Chicago area codes at a glance
| Code | Main places | Since | Overlay | Time zone | Exhaust |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 312 | Chicago | 1947 | 872 | Central time | 2049 |
| 773 | Chicago | 1996 | 872 | Central time | 2046 |
| 872 | Chicago | 2009 | 312 and 773 | Central time | 2046 |
NANPA public reports are from 11/01/2026: the area code report and rate-centre report. For the exhaust year, see the NANPA projections, 2026-1 (April 2026). We are not an official NANPA site.
Nearby area codes for Chicago
Additional codes used in the metro area named Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN include 217, 618, 815, 708, 847, 630, 224, 779, 331, 447, 464 and 730.
Get a Chicago phone number
You can get a Chicago number in two ways. With its plan, a provider hands out a new number, chosen when you sign up from the numbers it already holds in the code. A seller puts up numbers it already holds, often ones with a pattern, at a one-time price. After that, you move that number to a provider.
Providers ranked by first-year cost
| Provider | Cheapest plan | First year | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
 Free app | Basic (Just for me), free | $0 | Open Google Voice |
 Free app | Free plan, free | $0 | Open TextNow |
 Developer API | Pay-as-you-go local number, $1.15 a month | $13.80 | Open Twilio |
 Second-number app | Standard, $3.99 a month billed yearly | $47.99 | Open Burner |
 Toll-free specialist | Solo, $6.99 a month billed yearly | $84 | Open UniTel Voice |
 Second-number app | Deluxe (local number), $6.99 a month billed yearly | $102.88 | Open GoDaddy Conversations (formerly Smartline) |
Sellers listing local numbers
| Seller | What it sells | Listed price | Monthly fee | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Marketplace | Local numbers | From $9 one-time | None stated | Search at Exclusive Digits |
 Marketplace | Local and toll-free | From $9.95 one-time | $2.99 a month | Search at NumberBarn |
 Number broker | Local and toll-free | From $99 one-time | None stated | Search at RingBoost |
 Number broker | Local and toll-free | From $100 one-time | None stated | Search at PhoneNumberExpert |
| 212areacode.comNumber broker | Local numbers | From $150 one-time | None stated | Search at 212areacode.com |
Some sellers and providers may pay us a referral fee. Referral fees never affect the order, which is based on first-year cost. How we earn
Chicago area code questions
Which area code does Chicago use?
Three codes serve Chicago: 312, 773 and 872. The codes overlay one another, so a new number may be drawn from any of them.
Which Chicago area code is the original?
The 312 code has been in service since 1947.
For a local Chicago call, do I need the area code?
Yes: use 1 + 10-digit dialling.