Area Code 573: Get a Columbia Phone Number

573 · Columbia

What is the area code for Columbia?

The area code for Columbia, Missouri is 573, with overlay code 235 sharing the same geographic footprint. The 573 area code is a North American Numbering Plan geographic code assigned in 1996, covering the Central-Southern Missouri region. It serves approximately 700,000 residents on the Central Time (CT) (UTC-6 / UTC-5 DST).

The 573 area code has 786 assigned central-office prefixes (NXX codes, the three digits after the area code) across 217 rate centers, with numbers allocated to roughly 58 carriers.

At 786 of the ~792 usable central-office prefixes, the 573 area code has about 99% of its numbering capacity assigned, and that near-exhaustion is part of why overlay code 235 was added to the region. See how 573 compares in our NXX prefix allocation analysis across 338 US area codes. (Prefix data: localcallingguide.com / NANPA, 2026.)

Where is area code 573? Location and map area

Area code 573 is located in Missouri, the United States. Its coverage area centers on Columbia and spans the Central-Southern Missouri region. If you received a call from a 573 number, the caller's number was assigned in this area — though with number porting and virtual numbers, the person may be calling from anywhere.

The 573 location sits in Central Time (CT), so local business hours run roughly 9 a.m.–5 p.m. CT. Neighboring Missouri area codes include 314, 417, 636.

All Columbia area codes

Columbia is served by 2 area codes across the metro area. 573 is the 1996 addition; the others were added as overlays or for surrounding suburbs.

• 235 — Columbia — assigned 2024
• 573 (current page) — Overlay on the same metro, assigned 1996

Cities served by the 573 area code

The 573 area code covers 5 major cities and towns across the Central-Southern Missouri region (MO):

Businesses across Columbia and surrounding cities use 573 numbers to project local presence and lift call answer rates. Industry studies of local presence dialing consistently report answer-rate gains of 20–40% over toll-free or out-of-area numbers — a caller ID that matches the recipient's region looks familiar and gets picked up.

573 area code time zone and business hours

The 573 area code is in the Central Time (CT) zone (UTC-6 / UTC-5 DST). Standard business hours in 573 run 9 AM to 5 PM CT.

If you're calling into 573 from a different time zone, factor in the offset. For example, an Eastern Time business calling 573 at 9 AM ET reaches Columbia at 8 AM CT — likely outside standard business hours.

History of the 573 area code

The 573 area code was introduced in 1996 when the North American Numbering Plan was first deployed. As Columbia grew and number demand increased, overlay code 235 was added to serve the same geographic region — a common solution that avoids forcing existing subscribers to change their numbers.

• 1996 573 entered service
• 2024 235 added to serve the same region

Is the 573 area code safe? Spam and scam calls

573 is a legitimate geographic area code for Columbia — it is not a scam code or a premium-rate prefix, and a call from a 573 number is most likely a genuine local caller. The risk is not the area code itself but a tactic called neighbor spoofing: scammers fake their caller ID so an unwanted call appears to come from your own area code, because people answer familiar numbers more readily.

If you get an unexpected 573 call, a few signals point to a likely scam — a pre-recorded message, urgent pressure to act now, a demand for payment by gift card or wire transfer, or anyone asking for passwords, Social Security, or account numbers. Let suspicious calls go to voicemail, never share personal information, and report fraud to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

The FCC consumer guide on spoofing explains your rights under the Truth in Caller ID Act. A real Columbia business will leave a clear voicemail and will not pressure you.

US carriers verify caller ID with the STIR/SHAKEN framework, which flags many spoofed numbers as "Spam Likely" before they ring. DialPhone 573 numbers are registered for STIR/SHAKEN attestation, so calls from your business are verified as genuine and reach customers without a false spam label. See the DialPhone guide to VoIP security for more.

Why get a 573 area code number for your business?

Getting a 573 number gives your business three measurable advantages over a toll-free or out-of-area number:

1. Local trust signal. Customers in Columbia recognize 573 as their home area code. Caller ID matching builds immediate credibility for service businesses, sales outreach, and patient communication.
2. Higher answer rate. Calls from a familiar local area code are answered far more often than unknown or toll-free numbers — industry measurements of local presence dialing put the lift at 20–40%, which matters most for outbound sales, appointment confirmations, and time-sensitive service callbacks.
3. Targeted marketing. Businesses serving Columbia and the broader Central-Southern Missouri can advertise a local number across print, radio, billboards, and digital channels for higher conversion than a national 800 number.

For businesses in Columbia and surrounding cities, top industries that benefit from local 573 presence include Professional Services, Healthcare, and Retail. DialPhone's AI receptionist is available for every 573 number — never miss a call, even after standard business hours.

How to get a 573 area code number

Setting up a 573 business number with DialPhone takes under 10 minutes:

1. Sign up for a DialPhone plan. Choose any plan starting at $24/user/month. Free 14-day trial, no credit card required.
2. Search available 573 numbers. Filter the DialPhone number inventory by area code, city, or pattern.
3. Choose your number and configure. Assign your new 573 number to a user or team, set up call routing, voicemail, AI receptionist, and business SMS.
4. Port your existing number (optional). Already have a 573 number? Free number porting in 2 to 5 business days with zero service interruption.

New to local numbers? The complete guide to getting a local phone number covers choosing the right area code, porting an existing line, and avoiding spam flags.

573 area code overlay codes

The Central-Southern Missouri region is served by multiple overlay area codes:

Area Code	Coverage
573	Primary area code for Central-Southern Missouri, assigned 1996
235	Overlay — same geography (assigned 2024)

All overlay codes serve the same Columbia region. New subscribers may be assigned any available code; existing numbers retain their original prefix.

AI receptionist for 573 area code businesses

Every DialPhone 573 number includes optional AI receptionist coverage, available 24/7. The AI handles calls when your team is unavailable — answering common questions, booking appointments, routing urgent callers to on-call staff, and capturing voicemail with full transcription and intent tagging.

For businesses in Columbia that handle high call volume, run extended hours, or need bilingual support (especially valuable in service areas with diverse customer bases), the AI receptionist reduces voicemail backlog and improves first-call resolution.

All area codes in Missouri

Missouri has 9 active geographic area codes. The 573 area code is part of the same numbering plan as the codes listed below — calls between them are typically local within the state, depending on the carrier.

Nearby area codes

Related area codes in Missouri and the Central Time (CT) region:

• 314 area code — St. Louis, Missouri
• 417 area code — Springfield, Missouri
• 636 area code — St. Peters, Missouri
• 660 area code — Sedalia, Missouri
• 816 area code — Kansas City, Missouri
• 235 area code — Columbia, Missouri

All Missouri area codes → · Browse all US area codes →

More area codes: ← 572 Oklahoma City · 574 South Bend →

How this page is verified

DialPhone re-verifies every area code page every 90 days. Area code geography, timezone, and overlay data come from the official North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) database. Pricing reflects the published DialPhone plan tiers — see the pricing page for current details. Number availability varies; check the DialPhone signup flow for live inventory in the 573 region.

What to know before getting a 573 number

• Number availability is finite. Popular Columbia area codes can be inventory-constrained — request specific vanity patterns early.
• Porting timing varies. Most 573 ports complete in 2-5 business days; complex multi-line legacy contracts can take 7-10.
• HIPAA tier required for healthcare. The Core $24 plan doesn't include a BAA — healthcare users need Advanced ($34) or above.