843 Area CodeCharleston, SC
Area code 843 covers Charleston and nearby communities in South Carolina, in the Eastern Time (ET) zone, home to about 1 million people across 111 cities. It overlays 854, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- Charleston
- State
- South Carolina (SC)
- Timezone
- Eastern Time (ET)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 854
Where is area code 843?
Area code 843 serves part of Charleston, SC and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (854) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 843 Area Code
What is the 843 area code?
The 843 area code serves Charleston, South Carolina, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 843 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 843 created?
The 843 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Charleston once the existing area code 854 began to run out of available prefixes. It added a new supply of numbers without requiring current residents to change their existing digits.
Geographic Coverage of the 843 Area Code
The 843 area code serves Charleston and surrounding areas in South Carolina. It operates within the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 854. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Charleston
- North Charleston
- Mount Pleasant
- Summerville
- Goose Creek
- Florence
Got a call from an 843 number? It came from Charleston, SC. Since 843 overlays with 854, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 843, Charleston holds about 15% of the population; the rest is split across 110 smaller cities.
Charleston Area Codes Overview
Charleston is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 843 area code operates alongside 854. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 843 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 843 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | SC | 157,665 | 1% | 100% |
| North Charleston | SC | 126,005 | 1% | 100% |
| Mount Pleasant | SC | 95,604 | 0% | 100% |
| Summerville | SC | 52,625 | 0% | 100% |
| Goose Creek | SC | 50,352 | 0% | 100% |
| Florence | SC | 40,923 | 0% | 100% |
| Myrtle Beach | SC | 40,535 | 0% | 100% |
| Hilton Head Island | SC | 38,158 | 1% | 100% |
| Bluffton | SC | 36,146 | 0% | 100% |
| Conway | SC | 29,656 | 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 843 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 564 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 843 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 58% robocalls
- ↓ 3% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other44%250
- Medical & prescriptions14%78
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)13%73
* 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 843?
78% assigned to a telco
- 70% Landline
- 30% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (843)200- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (843)201- | Landline | Farmers Tel. Coop. |
| (843)202- | Landline | Southern Bell Tel & Tel |
| (843)203- | Landline | Centurylink Communications |
| (843)205- | Landline | Frontier Communications Of The Carolinas |
| (843)206- | Wireless | T-Mobile Usa |
| (843)207- | Landline | Southern Bell Tel & Tel |
| (843)208- | Landline | Hargray Tel. Co. |
| (843)209- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (843)210- | Landline | Farmers Tel. Coop. |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 843 Area Code
Who called me from a 843 number?
A 843 number is assigned to Charleston, South Carolina, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 843 code to look nearby, so a 843 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 564 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 843 code (58% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 843 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 843 is a normal, officially assigned code for Charleston, South Carolina. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 843 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 564 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 843 code (58% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 843 area code?
Repeated calls from different 843 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 843 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 564 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 843 code (58% 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 843 number?
If you aren't expecting a 843 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 843 area code?
Block a single 843 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 843 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 843?
Area code 843 covers Charleston and the surrounding area in South Carolina, spanning 111 cities with about 1,022,477 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 854.
Is 843 a real area code?
Yes. 843 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Charleston, South Carolina. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 843 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 843 area code in?
The 843 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 843 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 843 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 843 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 843 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.