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Area code 816

Where 816 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
MO
In service
1947
Assigned codes
785of 800 possible
Carriers
52

Where area code 816 is

NANPA lists 816 as an in-service geographic area code for Missouri, first put into service on January 1, 1947. It is an overlay: 816 and 975 cover the same territory, so neighbors on the same street can have different area codes. It is in the Central time zone. The places with the most assigned exchanges include Kansas City, St. Joseph, Lee's Summit, Belton, and Liberty. By population, its largest named places are Kansas City, Lee's Summit, St. Joseph, Blue Springs, and Liberty.

Area code 816: NANPA facts
ItemValue
StateMissouri
In service sinceJanuary 1, 1947
OverlayYes, with 975
Time zoneCentral
Local calls within the codeten digits (area code plus number)
Assigned central office codes785
Rate centers with codes73
Carriers holding codes52
Pooled codes584
Codes assigned since 202084
Relief planning in progressNo

Source: NANPA NPA report and utilized central office code file, both dated 10/01/2026.

Where 816 numbers are local

816 holds 19% of the 4,168 central office codes assigned in Missouri, the 2nd most of the state's 9 codes. 67 Census places could be matched to rate centers with 816 exchanges; the most populous are Kansas City (516,000), Lee's Summit (106,000), St. Joseph (71,098), and Blue Springs (61,246). Each place page lists the exact prefixes and carriers for that town.

Most populous places with 816 exchanges
PlacePopulation (2024)Area codesExchangesCarriers
Kansas City, MO516,032816, 97545540
Lee's Summit, MO106,419816, 975218
St. Joseph, MO71,098816, 9754113
Blue Springs, MO61,246816, 975177
Liberty, MO31,245816167
Belton, MO25,861816, 975187
Grain Valley, MO16,85981643
Kearney, MO11,21581673
Smithville, MO10,97181675
Excelsior Springs, MO10,72781685
Harrisonville, MO9,980816, 97596
Oak Grove, MO9,129816, 97564
Pleasant Hill, MO8,86481632
Cameron, MO7,352816, 975146
Greenwood, MO6,235816, 97564

Population: Census Vintage 2024 estimates for the matched place. Exchanges and carriers: NANPA utilized code file.

Ten-digit and seven-digit dialing in 816

According to NANPA's dialing-plan data, local calls within 816 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."

Who holds 816 exchanges

52 carriers hold the 785 central office codes assigned in 816. Southwestern Bell has the most, with 220 (28%). 584 of the codes (74%) 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.

Largest code holders in area code 816
Carrier (NANPA operating company)ExchangesShare
Southwestern Bell22028%
Aerial Communications, INC.8311%
Onvoy, LLC - Mo698.8%
New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC - Il597.5%
Embarq Missouri, INC. d/b/a Centurylink - Mo476.0%
Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless - Mo435.5%
Teleport Communications America, LLC - Mo313.9%
Brightspeed of East Missouri, LLC273.4%
Level 3 Communications, LLC - Mo253.2%
Paetec Itel, LLC222.8%
Bandwidth.com CLEC, LLC - Mo121.5%
Consolidated Communications of Missouri Company101.3%

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.

Local calling areas in 816

NANPA assigns each central office code to a rate center, the local calling area that decides whether a call is local or toll. 816 has codes in 73 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 centers in area code 816 by assigned codes
Rate center (NANPA)PlaceCodes
KANSASCITYKansas City, MO442
ST JOSEPHSt. Joseph, MO40
LEESSUMMITLee's Summit, MO20
BELTONBelton, MO17
LIBERTYLiberty, MO16
BLUE SPGBlue Springs, MO15
CAMERONCameron, MO13
ODESSAOdessa, MO8
HARRISONVLHarrisonville, MO8
EXCELSRSPGExcelsior Springs, MO8
KEARNEYKearney, MO7
SMITHVILLESmithville, MO7
FERRELVIEWFerrelview, MO6
RICHMONDRichmond, MO6
ADRIANAdrian, MO5
AGENCYAgency, MO5
OAK GROVEOak Grove, MO5
FARLEYFarley, MO5
HOLDENHolden, MO5
GREENWOODGreenwood, MO5
PLATTECITYPlatte City, MO4
BUCKNERBuckner, MO4
FREEMANFreeman, MO4
HENRIETTAHenrietta, MO4
ARCHIEArchie, MO4

Top 25 of 73 rate centers.

Number supply in 816

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). 785 are assigned in 816, 98% of 800. 84 were assigned in 2020 or later.

Area code 816: central office codes by decade assigned
Decade assignedExchangesShare
2000s4317%
2010s11948%
2020s8434%

Assignment dates as recorded in NANPA's utilized code file; codes without a recorded date are excluded.

Getting a 816 number for your business

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 816 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 816?

816 is a geographic area code in Missouri. Places with the most assigned exchanges include Kansas City, St. Joseph, Lee's Summit, and Belton.

What time zone is area code 816 in?

NANPA lists 816 in the Central time zone.

When did area code 816 go into service?

NANPA records an in-service date of January 1, 1947.

Is 816 an overlay area code?

Yes. It shares its territory with 975.

Can my business get a 816 phone number?

Callata includes up to 3 local numbers on its $99/month plan (5 users included). Which 816 numbers are open depends on carrier inventory when you choose, and you can port an existing number for free.