--- title: "Area code 986: Idaho, United States" url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/986.md" canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/986" last_updated: "2026-10-23" type: "reference" summary: "Area code 986 serves Idaho, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Idaho." --- # Area code 986: Idaho, United States Area code 986 serves Idaho, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Idaho. NANPA lists 184 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 986, held by 36 holders across 110 rate centers. Fractel holds the most prefixes, 37 (20%). 100% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies. The FCC unwanted-call data has 250 complaints on file for 229 numbers in 986, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings. ## Facts - 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 | 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% | ## Carriers | 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. ## History - 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. ## Nearest area codes 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). ## ZIP codes 125 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Boise, ID (28 ZIP codes), Idaho Falls, ID (7 ZIP codes) and Pocatello, ID (6 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 250 complaints for 229 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year: - 2023: 22 - 2024: 47 - 2025: 35 ## Questions ### 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. 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).