Verified Nov 1, 2026 · Source: NANPA CO Code Assignment Records
HOUSTON prefixes in area code 281
NANPA records 148 assigned NXX blocks to rate center HOUSTON in area code 281, 18.8% of the 786 blocks assigned in the code. A rate center is the billing geography a block is allocated to – NANPA truncates the name to ten characters, so read it as a NANPA label rather than a town. 14 holders hold those blocks, the largest being CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX (48), NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL (41), SPOK, INC. (16). The earliest assignment on record here is 2001-05-08 and the most recent 2025-12-03. 60 of them are in thousands-block pooling, so those prefixes are shared between carriers in 1,000-number lots. The same rate center name also appears in area codes 346, 417, 507, 662 – overlay codes cover the same geography, so a rate center is served by all of them.
148 assigned blocks – 18.8% of 281
14 holders of record
60 of them pooled in 1,000-number lots
Prefixes assigned here
| Prefix | Holder of record | Assigned | Pooled | In service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 281-216 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-217 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-220 | GRANDE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS, INC. - TX | – | yes | yes |
| 281-221 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-222 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-224 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-225 | ETS TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-228 | AT&T SOUTHWESTERN BELL | – | no | yes |
| 281-236 | T-Mobile AERIAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-250 | T-Mobile AERIAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-254 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2011-07-05 | yes | yes |
| 281-266 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-267 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-268 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-300 | T-Mobile METROPCS, INC. | – | yes | yes |
| 281-352 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-365 | Lumen LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC - TX | 2017-05-01 | yes | yes |
| 281-380 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-381 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-382 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-384 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-386 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-387 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-389 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-390 | AT&T SOUTHWESTERN BELL | – | no | yes |
| 281-404 | GRANDE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS, INC. - TX | – | yes | yes |
| 281-407 | Lumen LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC - TX | 2011-05-13 | yes | yes |
| 281-409 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2007-09-04 | yes | yes |
| 281-413 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-414 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-418 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-433 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-434 | American Messaging AMERICAN MESSAGING SERVICES, LLC | – | no | yes |
| 281-435 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-439 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-450 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | 2001-05-08 | no | yes |
| 281-451 | T-Mobile METROPCS, INC. | – | yes | yes |
| 281-455 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | 2001-05-11 | no | yes |
| 281-460 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-467 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | 2001-05-11 | no | yes |
| 281-468 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-472 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-501 | Comcast COMCAST IP PHONE, LLC | 2006-11-21 | yes | yes |
| 281-507 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-510 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-513 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-520 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2006-03-27 | yes | yes |
| 281-527 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-536 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-543 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-546 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-567 | American Messaging AMERICAN MESSAGING SERVICES, LLC | – | no | yes |
| 281-604 | AT&T SOUTHWESTERN BELL | – | no | yes |
| 281-605 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2006-06-07 | yes | yes |
| 281-610 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-613 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-615 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-620 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-621 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-627 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-629 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-630 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-635 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | yes | yes |
| 281-636 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-652 | AT&T SOUTHWESTERN BELL | – | yes | yes |
| 281-657 | Verizon MCIMETRO ACCESS TRANSMISSION SERVICES LLC | – | yes | yes |
| 281-658 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-660 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-661 | Lumen LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC - TX | – | yes | yes |
| 281-669 | AT&T SOUTHWESTERN BELL | 2002-01-28 | yes | yes |
| 281-682 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-684 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | 2001-05-11 | no | yes |
| 281-685 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-686 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-687 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-702 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | yes | yes |
| 281-703 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-714 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2007-07-10 | yes | yes |
| 281-718 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-722 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2025-12-03 | yes | yes |
| 281-726 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | yes | yes |
| 281-727 | AT&T SOUTHWESTERN BELL | – | yes | yes |
| 281-728 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-731 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-732 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-733 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | yes | yes |
