517 Area CodeLansing, MI
Area code 517 covers Lansing and nearby communities in Michigan, in the Eastern Time (ET) zone, home to about 473,000 people across 77 cities. It's the only area code for this region, so the three digits alone place the caller.
Where is area code 517?
Area code 517 serves part of Lansing, MI and the surrounding areas. It is a unique area code with no overlays.
Overview of the 517 Area Code
What is the 517 area code?
The 517 area code serves Lansing, Michigan. When you see a 517 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 517 created?
The 517 area code was established to serve the Lansing region in Michigan. It provides telephone number coverage across 77 cities.
Geographic Coverage of the 517 Area Code
The 517 area code serves Lansing and surrounding areas in Michigan. It operates within the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Lansing
- East Lansing
- Jackson
- Holt
- Waverly
- Okemos
Got a call from a 517 number? It came from Lansing, MI. No other area code overlaps the 517 territory, so the prefix alone identifies where the caller is. Inside 517, Lansing holds about 24% of the population; the rest is split across 76 smaller cities.
Lansing Area Code Overview
The 517 area code provides comprehensive telephone coverage for Lansing and its surrounding communities. As the sole area code for this region, it uniquely identifies all local numbers within the service area.
What cities does area code 517 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing | MI | 114,336 | 1% | 100% |
| East Lansing | MI | 48,964 | 0% | 100% |
| Jackson | MI | 30,920 | 0% | 100% |
| Holt | MI | 23,973 | 0% | 100% |
| Waverly | MI | 23,925 | 0% | 100% |
| Okemos | MI | 21,369 | 0% | 100% |
| Adrian | MI | 20,259 | 0% | 100% |
| Haslett | MI | 19,220 | 0% | 100% |
| Coldwater | MI | 14,314 | 0% | 100% |
| Howell | MI | 9,914 | 0% | 100% |
* Sources: Population – U.S. Census Bureau PEP, Vintage 2024 (SUB-IP-EST2024-POP). Area code assignments – NANPA CO Code data. See our data methodology.
Has area code 517 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 349 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 517 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 68% robocalls
- ↓ 18% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other38%131
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)17%59
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends11%39
* Caller ID is easily spoofed, so these figures reflect the number shown on caller ID, not the caller's true location – an area code alone never identifies a caller. The FTC does not verify the facts in these complaints. Source: FTC Do Not Call (DNC) Reported Calls Data, retrieved 2026-07-05.
Which prefixes and exchanges belong to area code 517?
61% assigned to a telco
- 77% Landline
- 23% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (517)200- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (517)201- | Landline | Onvoy, Llcv |
| (517)202- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (517)203- | Landline | Michigan Bell Tel Co |
| (517)204- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (517)205- | Landline | Michigan Bell Tel Co |
| (517)206- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (517)207- | Landline | Telnet Worldwide |
| (517)208- | Landline | Centurylink Communications |
| (517)209- | Landline | Bandwidth.Com Clec |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 517 Area Code
Who called me from a 517 number?
A 517 number is assigned to Lansing, Michigan, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 517 code to look nearby, so a 517 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 349 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 517 code (68% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 517 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 517 is a normal, officially assigned code for Lansing, Michigan. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 517 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 349 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 517 code (68% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 517 area code?
Repeated calls from different 517 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 517 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 349 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 517 code (68% flagged as robocalls). Blocking one number rarely helps; voicemail screening, your carrier spam filter, and the Do Not Call Registry work better.
Should I answer an unknown 517 number?
If you aren't expecting a 517 call, let it ring to voicemail. Legitimate callers leave a message, most robocallers hang up when no one picks up, and answering can mark your number as active and bring more calls.
How do I block calls from the 517 area code?
Block a single 517 number from your recent-calls list (iPhone: tap the number, then Block this Caller; Android: tap the number, then Block or report spam). To cut the volume, turn on Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone or spam protection on Android, enable spam filtering from your carrier, and register at DoNotCall.gov. Blocking the entire 517 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 517?
Area code 517 covers Lansing and the surrounding area in Michigan, spanning 77 cities with about 473,438 residents. No other code overlays this region, so 517 alone identifies the area.
Is 517 a real area code?
Yes. 517 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Lansing, Michigan. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 517 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 517 area code in?
The 517 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 517 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 517 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 517 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 517 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.