Area code 821: where it is and who calls from it
Area code 821 is in South Carolina.
South Carolina (The Upstate, including Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Clemson, and most of northwestern South Carolina)
| Where | South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Eastern Time ยท local time |
| In service since | 2024 |
| Overlay | Yes, with 864 |
| Prefixes assigned | 42 of 792 possible (5%) |
Overlay: 821 covers the same area as 864. Overlay areas use 10-digit dialing, so a seven-digit number alone won't connect, and neighbors can have different area codes.
Where 821 numbers started
Every prefix is assigned to a rate center, the local calling area it was set up in. These are the biggest in 821, with how many prefixes each has.
Who holds 821 numbers
- Mobile carrier 64%
- Internet / business phone carrier 31%
- Phone company 5%
| Carrier | Type | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Mobility | Mobile carrier | 24 | 57% |
| Onvoy | Internet / business phone carrier | 11 | 26% |
| Nuso | Internet / business phone carrier | 1 | 2% |
| MetroPCS (T-Mobile) | Mobile carrier | 1 | 2% |
| T-Mobile (including Sprint) | Mobile carrier | 1 | 2% |
| Wavenation | Phone company | 1 | 2% |
| Leap Telecom | Phone company | 1 | 2% |
| Tpx Communications | Internet / business phone carrier | 1 | 2% |
| Verizon Wireless | Mobile carrier | 1 | 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: South Carolina.
Other area codes in South Carolina
Got a call from 821?
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 821 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.