973 area code — Newark, NJ geographic

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

973 is the area code for Newark, New Jersey, in service since June 1, 1997, Eastern time. It is part of the 862/973 overlay complex — these codes share the same territory. Note that porting and VoIP mean a 973 number can be used from anywhere — the code marks where the number was assigned.

776 central-office prefixes are currently active in this code, spread across 31 code-holding carriers. Thousands-block pooling applies to 448 prefixes, so a single prefix can belong to several carriers. Its prefixes map to 42 distinct rate centers.

Practical takeaway: the 973 label narrows geography to New Jersey, the prefix narrows it to a locality, and neither authenticates a caller. Verification means calling back through a number you found yourself.

Dialing: 10D locally, 1+10D to other codes (calls between the 973 and 862 npas can be dialed as 10d. 1+10 digit permissible at service provider discretion.).

NANPA projects numbering capacity for the 862/973 complex to exhaust in 3Q 2052.

973 was created from 201 in 1997. It has since spawned 862 (2001).

Largest localities in 973

FAQ

Why am I getting spam calls from 973 numbers?

Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 973 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.

Where is a 973 number from?

973 is assigned to Newark and surrounding areas of New Jersey in the Eastern time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.

Is 973 a toll-free number?

No. 973 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 862 and 973 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 862/973 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.