515 area code — Des Moines, IA geographic

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

Area code 515 is a geographic code serving Des Moines, Iowa in the Central time zone. It has been in service since January 1, 1947. Keep in mind the code identifies where the number was registered; the person calling may be elsewhere.

The code currently holds 577 working prefixes, held by 72 different carriers. Of these, 426 are pooled prefixes shared by multiple carriers. Numbers are anchored to 98 rate centers — billing localities that fix where each prefix belongs.

As demand grew it in turn gave rise to 641 (2000).

The current NANPA exhaust forecast is 2Q 2042.

Local calls inside 515 are dialed 10D; 1+10 digit permissible at service provider discretion..

Practical takeaway: the 515 label narrows geography to Iowa, the prefix narrows it to a locality, and neither authenticates a caller. Verification means calling back through a number you found yourself.

Largest localities in 515

FAQ

Will 515 run out of numbers?

NANPA's current forecast projects exhaust in 2Q 2042 — decades of capacity remain.

Why am I getting spam calls from 515 numbers?

Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 515 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.

Where is a 515 number from?

515 is assigned to Des Moines and surrounding areas of Iowa in the Central time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.

Is 515 a toll-free number?

No. 515 is a geographic code; calls are billed like any other domestic call. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.