402 area code — Omaha, NE geographic
Phone numbers beginning 402 are registered to the Omaha area of Nebraska (Central time zone). The code entered service on January 1, 1947. Together with 531 it forms the 402/531 overlay. Because of number portability and VoIP, the area code tells you where the number was issued, not where the caller is right now.
NANPA lists 782 active NXX prefixes in 402, assigned to 57 carriers. 563 of those prefixes are pooled — shared between carriers in thousands-number blocks. The code spans 281 rate centers (billing localities).
If a 402 call asks for money or personal data, treat the displayed number as unverified: hang up and reach the organization through its published number. Numbering data locates numbers, not callers.
Later relief produced 531 (2011) from its territory.
Official projections put exhaust for the 402/531 complex at 1Q 2040.
The dialing plan is 10D for home-NPA local calls and 10D across codes.
Among Nebraska codes, 402 stands out as the oldest area code in Nebraska, in service since 1947.
Largest localities in 402
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Also served by |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 268 | 531 |
| Lincoln | 80 | 531 |
| Norfolk | 19 | 531 |
| Fremont | 15 | 531 |
| Hastings | 12 | 531 |
| Columbus | 9 | 531 |
| Beatrice | 8 | 531 |
| York | 7 | — |
| South Sioux City | 6 | 531 |
| Tekamah | 6 | 531 |
FAQ
Where is a 402 number from?
402 is assigned to Omaha and surrounding areas of Nebraska in the Central time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.
Is 402 a toll-free number?
No. 402 is a geographic code; calls are billed like any other domestic call. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
Why do 531 and 402 cover the same place?
They are overlays: when a code runs low on numbers, a new code is added over the same territory instead of splitting it. The 402/531 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.