716 area code — Buffalo, NY geographic
If a call shows area code 716, the number was issued in the Buffalo area — a code active since 1947, on Eastern time. It is part of the 624/716 overlay complex — these codes share the same territory. Note that porting and VoIP mean a 716 number can be used from anywhere — the code marks where the number was assigned.
763 central-office prefixes are currently active in this code, spread across 55 code-holding carriers. Thousands-block pooling applies to 592 prefixes, so a single prefix can belong to several carriers. Its prefixes map to 79 distinct rate centers.
NANPA projects numbering capacity for the 624/716 complex to exhaust in 2Q 2095.
It has since spawned 585 (2001), 624 (2023).
Dialing: 10D locally, 1+10D to other codes (1+10 digit dialing permissible at service provider discretion.).
To check where a specific 716 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 716
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Also served by |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 264 | — |
| Tonawanda | 74 | — |
| Williamsville | 40 | — |
| Jamestown | 40 | — |
| Niagara Falls | 27 | — |
| Lancaster | 22 | — |
| Lockport | 17 | — |
| West Seneca | 17 | — |
| Olean | 15 | 585 |
| Hamburg | 10 | — |
FAQ
Where is a 716 number from?
716 is assigned to Buffalo and surrounding areas of New York in the Eastern time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.
Is 716 a toll-free number?
No. 716 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 624 and 716 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 624/716 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.
Will 716 run out of numbers?
NANPA's current forecast projects exhaust in 2Q 2095 — decades of capacity remain.
Why am I getting spam calls from 716 numbers?
Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 716 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.