Missouri has 9 active area codes as of 2026, covering the state through a mix of original 1947 assignments, geographic splits, and modern overlays. This guide walks through the full list, which regions each code serves, the order they came online, and where new codes are most likely to land next.
The Short Answer
Missouri currently has 9 active area codes in service. The count reflects a combination of population growth, the rise of mobile lines, and the way modern numbering allocates blocks — every line activated, whether a cellphone, a business desk line, a VoIP number, or a connected device, consumes a slot in the pool.
By population, Missouri ranks #19 nationally with roughly 6,196,156 residents as of the most recent estimates. That puts the state’s area code count in line with its population peers — denser, faster-growing states need more codes; smaller states need fewer.
The Full List of Missouri Area Codes
The active area codes serving Missouri are listed below, in numerical order. Where a code is an overlay or a split-off from an earlier code, that relationship is noted.
- 235 — Eastern and southeastern Missouri (Columbia, Jefferson City, Cape Girardeau) (overlay of 573)
- 314 — St. Louis and inner-ring suburbs
- 417 — Southwestern Missouri (Springfield, Joplin, Branson)
- 557 — St. Louis and inner-ring suburbs (overlay of 314)
- 573 — Eastern and southeastern Missouri (Columbia, Jefferson City, Cape Girardeau, Rolla)
- 636 — Outer St. Louis suburbs (St. Charles, Jefferson, western St. Louis counties)
- 660 — Northern and west-central Missouri (Sedalia, Kirksville, part of the St. Joseph area)
- 816 — Kansas City and St. Joseph metropolitan areas
- 975 — Kansas City and St. Joseph metropolitan areas (overlay of 816)
How Missouri’s Area Codes Grew Over Time
Missouri was assigned 2 area codes in the original 1947 NANP launch — 314, 816 — reflecting the state’s population and territorial size at the time. Subsequent splits and overlays have added codes as demand has grown.
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Browse Missouri Area Codes →- 1947 — 314 and 816 assigned at the launch of the North American Numbering Plan, dividing Missouri into two numbering plan areas. 314 covered the eastern third including St. Louis; 816 covered the north and west, including Kansas City.
- 1950 — 417 created for southwestern Missouri (Springfield, Joplin, Branson), carved primarily from the southern half of 816 with a portion from 314.
- 1996 — 573 split off from 314 on January 7, 1996, covering eastern and southeastern Missouri outside the immediate St. Louis area, including Columbia, Jefferson City, and Cape Girardeau.
- 1997 — 660 split off from 816 on October 12, 1997, for northern and west-central Missouri (Sedalia, Kirksville, and part of the St. Joseph area).
- 1999 — 636 split off from 314 for the outer St. Louis suburbs, including St. Charles, Jefferson, and western St. Louis counties, forming a ring around the 314 area.
- 2022 — 557 activated on August 12, 2022, as an overlay of 314 in the St. Louis area, more than two decades after the overlay was first approved in 2000 and then suspended.
- 2023 — 975 activated on October 13, 2023, as an overlay of 816 in the Kansas City and St. Joseph region, after the 816 overlay plan from 2000 was revived in 2022.
- 2024 — 235 activated on March 24, 2024, as an overlay of 573 across eastern and southeastern Missouri.
Why Missouri Has Multiple Area Codes
A single area code can hold roughly 7.9 million possible phone numbers in theory — 792 valid central office codes (the second three digits) multiplied by 10,000 line numbers each. In practice the usable count is lower, because blocks of numbers are reserved, withheld, or assigned in bulk to carriers that may never fully use them. When the pool of available numbers in an area code falls below the threshold the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) tracks, the state requests relief, and either a split or an overlay is approved.
Missouri’s population of roughly 6,196,156 residents would, on its own, fit comfortably inside a single area code’s capacity. The reason 9 codes are needed instead is that every adult typically carries at least one mobile line, many households have multiple lines per person, businesses concentrate phone numbers at extreme density, and connected devices, VoIP services, and second-line apps all draw from the same pool. The math compounds quickly.
