973 Area CodeNewark, NJ
Area code 973 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 862, 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 862
Where is area code 973?
Area code 973 serves part of Newark, NJ and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (862) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 973 Area Code
What is the 973 area code?
The 973 area code serves Newark, New Jersey, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 973 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 973 created?
The 973 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Newark once the existing area code 862 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 973 Area Code
The 973 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 862. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Newark
- Paterson
- Clifton
- East Orange
- Passaic
- Kearny
Got a call from a 973 number? It came from Newark, NJ. Since 973 overlays with 862, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 973, 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 973 area code operates alongside 862. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 973 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 973 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 973 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 539 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 973 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 57% robocalls
- ↓ 5% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other37%202
- Dropped call or no message15%81
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)10%56
* 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 973?
78% assigned to a telco
- 84% Landline
- 16% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (973)200- | Landline | Level 3 Communications |
| (973)201- | Landline | Peerless Network Of New Jersey |
| (973)202- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (973)203- | Landline | Verizon New Jersey |
| (973)204- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (973)205- | Wireless | Usa Mobility Wireless |
| (973)206- | Landline | Mcimetro Access Transmission Services |
| (973)207- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (973)208- | Landline | Verizon New Jersey |
| (973)209- | Landline | Centurylink |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 973 Area Code
Who called me from a 973 number?
A 973 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 973 code to look nearby, so a 973 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 539 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 973 code (57% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 973 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 973 is a normal, officially assigned code for Newark, New Jersey. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 973 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 539 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 973 code (57% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 973 area code?
Repeated calls from different 973 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 973 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 539 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 973 code (57% 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 973 number?
If you aren't expecting a 973 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 973 area code?
Block a single 973 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 973 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 973?
Area code 973 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 862.
Is 973 a real area code?
Yes. 973 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 973 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 973 area code in?
The 973 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 973 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 973 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 973 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 973 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.