512 area code — Austin, TX geographic

Data: NANPA public reports, current as of July 28, 2026.

Area code 512 is a geographic code serving Austin, Texas in the Central time zone. It has been in service since January 1, 1947. Together with 737 it forms the 512/737 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 783 active NXX prefixes in 512, assigned to 36 carriers. 523 of those prefixes are pooled — shared between carriers in thousands-number blocks. The code spans 35 rate centers (billing localities).

Later relief produced 210 (1992), 361 (1999), 737 (2013) from its territory.

Official projections put exhaust for the 512/737 complex at 1Q 2044.

The dialing plan is 10D for home-NPA local calls and 10D across codes.

To check where a specific 512 number was issued, look up its six-digit prefix; to check who is actually calling, ignore the display and verify through an official callback number — caller ID is assertable and routinely spoofed.

Largest localities in 512

FAQ

Is 512 a toll-free number?

No. 512 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 737 and 512 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 512/737 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.

Will 512 run out of numbers?

NANPA's current forecast projects exhaust in 1Q 2044 — decades of capacity remain.

Why am I getting spam calls from 512 numbers?

Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 512 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.