New Jersey has ten area codes spread across six regions. Four regions have two codes that share the same map (an overlay), and two regions have one code each. Here's which code covers which area, what an overlay means for dialing, and what a small business should know about local numbers and keeping the number customers already have.
The 10 codes at a glance
| Area code | Shares its area with | Region (main counties and towns) | In service since |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | 551 | Northeastern NJ, mainly Bergen and Hudson counties | 1947 |
| 551 | 201 | Same area as 201 (overlay) | 2001 |
| 973 | 862 | Essex, Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties, plus small parts of Bergen and Hudson | 1997 |
| 862 | 973 | Same area as 973 (overlay) | 2001 |
| 908 | None | Union, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties and parts of southern and western Morris County | 1991 |
| 732 | 848 | Central NJ and the northern shore, including Edison, New Brunswick, Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, Freehold, Red Bank and Toms River | 1997 |
| 848 | 732 | Same area as 732 (overlay) | 2001 |
| 609 | 640 | Central and southeastern NJ, including Trenton, Princeton, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Wildwood and Cape May | 1950s |
| 640 | 609 | Same area as 609 (overlay) | 2018 |
| 856 | None | Southwestern NJ, including Camden, Cherry Hill, Glassboro, Vineland and Salem | 1999 |
Area code borders follow telephone exchange boundaries, not town or county lines, so a town near a border can have more than one code. To check a specific number, check with the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) or your carrier.
North Jersey: 201/551, 973/862, 908
201 was the first area code in the North American plan and once covered all of New Jersey. Today it covers the northeast corner of the state, mainly Bergen and Hudson counties, including Jersey City, Hoboken and Hackensack. 551 was added in 2001 as an overlay, so new numbers in that same area may get either code.
973 was split off from 201 in 1997. It covers Essex, Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties and small parts of Bergen and Hudson, including Newark, Paterson and Morristown. 862 was added as its overlay in 2001.
908 was split from 201 in 1991. It covers Union, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties and parts of Morris County, including Elizabeth. It has no overlay.
Central Jersey and the shore: 732/848, 609/640
732 was split from 908 in 1997. It covers central New Jersey and the northern shore, from Middlesex County towns like Edison and New Brunswick down through Monmouth County to Toms River. 848 overlays it and was added in 2001.
609 covers central and southeastern New Jersey, according to the NJ Board of Public Utilities, including Trenton, Princeton and the shore from Atlantic City to Cape May. The BPU approved 640 as an overlay for the same area, and new lines could get 640 numbers starting September 17, 2018.
South Jersey: 856
856 was split from 609 in 1999. It covers southwestern New Jersey near Philadelphia, including Camden, Cherry Hill, Glassboro and Vineland. It has no overlay.
How overlays work
- Same map, more numbers. An overlay adds a second area code to the same area once the first code runs low on numbers. Existing customers keep their numbers and don't change codes.
- Dial ten digits. With an overlay, local calls need the area code plus the number, even to a neighbor with the same code. When 640 was added, the BPU required 10-digit dialing for calls within 609 and 640.
- Update stored numbers. Alarm systems, fax machines, speed dials and anything else that dials a 7-digit number may need the area code added. The BPU's 609 notice calls this out.
- A 551 or 862 number is just as local. It serves the same towns as 201 or 973. Your customers in Bergen County, for example, can have either 201 or 551 numbers.
Choosing and keeping a local number
- Pick a code from the area you serve. If most of your customers are in Bergen or Hudson County, a 201 or 551 number matches what they see on their own phones. A 973 or 862 number fits Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.
- Keep the number you already have. If customers know your number from your truck, your sign or your Google Business Profile, changing it means updating all of those. Two options let you keep it:
- Call forwarding leaves your number with your current carrier and sends some or all calls to another phone or service. Nothing changes for callers. See our guide to forwarding your business line.
- Porting moves your number to a new provider. The FCC says you can generally keep your number when you switch providers, as long as you stay in the same geographic area. Don't cancel your old service until the port is done.
- Keep your listings consistent. Use the same number on your website, Google Business Profile and directories so customers aren't sure which one to call.
If you use RaheemAI, you keep your existing business number. You forward the calls you can't pick up to Ava, our AI receptionist, and she tells callers she's an AI. We test the forwarding with you during setup.
Common questions
Is 551 a New Jersey area code?
Yes. 551 is an overlay of 201 and covers the same area of northeastern New Jersey, mainly Bergen and Hudson counties. It was added in 2001.
What is the difference between 973 and 862?
There is no geographic difference. 862 is an overlay that serves the same area as 973, which covers Essex, Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties and small parts of Bergen and Hudson.
How many area codes does New Jersey have?
Ten: 201, 551, 609, 640, 732, 848, 856, 862, 908 and 973, across six geographic areas.
Can I keep my business number if I change phone providers?
Generally yes, if you stay in the same geographic area. The FCC explains this as number porting. You can also keep your number with your current carrier and use call forwarding instead.
Sources
- Wikipedia: List of New Jersey area codes
- NJ Board of Public Utilities: Area code 609 overlay approved (PDF)
- NJ Board of Public Utilities: Telecommunications division
- NANPA: North American Numbering Plan Administrator (nationalnanpa.com)
- FCC: Porting, keeping your phone number when you change providers
Area code boundaries follow telephone exchanges, not town lines. For a specific number, check with NANPA or your carrier. This guide is general information, not legal or technical advice.