Area Code 973: Get a Newark Phone Number

973 · Newark

What is the area code for Newark?

The area code for Newark, New Jersey is 973, with overlay code 862 sharing the same geographic footprint. The 973 area code is a North American Numbering Plan geographic code assigned in 1997, covering the Northern New Jersey region. It serves approximately 2,000,000 residents on the Eastern Time (ET) (UTC-5 / UTC-4 DST).

The 973 area code has 779 assigned central-office prefixes (NXX codes, the three digits after the area code) across 43 rate centers, with numbers allocated to roughly 55 carriers.

At 779 of the ~792 usable central-office prefixes, the 973 area code has about 98% of its numbering capacity assigned, and that near-exhaustion is part of why overlay code 862 was added to the region. See how 973 compares in our NXX prefix allocation analysis across 338 US area codes. (Prefix data: localcallingguide.com / NANPA, 2026.)

Where is area code 973? Location and map area

Area code 973 is located in New Jersey, the United States. Its coverage area centers on Newark and spans the Northern New Jersey region. If you received a call from a 973 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 973 location sits in Eastern Time (ET), so local business hours run roughly 9 a.m.–5 p.m. ET. Neighboring New Jersey area codes include 201, 551, 609.

All Newark area codes

Newark is served by 2 area codes across the metro area. 973 is the 1997 addition; the others were added as overlays or for surrounding suburbs.

• 862 — Newark — assigned 2001
• 973 (current page) — Overlay on the same metro, assigned 1997

Cities served by the 973 area code

The 973 area code covers 6 major cities and towns across the Northern New Jersey region (NJ):

Businesses across Newark and surrounding cities use 973 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.

973 area code time zone and business hours

The 973 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET) zone (UTC-5 / UTC-4 DST). Standard business hours in 973 run 9 AM to 5 PM ET.

If you're calling into 973 from a different time zone, factor in the offset. For example, an Eastern Time business calling 973 at 9 AM ET reaches Newark at local time — likely outside standard business hours.

History of the 973 area code

The 973 area code was introduced in 1997 when the North American Numbering Plan was first deployed. As Newark grew and number demand increased, overlay code 862 was added to serve the same geographic region — a common solution that avoids forcing existing subscribers to change their numbers.

• 1997 973 entered service
• 2001 862 added to serve the same region

Is the 973 area code safe? Spam and scam calls

973 is a legitimate geographic area code for Newark — it is not a scam code or a premium-rate prefix, and a call from a 973 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 973 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 Newark 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 973 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 973 area code number for your business?

Getting a 973 number gives your business three measurable advantages over a toll-free or out-of-area number:

1. Local trust signal. Customers in Newark recognize 973 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 Newark and the broader Northern New Jersey can advertise a local number across print, radio, billboards, and digital channels for higher conversion than a national 800 number.

For businesses in Newark and surrounding cities, top industries that benefit from local 973 presence include Professional Services, Healthcare, and Retail. DialPhone's AI receptionist is available for every 973 number — never miss a call, even after standard business hours.

How to get a 973 area code number

Setting up a 973 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 973 numbers. Filter the DialPhone number inventory by area code, city, or pattern.
3. Choose your number and configure. Assign your new 973 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 973 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.

973 area code overlay codes

The Northern New Jersey region is served by multiple overlay area codes:

Area Code	Coverage
973	Primary area code for Northern New Jersey, assigned 1997
862	Overlay — same geography (assigned 2001)

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

AI receptionist for 973 area code businesses

Every DialPhone 973 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 Newark 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 New Jersey

New Jersey has 9 active geographic area codes. The 973 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 New Jersey and the Eastern Time (ET) region:

• 201 area code — Jersey City, New Jersey
• 551 area code — Jersey City, New Jersey
• 609 area code — Trenton, New Jersey
• 732 area code — New Brunswick, New Jersey
• 848 area code — New Brunswick, New Jersey
• 856 area code — Camden, New Jersey

All New Jersey area codes → · Browse all US area codes →

More area codes: ← 972 Dallas · 975 Kansas City →

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 973 region.

What to know before getting a 973 number

• Number availability is finite. Popular Newark area codes can be inventory-constrained — request specific vanity patterns early.
• Porting timing varies. Most 973 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.