United States Phone Number Format Guide

Quick Overview

US phone numbers follow the North American format: 10 digits (XXX-XXX-XXXX) with country code +1.

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United States Phone Number Format Structure

US phone numbers follow a standardized format with several components:

Components

  • Country Code: +1 (optional)
  • Area Code: 3 digits (XXX)
  • Central Office Code: 3 digits (XXX)
  • Line Number: 4 digits (XXXX)

Format Examples

  • +1 (555) 123-4567 - Full format with country code
  • (555) 123-4567 - Domestic format
  • 555-123-4567 - Simple format
  • 5551234567 - Plain format

United States Phone Number Area Code Distribution

Area codes in the United States are geographically assigned:

Major Regions

  • 201-299: Northeast Region
  • 300-399: Southeast Region
  • 400-499: Southeast Region
  • 500-599: Central Region
  • 600-699: Central Region
  • 700-799: Western Region
  • 800-899: Toll-free numbers
  • 900-999: Premium rate numbers

Major Cities

  • 212, 646, 917: New York City
  • 213, 310, 323: Los Angeles
  • 312: Chicago
  • 415, 628: San Francisco
  • 202: Washington DC
  • 305, 786: Miami

United States Phone Number Rules and Restrictions

Area Code Rules

Cannot start with 0 or 1
Cannot have 9 as second digit when first digit is 3-7
Second and third digits cannot both be 1

Special Considerations

  • 555-0100 through 555-0199 are reserved for fictional use
  • Numbers beginning with 911, 411, etc. are reserved for emergency/special services
  • Some area codes are reserved for future use

United States Phone Number Recent Changes

  • New area codes are regularly added due to number exhaustion
  • Some regions now require 10-digit dialing for all calls
  • Overlay area codes are becoming more common in populous areas

United States Phone Number Additional Resources