| 281-734 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-735 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-740 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2006-09-22 | yes | yes |
| 281-744 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-745 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | yes | yes |
| 281-753 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | yes | yes |
| 281-755 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2005-03-18 | yes | yes |
| 281-757 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2005-05-11 | yes | yes |
| 281-763 | Lumen LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC - TX | 2006-01-05 | yes | yes |
| 281-768 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2006-04-27 | yes | yes |
| 281-772 | T-Mobile METROPCS, INC. | – | yes | yes |
| 281-773 | T-Mobile METROPCS, INC. | – | yes | yes |
| 281-777 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | yes | yes |
| 281-779 | T-Mobile AERIAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | 2006-03-13 | yes | yes |
| 281-780 | T-Mobile METROPCS, INC. | 2006-05-18 | yes | yes |
| 281-782 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | 2001-05-08 | no | yes |
| 281-785 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-787 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-788 | T-Mobile METROPCS, INC. | – | yes | yes |
| 281-793 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-794 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-795 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-796 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-797 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-798 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-799 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-800 | Peerless PEERLESS NETWORK OF TEXAS, LLC - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-802 | T-Mobile METROPCS, INC. | – | yes | yes |
| 281-804 | T-Mobile METROPCS, INC. | – | yes | yes |
| 281-813 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-814 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-822 | Onvoy ONVOY, LLC - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-827 | T-Mobile AERIAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-832 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2007-11-27 | yes | yes |
| 281-833 | Onvoy ONVOY, LLC - TX | – | yes | yes |
| 281-840 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2006-07-25 | yes | yes |
| 281-841 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2006-01-04 | yes | yes |
| 281-844 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-846 | T-Mobile AERIAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | – | yes | yes |
| 281-851 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | – | no | yes |
| 281-857 | Lumen LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC - TX | 2005-03-14 | yes | yes |
| 281-865 | T-Mobile METROPCS, INC. | 2007-06-22 | yes | yes |
| 281-881 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2006-01-24 | yes | yes |
| 281-888 | Lumen LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC - TX | 2007-06-07 | yes | yes |
| 281-889 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2007-05-04 | yes | yes |
| 281-900 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2007-09-04 | yes | yes |
| 281-904 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2007-01-25 | yes | yes |
| 281-905 | T-Mobile AERIAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | 2006-04-11 | yes | yes |
| 281-906 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2014-02-17 | yes | yes |
| 281-908 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | 2011-07-29 | yes | yes |
| 281-914 | Lumen LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC - TX | – | yes | yes |
| 281-928 | AT&T NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | 2011-07-29 | yes | yes |
| 281-932 | T-Mobile METROPCS, INC. | – | yes | yes |
| 281-936 | AT&T SOUTHWESTERN BELL | 2001-10-22 | yes | yes |
| 281-952 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-953 | Onvoy ONVOY, LLC - TX | – | no | yes |
| 281-963 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-974 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | – | yes | yes |
| 281-979 | Verizon CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | 2007-10-16 | yes | yes |
| 281-981 | Spok SPOK, INC. | – | no | yes |
| 281-989 | T-Mobile METROPCS, INC. | – | yes | yes |
| 281-995 | T-Mobile METROPCS, INC. | 2007-06-26 | yes | yes |
The holder is who received the block from the numbering administrator. It is not necessarily the carrier serving a given number: numbers move with their owners, and a pooled block is shared.
Who holds the blocks
| Holder | Brand | Blocks | Share here |
|---|---|---|---|
| CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX | Verizon | 48 | 32.4% |
| NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL | AT&T | 41 | 27.7% |
| SPOK, INC. | Spok | 16 | 10.8% |
| METROPCS, INC. | T-Mobile | 12 | 8.1% |
| SOUTHWESTERN BELL | AT&T | 7 | 4.7% |
| LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC - TX | Lumen | 7 | 4.7% |
| AERIAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | T-Mobile | 6 | 4.1% |
| ONVOY, LLC - TX | Onvoy | 3 | 2% |
| GRANDE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS, INC. - TX | – | 2 | 1.4% |
| AMERICAN MESSAGING SERVICES, LLC | American Messaging | 2 | 1.4% |
| ETS TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC. | – | 1 | 0.7% |
| COMCAST IP PHONE, LLC | Comcast | 1 | 0.7% |
| MCIMETRO ACCESS TRANSMISSION SERVICES LLC | Verizon | 1 | 0.7% |
| PEERLESS NETWORK OF TEXAS, LLC - TX | Peerless | 1 | 0.7% |
Same rate center in other codes
Overlay codes cover the same geography, so one rate center is served by all of them.
Frequently asked
Which prefixes belong to HOUSTON in area code 281?
148 blocks: 216, 217, 220, 221, 222, 224, 225, 228, 236, 250, 254, 266 and 136 more, all listed in the table above.
Which carriers have numbers in HOUSTON?
CELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - TX (48 blocks), NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - IL (41 blocks), SPOK, INC. (16 blocks), METROPCS, INC. (12 blocks), SOUTHWESTERN BELL (7 blocks), LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC - TX (7 blocks). These are the holders on record; the carrier actually serving a given number can differ, because numbers move with their owners.
Is HOUSTON a city?
It is a rate center – the unit NANPA allocates number blocks to. Its name is abbreviated to ten characters and is not necessarily a settlement: we print it as recorded rather than guess at the full name.