Area code
973
973 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 973
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 973 at a glance
NANPA lists 777 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 973, held by 31 holders across 42 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1997-06-01 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 862 (2001-12-29) |
| Prefixes in use | 777 |
| Pooled prefixes | 449 (58%) |
| Rate centers | 42 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 31 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-05 to 2026-03-02 (115 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 69 |
Rate centers in area code 973
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NEWARK | 146 | 19% |
| MORRISTOWN | 90 | 12% |
| PASSAIC | 46 | 6% |
| CALDWELL | 42 | 5% |
| PATERSON | 39 | 5% |
| ORANGE | 33 | 4% |
| BLOOMFIELD | 28 | 4% |
| WHIPPANY | 28 | 4% |
| 34 other rate centers | 325 | 42% |
Who holds the prefixes in 973
Verizon New Jersey holds the most prefixes, 335 (43%). 58% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon New Jersey | 335 | 43% |
| Level 3 Communications | 76 | 10% |
| Mcimetro Access Transmission Services | 56 | 7% |
| Verizon Wireless | 53 | 7% |
| Omnipoint Communications | 48 | 6% |
| Teleport Communications America | 31 | 4% |
| 25 other carriers | 178 | 23% |
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 973
- 1947-01-01 Area code 201, named as the parent of 973 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1997-06-01 Area code 973 went into service.
- 2001-12-29 Area code 862 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 973.
Area codes nearest to 973
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 973
69 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 973 numbers
3,223 FCC complaints are on file for 2,409 numbers in 973, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 98 |
| 2024 | 88 |
| 2025 | 91 |
Other area codes in New Jersey
New Jersey is one state with 10 area codes in the NANPA table. 973 is one of them.
Next to 973 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 973 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 973 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 973 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 973
Where is area code 973?
NANPA assigns area code 973 to New Jersey, United States.
In which state does area code 973 sit?
New Jersey. 973 is one of 10 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 973 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 973 are Newark, NJ, Paterson, NJ and Morristown, NJ. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 973?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 973, Verizon New Jersey holds the most prefixes, 335 prefixes or 43%.
Which time zone does 973 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 973 as Eastern (E).
What year did 973 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1997-06-01, so 973 has been in use since 1997.
Does area code 973 have an overlay?
Yes. 862 (in service 2001-12-29) shares the same area with 973, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 973?
The area codes closest to 973, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 201 (about 9 miles), 551 (about 13 miles), 908 (about 23 miles), 914 (about 38 miles) and 732 (about 39 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 973 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 777 prefixes in service in 973, spread over 42 rate centers and 31 holders.
Are there complaints about 973 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 3,223 complaints for 2,409 numbers in 973. 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.