Missouri Area Codes by Region
St. Louis metro (314, 557, 636): 314 is one of Missouri's two original 1947 codes and covers St. Louis and its inner-ring suburbs, with 557 added as an overlay in 2022. 636 split off from 314 in 1999 for the outer suburban ring (St. Charles, Jefferson, and western St. Louis counties).
Kansas City metro and northwest (816, 975): 816 is one of the original 1947 codes, serving the Kansas City and St. Joseph metropolitan areas. 975 was added as an overlay of 816 in 2023.
Eastern and southeastern Missouri (573, 235): 573 split off from 314 in 1996 for Columbia, Jefferson City, Cape Girardeau, and the Bootheel. 235 was added as an overlay in 2024.
Southwestern Missouri (417): Springfield, Joplin, Branson, and the Ozarks. Created in 1950, mainly from the southern portion of 816.
Northern and west-central Missouri (660): Sedalia, Kirksville, and part of the St. Joseph area. Split off from 816 in 1997.
What’s Next for Missouri Area Codes
Missouri’s two largest metros each received overlay relief in the past few years: 557 joined 314 in St. Louis in 2022, and 975 joined 816 in Kansas City in 2023, both ending decades in which a single code served each region. The eastern 573 area gained the 235 overlay in 2024. These three overlays substantially extended the state’s numbering runway. NANPA’s most recent NPA exhaust projections do not place any Missouri numbering plan area on the near-term relief schedule, with the original 816 and 314 metros now drawing new numbers from their overlay pools. The southwestern 417 area and northern 660 remain single-code regions with no overlay announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many area codes does Missouri have right now?
Missouri has 9 active area codes in service across the territory it covers, including any overlays that share geography with an older code.
What is the oldest area code in Missouri?
314 is the oldest active area code in Missouri, assigned in 1947 when the North American Numbering Plan launched. It remains in service today, though its geographic footprint has typically been reduced by subsequent splits and overlays.
What is the newest area code in Missouri?
The most recent area code addition to Missouri was 235, activated in 2024. New phone lines provisioned in its service area are increasingly drawn from this code as older overlays approach exhaustion.
Why does Missouri need so many area codes?
Population growth combined with the proliferation of mobile lines, business direct-dial numbers, VoIP services, and connected devices has exhausted older codes faster than the original 1947 plan anticipated. Each new area code adds roughly 7.9 million additional phone numbers to the regional pool.
Which area codes cover St. Louis?
St. Louis and its inner-ring suburbs are served by 314, one of Missouri’s two original 1947 codes, with 557 added as an overlay in 2022. New lines in the city may be assigned either code, and all local calls require 10-digit dialing. The outer suburbs to the west, south, and north use 636, which split off from 314 in 1999.
Which area codes cover Kansas City?
The Missouri side of the Kansas City metro and the St. Joseph area use 816, one of the original 1947 codes, with 975 added as an overlay in 2023. New phone numbers in the region may come from either code. Kansas places across the state line use Kansas codes such as 913 and 816’s neighbor codes.
Is 235 a real Missouri area code?
Yes. 235 is one of Missouri’s newest area codes, activated on March 24, 2024 as an overlay of 573. It covers the same eastern and southeastern Missouri region as 573, including Columbia, Jefferson City, and Cape Girardeau, and is assigned to new lines as 573 numbers run short.
What area code covers Springfield, Missouri?
Springfield uses 417, which has served southwestern Missouri since 1950. The same code covers Joplin, Branson, Nixa, Ozark, and West Plains. It remains a single-code region with no overlay, so seven-digit local dialing history aside, it has not needed relief.
Ready to Get a Number in Missouri?
We carry available Missouri numbers right now across multiple area codes. Order directly in 636, 816, 235, 314, or 417 — a one-time fee, no monthly charges, with pricing From $150 depending on the digit pattern and memorability of the number. Prefer help choosing? Call us at (212) 580-2000.
