Area code
Area code 973 — Newark, NJ
New Jersey · in service since June 1, 1997
Area code 973 covers Newark, NJ. It is an overlay: 862 serves the same area, so neighbors can have different area codes.
Overlay, same area: 862
Local time in Newark
Spam reports from Sep 23 – Oct 22, 2026
Average #145 of 461 codes
592 FTC complaints
Consumer reports, not verified by the FTC.
See the reports- Time zoneEastern Time
- Local calls10 digits
- Prefixes799 assigned
- Runs out~3Q 2052
- Unwanted call?Block & report
Spam call reports about 973 numbers
Complaints by week
Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026Show as table
| Week starting | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Sep 7 (3 days) | 30 |
| Sep 14 | 107 |
| Sep 21 | 128 |
| Sep 28 | 92 |
| Oct 5 | 115 |
| Oct 12 | 136 |
| Oct 19 (4 days) | 167 |
Compared with all codes
- Robocalls
- 58%all codes 75%
- Callers with the same code
- 64%all codes 35%
- Rank by complaints
- #145of 461 · middle half
- FCC complaints, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026
- 755 about text messages
What the calls were about
Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026
| Subject | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Dropped call or no message | 96 12% | |
| Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans) | 65 8% | |
| Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends | 55 7% | |
| Medical & prescriptions | 55 7% | |
| Energy, solar, & utilities | 19 2% | |
| Home improvement & cleaning | 19 2% |
Where the people who complained live
Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026
| State | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 573 74% | |
| California | 24 3% | |
| New York | 20 3% | |
| Florida | 19 2% | |
| Ohio | 13 2% |
October 2026 (partial) report · most reported
Consumer reports, not verified by the FTC · source
Source: FTC Do Not Call complaints created Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026. They are reported by consumers and are not verified by the FTC; caller ID can be spoofed (how we count).
Source: FCC Consumer Complaints data, unwanted calls filed Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026, by caller ID; not verified by the FCC.
Area code 973 location and prefixes
| Exchange (NANPA) | Place | County | Prefixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEWARK | Newark | Essex County | 149 |
| MORRISTOWN | Morristown | Morris County | 90 |
| PASSAIC | Passaic | Passaic County | 46 |
| CALDWELL | Caldwell | Essex County | 42 |
| PATERSON | Paterson | Passaic County | 40 |
| ORANGE | — | — | 33 |
| BLOOMFIELD | — | — | 28 |
| WHIPPANY | Whippany | Morris County | 28 |
| MADISON | Madison | Morris County | 25 |
| LIVINGSTON | — | — | 23 |
Plus 32 smaller exchange areas.
Source: NANPA CO codes of Oct 23, 2026; places: U.S. Census Bureau, matched by DialWhere (how).
NANPA record
- Location
- New Jersey
- Assigned by NANPA
- January 23, 1997
- Created from
- 201
- Local dialing
- 10 digits (NANPA: 10D)
- NANPA planning letters
- PL-277, PL-151, PL-036
Source: NANPA, NPA database of Oct 24, 2026.
Is 973 running out of numbers?
Previous forecast (October 2025): 2050, moved later by 2 years.
Forecast exhaust year by edition
Source: NANPA NRUF forecast, April 2026 edition.
Who holds 973 prefixes
The five largest of 34 original holders
As listed by NANPA, not today’s carrier.
| Holder (as listed) | Prefixes | |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon New Jersey, Inc. | 341 43% | |
| Level 3 Communications, LLC | 76 10% | |
| Mcimetro Access Transmission Services LLC | 56 7% | |
| Verizon Wireless | 53 7% | |
| Omnipoint Communications, Inc. | 48 6% |
Source: NANPA CO codes of Oct 23, 2026.
Questions about area code 973
What area code is 973?
A New Jersey area code, in service since June 1, 1997.
Where is 973 area code, and what time zone is it in?
Newark, NJ; Eastern Time.
Why am I getting spam calls from 973?
592 FTC complaints from Sep 23 – Oct 22, 2026, most often about dropped calls or no message (not verified by the FTC; caller ID can be spoofed).
Will 973 get a new area code?
NANPA forecasts exhaust in 3Q 2052; no relief planning listed.