area code 908 went into service.
- 1997-06-01: Area code 732 went into service and names 908 as its parent.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 908, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 862 (about 23 miles), 973 (about 23 miles), 732 (about 25 miles), 848 (about 25 miles) and 201 (about 26 miles).

## ZIP codes

53 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Toms River, NJ (5 ZIP codes), Elizabeth, NJ (4 ZIP codes) and Plainfield, NJ (4 ZIP codes). A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems, so a ZIP code can sit in more than one area code and an area code spans many ZIP codes.

## Complaints on file

2,567 complaints for 2,067 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 90
- 2024: 103
- 2025: 106

## Questions

### Where is area code 908?

NANPA assigns area code 908 to New Jersey, United States.

### In which state does area code 908 sit?

New Jersey. 908 is one of 10 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 908 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 908 are Toms River, NJ, Elizabeth, NJ and Plainfield, NJ. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 908?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 908, Verizon New Jersey holds the most prefixes, 143 prefixes or 20%.

### Which time zone does 908 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 908 as Eastern (E).

### What year did 908 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1990-11-01, so 908 has been in use since 1990.

### Does area code 908 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 908.

### Which area codes are nearest to 908?

The area codes closest to 908, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 862 (about 23 miles), 973 (about 23 miles), 732 (about 25 miles), 848 (about 25 miles) and 201 (about 26 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 908 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 718 prefixes in service in 908, spread over 48 rate centers and 44 holders.

### Are there complaints about 908 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 2,567 complaints for 2,067 numbers in 908. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.

Sources: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17; NANPA NPA report dated 2026-10-18; FCC unwanted-call complaints, data fetched 2026-10-17; ZIP code places from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).