Area code 504
Where 504 is, how it is dialed, which carriers hold its numbers and how many of its codes are in use, from NANPA's 10/01/2026 files.
- State
- LA
- In service
- 1947
- Assigned codes
- 563of 800 possible
- Carriers
- 40
Area code 504 at a glance
504 is one of 6 geographic area codes serving Louisiana; NANPA records its in-service date as January 1, 1947. It is not part of an overlay, so every number in its territory starts with 504. It is in the Central time zone. The places with the most assigned exchanges include New Orleans and Kenner.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| State | Louisiana |
| In service since | January 1, 1947 |
| Overlay | No |
| Time zone | Central |
| Local calls within the code | ten digits (area code plus number) |
| Assigned central office codes | 563 |
| Rate centers with codes | 6 |
| Carriers holding codes | 40 |
| Pooled codes | 372 |
| Codes assigned since 2020 | 40 |
| Relief planning in progress | No |
Source: NANPA NPA report and utilized central office code file, both dated 10/01/2026.
Cities and towns in area code 504
504 holds 20% of the 2,874 central office codes assigned in Louisiana, the 3rd most of the state's 6 codes. 2 Census places could be matched to rate centers with 504 exchanges; the most populous are New Orleans (363,000) and Kenner (64,650). Each place page lists the exact prefixes and carriers for that town.
| Place | Population (2024) | Area codes | Exchanges | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 362,701 | 504 | 433 | 40 |
| Kenner, LA | 64,650 | 504 | 100 | 18 |
Population: Census Vintage 2024 estimates for the matched place. Exchanges and carriers: NANPA utilized code file.
Dialing 504 numbers
According to NANPA's dialing-plan data, local calls within 504 are dialed as ten digits (area code plus number) and toll calls as 1 plus ten digits. Because local calls need the area code, business cards, signage and website copy should always show the full ten-digit number. NANPA's dialing-plan note for this code reads: "1+10 digit permissible at service provider discretion."
Phone companies in area code 504
40 carriers hold the 563 central office codes assigned in 504. Bellsouth Telecomm INC d/b/a South Central Bell Tel has the most, with 219 (39%). 372 of the codes (66%) are pooled, meaning the code holder shares blocks of 1,000 numbers with other carriers instead of using all 10,000 itself. The code holder is not necessarily the carrier serving a given number today, since numbers can be ported between providers.
| Carrier (NANPA operating company) | Exchanges | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Bellsouth Telecomm INC d/b/a South Central Bell Tel | 219 | 39% |
| Voicestream GSM I, LLC | 81 | 14% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC - Ga | 48 | 8.5% |
| Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless - La | 38 | 6.7% |
| Spok, INC. | 25 | 4.4% |
| Onvoy, LLC - La | 23 | 4.1% |
| Level 3 Communications, LLC - La | 17 | 3.0% |
| Paetec Itel, LLC | 16 | 2.8% |
| Metropcs, INC. | 13 | 2.3% |
| Comcast Ip Phone, LLC | 13 | 2.3% |
| Bandwidth.com CLEC, LLC - La | 7 | 1.2% |
| Fractel, LLC | 7 | 1.2% |
Carrier names are the operating company (OCN) names on NANPA's utilized central office code file dated 10/01/2026. A carrier holding a code may port numbers to other carriers.
Rate centers and towns in 504
NANPA assigns each central office code to a rate center, the local calling area that decides whether a call is local or toll. 504 has codes in 6 rate centers. Rate center names in the file are abbreviations; where one matches a Census place, the table links to that city's local-number page.
| Rate center (NANPA) | Place | Codes |
|---|---|---|
| NEWORLEANS | New Orleans, LA | 433 |
| KENNER | Kenner, LA | 100 |
| LAFITTE | not matched | 13 |
| JESUITBEND | not matched | 9 |
| VENICE | not matched | 6 |
| XXXXXXXXXX | not matched | 2 |
504 code assignments over time
An area code has 800 possible central office codes that start with 2 through 9, a few of which are reserved (such as N11 service codes and 555). 563 are assigned in 504, 70% of 800. 40 were assigned in 2020 or later.
| Decade assigned | Exchanges | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 61 | 33% |
| 2010s | 85 | 46% |
| 2020s | 40 | 22% |
Assignment dates as recorded in NANPA's utilized code file; codes without a recorded date are excluded.
A local 504 number on Callata
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in area code 504 is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
Where is area code 504?
504 is a geographic area code in Louisiana. Places with the most assigned exchanges include New Orleans and Kenner.
What time zone is area code 504 in?
NANPA lists 504 in the Central time zone.
When did area code 504 go into service?
NANPA records an in-service date of January 1, 1947.
Is 504 an overlay area code?
No. NANPA does not list 504 as part of an overlay.
Can my business get a 504 phone number?
Callata includes up to 3 local numbers on its $99/month plan (5 users included). Which 504 numbers are open depends on carrier inventory when you choose, and you can port an existing number for free.