Area code 973: where it is and who calls from it
Area code 973 is in New Jersey.
New Jersey (Newark, Paterson, and most of northeastern New Jersey)
| Where | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Eastern Time ยท local time |
| In service since | 1997 |
| Overlay | Yes, with 862 |
| Prefixes assigned | 779 of 792 possible (98%) |
Overlay: 973 covers the same area as 862. Overlay areas use 10-digit dialing, so a seven-digit number alone won't connect, and neighbors can have different area codes.
Where 973 numbers started
Every prefix is assigned to a rate center, the local calling area it was set up in. These are the biggest in 973, with how many prefixes each has.
Who holds 973 numbers
- Mobile carrier 18%
- Local phone company 48%
- Internet / business phone carrier 29%
- Paging service 1%
- Phone company 3%
| Carrier | Type | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon (local phone) | Local phone company | 335 | 43% |
| Level 3 (Lumen) | Internet / business phone carrier | 76 | 10% |
| MCImetro (Verizon Business) | Internet / business phone carrier | 56 | 7% |
| Verizon Wireless | Mobile carrier | 53 | 7% |
| T-Mobile (including Sprint) | Mobile carrier | 48 | 6% |
| Teleport Communications America | Internet / business phone carrier | 31 | 4% |
| Windstream (PAETEC) | Internet / business phone carrier | 30 | 4% |
| AT&T Mobility | Mobile carrier | 26 | 3% |
| AT&T (local phone) | Local phone company | 17 | 2% |
| MetroPCS (T-Mobile) | Mobile carrier | 16 | 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: New Jersey.
Other area codes in New Jersey
201 551 609 640 732 848 856 862 908
Got a call from 973?
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 973 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.