281 Area Code
The 281 area code is a telephone area code serving the Houston, Texas metropolitan area and its environs.
Federal Data
State Data
County Data
City Data
The 281 area code is a telephone area code serving the Houston, Texas metropolitan area and its environs.
Federal Data
State Data
County Data
City Data
Area code 281 was created for most of Houston's suburbs, generally serving the area outside Beltway 8.
Area code 281 is part of an overlay complex with area codes 713, 832, 346, and 621 in the Houston area. Area code 713 was one of the original four area codes established for Texas in 1947. Area code 281 was created in 1996. Area code 832 was added in 1999. Area code 346 was added in 2014. 621 was reserved as the fifth overlay code and implemented in 2025. Ten-digit dialing is mandatory for all calls in the Houston area.
Area code 281 is a general purpose code which was placed in service on November 2, 1996.
Our Texas phone number lookup service will analyze the three-digit prefix of any 281 area code phone number and will show which telecommunications company and rate center it was initially assigned to. This prefix code data may help to determine the U.S. carrier, Texas geographic region, and local calling area associated with the phone number.
Phone numbers follow the following structure under the North American Numbering Plan:
Understanding the area code can help you determine if a call is local to your area. However, keep in mind that due to mobile number portability and VoIP services, the caller may be anywhere in the United States, so it’s best to search for the most recent phone number details.
| Company | Number of Prefixes |
|---|---|
| SOUTHWESTERN BELL | 282 |
| CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 64 |
| FRONTIER SOUTHWEST INC DBA FRONTIER COMM OF TEXAS | 56 |
| NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | 50 |
| WINDSTREAM SUGAR LAND, LLC | 36 |
| MCIMETRO ACCESS TRANSMISSION SERVICES LLC - TX | 31 |
| SPRINT SPECTRUM, L.P. | 30 |
| LEVEL 3 OF TELECOM OF TEXAS, LLC - TX | 26 |
| GRANDE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS, INC. - TX | 24 |
| CENTRAL TEL. CO. OF TEXAS DBA CENTURYLINK | 21 |
| USA MOBILITY WIRELESS, INC. | 18 |
| LOGIX COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION - TX | 17 |
| CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS OF TEXAS COMPANY | 15 |
| GLOBAL CROSSING LOCAL SERVICES, INC. - TX | 15 |
| LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC - TX | 15 |
| TELEPORT COMMUNICATIONS AMERICA, LLC - TX | 15 |
| AERIAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | 14 |
| COMCAST IP PHONE, LLC | 9 |
| ONVOY, LLC - TX | 8 |
| AT&T - LOCAL | 6 |
| CAPROCK TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP. - TX | 5 |
| ETS TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC. | 4 |
| AT&T CORP. | 2 |
| IONEX COMMUNICATIONS SOUTH, INC. - TX | 2 |
| MCIMETRO ACCESS TRANSMISSION SERVICES LLC | 2 |
| AIRUS, INC. - TX | 1 |
| AMERICAN MESSAGING SERVICES, LLC | 1 |
| MATRIX TELECOM, LLC. S/I/I TNCI - TX | 1 |
| METROPCS, INC. | 1 |
| PEERLESS NETWORK OF TEXAS, LLC - TX | 1 |
| TELETOUCH COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | 1 |
| U.S. TELEPACIFIC CORP. DBA TPX COMMUNICATIONS | 1 |
| USFON, INC. - TX | 1 |
Carrier names have been updated from their original FCC assignments to reflect current companies following mergers, acquisitions, and rebranding. Updates were determined using AI-assisted research and may not be accurate or reflect up to date changes. This data is provided without warranties of accuracy or completeness.
| Rate Center | Number of Prefixes |
|---|---|
| HOUSTON | 145 |
| HSTNSUBURB | 130 |
| BAMMEL | 60 |
| SUGAR LAND | 41 |
| SPRING | 35 |
| APOLLO | 28 |
| HUMBLE | 24 |
| LANGHAMCRK | 23 |
| BAYTOWN | 21 |
| BARKER | 19 |
| TOMBALL | 19 |
| KEMAH | 17 |
| SATSUMA | 17 |
| KATY | 16 |
| WESTFIELD | 14 |
| DEER PARK | 12 |
| FRIENDSWD | 11 |
| RICHMNRNBG | 11 |
| DICKINSON | 10 |
| LEAGUECITY | 9 |
| ALVIN | 8 |
| CHANNELVW | 8 |
| CLEVELAND | 8 |
| LA PORTE | 8 |
| CYPRESS | 7 |
| PINEHURST | 6 |
| STAFFORD | 6 |
| ARCOLA | 5 |
| BEACH CITY | 5 |
| MANVEL | 5 |
| SEABROOK | 5 |
| SHELDON | 5 |
| CROSBY | 4 |
| HIGHLANDS | 4 |
| PORTER | 4 |
| ROSHARON | 4 |
| MONTBLVIEU | 3 |
| PORTER HTS | 3 |
| SMITHERSLK | 3 |
| SPLENDORA | 3 |
| BROOKSHIRE | 2 |
| HUFFMAN | 2 |
| LIVERPOOL | 2 |
| VLY LODGE | 2 |
| MISSOURICY | 1 |
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