862 Area CodeNewark, NJ
Area code 862 covers Newark and nearby communities in New Jersey, in the Eastern Time (ET) zone, home to about 1.3 million people across 70 cities. It overlays 973, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- Newark
- State
- New Jersey (NJ)
- Timezone
- Eastern Time (ET)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 973
Where is area code 862?
Area code 862 serves part of Newark, NJ and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (973) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 862 Area Code
What is the 862 area code?
The 862 area code serves Newark, New Jersey, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 862 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 862 created?
The 862 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Newark once the existing area code 973 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 862 Area Code
The 862 area code serves Newark and surrounding areas in New Jersey. It operates within the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 973. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Newark
- Paterson
- Clifton
- East Orange
- Passaic
- Kearny
Got a call from an 862 number? It came from Newark, NJ. Since 862 overlays with 973, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 862, Newark holds about 25% of the population; the rest is split across 69 smaller cities.
Newark Area Codes Overview
Newark is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 862 area code operates alongside 973. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 862 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 862 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | NJ | 317,303 | 2% | 99% |
| Paterson | NJ | 160,463 | 1% | 100% |
| Clifton | NJ | 90,322 | 1% | 100% |
| East Orange | NJ | 71,850 | 0% | 100% |
| Passaic | NJ | 70,722 | 0% | 100% |
| Kearny | NJ | 40,866 | 0% | 21% |
| Garfield | NJ | 33,530 | 0% | 100% |
| Lodi | NJ | 26,358 | 0% | 81% |
| Harrison | NJ | 22,182 | 0% | 100% |
| Morristown | NJ | 20,732 | 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 862 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 429 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 862 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 71% robocalls
- ↓ 2% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other34%146
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)29%125
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends9%40
* 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 862?
32% assigned to a telco
- 66% Landline
- 34% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (862)200- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (862)201- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (862)202- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (862)203- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (862)204- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (862)205- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (862)206- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (862)207- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (862)208- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (862)209- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 862 Area Code
Who called me from a 862 number?
A 862 number is assigned to Newark, New Jersey, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 862 code to look nearby, so a 862 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 429 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 862 code (71% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 862 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 862 is a normal, officially assigned code for Newark, New Jersey. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 862 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 429 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 862 code (71% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 862 area code?
Repeated calls from different 862 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 862 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 429 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 862 code (71% 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 862 number?
If you aren't expecting a 862 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 862 area code?
Block a single 862 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 862 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 862?
Area code 862 covers Newark and the surrounding area in New Jersey, spanning 70 cities with about 1,290,494 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 973.
Is 862 a real area code?
Yes. 862 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Newark, New Jersey. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 862 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 862 area code in?
The 862 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 862 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 862 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 862 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 862 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.