Area code 202: where it is and who calls from it
Area code 202 is in District of Columbia.
Washington, D.C. (all)
| Where | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Eastern Time ยท local time |
| In service since | 1947 |
| Overlay | Yes, with 771 |
| Prefixes assigned | 784 of 792 possible (99%) |
Overlay: 202 covers the same area as 771. Overlay areas use 10-digit dialing, so a seven-digit number alone won't connect, and neighbors can have different area codes.
Where 202 numbers started
Every prefix is assigned to a rate center, the local calling area it was set up in. These are the biggest in 202, with how many prefixes each has.
Who holds 202 numbers
- Mobile carrier 30%
- Local phone company 42%
- Internet / business phone carrier 24%
- Paging service 2%
- Phone company 2%
| Carrier | Type | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon (local phone) | Local phone company | 327 | 42% |
| Verizon Wireless | Mobile carrier | 88 | 11% |
| T-Mobile (including Sprint) | Mobile carrier | 55 | 7% |
| AT&T Mobility | Mobile carrier | 53 | 7% |
| MetroPCS (T-Mobile) | Mobile carrier | 42 | 5% |
| Onvoy | Internet / business phone carrier | 38 | 5% |
| MCImetro (Verizon Business) | Internet / business phone carrier | 33 | 4% |
| Level 3 (Lumen) | Internet / business phone carrier | 30 | 4% |
| Bandwidth | Internet / business phone carrier | 29 | 4% |
| Windstream (PAETEC) | Internet / business phone carrier | 19 | 2% |
Most prefixes are pooled: the 10,000 numbers in each are handed out in blocks of 1,000 to different carriers, and people can also take their numbers to another carrier. So the carrier shown is where the prefix started, not a guarantee about any one number.
States served: District of Columbia.
Other area codes in District of Columbia
Got a call from 202?
An area code tells you where a number was first assigned, not where the caller is. People keep their numbers when they move, and scammers can fake any number. If you weren't expecting the call, let it go to voicemail.
If the call shows a 202 number that matches the first six digits of your own, that's often neighbor spoofing. Use the box above to check the full number.
Area code facts from the NANPA area code database (updated 10/06/2026); prefixes and carriers from NANPA's central office code records (updated 2026-10-10). Place description adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.