Area code
986
986 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Idaho, which has 2 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 986
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Area code 986 at a glance
NANPA lists 184 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 986, held by 36 holders across 110 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 2017-09-05 |
| Time zone | Pacific (P) |
| Assigned overlays | 208 (1947-01-01) |
| Prefixes in use | 184 |
| Pooled prefixes | 184 (100%) |
| Rate centers | 110 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 36 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2018-03-16 to 2026-06-05 (181 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 125 |
Rate centers in area code 986
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| BOISE | 32 | 17% |
| COERDALENE | 11 | 6% |
| IDAHOFALLS | 9 | 5% |
| NAMPA | 7 | 4% |
| CALDWELL | 4 | 2% |
| EMMETT | 3 | 2% |
| MOSCOW | 3 | 2% |
| SANDPOINT | 3 | 2% |
| 102 other rate centers | 112 | 61% |
Who holds the prefixes in 986
Fractel holds the most prefixes, 37 (20%). 100% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fractel | 37 | 20% |
| Onvoy | 33 | 18% |
| Ton80 Communications | 26 | 14% |
| T-Mobile USA | 14 | 8% |
| Bandwidth.com CLEC | 10 | 5% |
| Verizon Wireless | 10 | 5% |
| 30 other carriers | 54 | 29% |
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 986
- 1947-01-01 Area code 208, named as the parent of 986 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2017-09-05 Area code 986 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 986
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 986
125 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Boise, ID | 28 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 7 |
| Pocatello, ID | 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 986 numbers
250 FCC complaints are on file for 229 numbers in 986, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2024 | 47 |
| 2025 | 35 |
Other area codes in Idaho
Idaho is one state with 2 area codes in the NANPA table. 986 is one of them.
Next to 986 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 986 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 986 was first assigned in Idaho. 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 Idaho next to a 986 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 986
Where is area code 986?
NANPA assigns area code 986 to Idaho, United States.
In which state does area code 986 sit?
Idaho. 986 is one of 2 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 986 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 986 are Boise, ID, Idaho Falls, ID and Pocatello, ID. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 986?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 986, Fractel holds the most prefixes, 37 prefixes or 20%.
Which time zone does 986 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 986 as Pacific (P).
What year did 986 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2017-09-05, so 986 has been in use since 2017.
Does area code 986 have an overlay?
Yes. 208 (in service 1947-01-01) shares the same area with 986, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 986?
The area codes closest to 986, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 509 (about 262 miles), 385 (about 291 miles), 801 (about 291 miles), 406 (about 307 miles) and 541 (about 312 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 986 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 184 prefixes in service in 986, spread over 110 rate centers and 36 holders.
Are there complaints about 986 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 250 complaints for 229 numbers in 986. 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.