212 area code phone numbers
212 is New York City's original area code, and on caller ID it still means one thing: Manhattan. Get a 212 number for your business, and we'll set up the whole system around it: greetings, menus, forwarding, the works. You just answer when it rings.
212 upcharge: 212 numbers have extremely limited availability, expect to pay extra to secure this area code. Other area codes, including other NYC area codes like 646, 332, and 917, have no upcharge.
Your new business line
(212) 555-XXXX
New York, NY
Trusted by leading organizations
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Why AccessDirect
Since 1997, we've helped small businesses sound like Fortune 500 companies on the phone, without the equipment, the hassle, or the price tag. Voicemail-to-text, call forwarding, and phone menus all come built in.
But the real difference is people. We're a small business too, so we know you don't have time to learn a phone system. Our team sets up everything for you, and when you need a change, you just call us. A real person picks up.
No extra charge
Writing and recording your greeting
Sending calls to the right person
Building your full phone menu
Changes anytime, as often as you like
Want to see what we can save you? Call 913-599-6500 for a free consultation.
Know your code
Area code 212 covers Manhattan, the island at the heart of New York City. That's everything from the Financial District at the southern tip up to Inwood at the northern edge, plus Roosevelt Island.
212 is one of the original area codes from 1947. Back then it covered all five boroughs. As the city filled up with phones, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx moved to 718, and Manhattan kept 212 for itself.
Today 212 shares Manhattan with three "overlay" codes: 646, 332, and 917. An overlay is just a second code laid over the same map. Same island, same local feel, more numbers to go around.
212 at a glance
Location
Manhattan (New York County), New York City
Neighborhoods
Financial District, Tribeca, SoHo, Chinatown, Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Midtown, Murray Hill, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood, Roosevelt Island, and more
Time zone
Eastern Time (ET)
Toll-free?
No. 212 is a local area code.
Pricing
212 numbers carry a pass-through upcharge. Other NYC codes (646, 332, 917, 718) have no upcharge.
Overlay codes
646 and 332 (Manhattan), 917 (all five boroughs)
Nearby codes
718, 347, 929, 201, 551, 914, 516, 973
New York City area codes
New Jersey
201 · 551
Westchester
914
212
Manhattan
646 · 332
The Bronx
718 · 347 · 929
Queens
718 · 347 · 929
Long Island
516
Staten Island
718 · 347 · 929
Brooklyn
718 · 347 · 929
917 covers all five boroughs. Map not to scale.
Area code 212 location
Manhattan is only about 23 square miles, but around 1.7 million people live there, and millions more come in every workday. That's a lot of phones in one place. 212 numbers ran short decades ago, which is why newer Manhattan lines often start with 646 or 332.
Serving customers just outside Manhattan? These area codes are right next door:
718
The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. 347 and 929 overlay the same four boroughs.
201
Hudson County, New Jersey: Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, and nearby towns. 551 overlays it.
914
Westchester County: Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle, and Mount Vernon.
516
Nassau County, Long Island: Hempstead, Garden City, Long Beach, and Great Neck.
See what real customers have to say about their numbers and our service.
"Working with AccessDirect is a breeze. Their phone forwarding service helps our team stay connected and makes sure calls are covered both throughout the workday and after hours."
"AccessDirect is the best answering/messaging service I have ever used in the 18 years my company has been in business. They know what they are doing, and do it right...every time! I am always pleased with their work."
"I look forward to working with you for a long time. We set up tons of numbers each year, and I'm going to encourage all my coworkers to use you, as opposed to another company that doesn't work as nicely."
History of the 212
212 has been around longer than the TV remote. Here's how it went from covering the whole city to being Manhattan's calling card. (Skip ahead if you just want a number. We won't be offended.)
1947
One of the first 86 area codes in North America. It covered all five boroughs of New York City.
1984
Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island got a new code. Manhattan and the Bronx kept 212.
1992
The Bronx joined 718, making 212 all Manhattan. The same year, 917 launched across the city for cell phones and pagers.
1999
212 numbers were running out, so 646 was laid over the same island.
2017
Manhattan's newest code. Fresh numbers in the borough often start here today.
Blame the rotary phone. Every number you dialed sent clicks down the line: a 2 sent two clicks, a 9 sent nine, and a 0 sent ten. The busiest cities got the codes with the fewest clicks, so they'd be quickest to dial.
2
+
1
+
2
=
5
clicks
The biggest city in the country got one of the fastest codes to dial. (For comparison, 909 takes 28 clicks.) That head start is a big part of why 212 still carries so much weight.
Why use a 212 area code
212 is so tied to Manhattan that Seinfeld did a whole episode about Elaine not wanting a 646 number. For your business, that reputation turns into a few real wins.
212 is the city's oldest code. To a lot of New Yorkers, it signals a business that's been around for a while and isn't going anywhere. Even if you opened last Tuesday.
Wall Street, Madison Avenue, Broadway, and the Garment District all live in 212, along with thousands of law firms, agencies, and medical offices. A 212 number looks right at home with their callers.
Consulting from Kansas City? Running a team in Jersey City? Your 212 number rings wherever you are, so you can serve Manhattan without paying Manhattan rent.
How it works
There's nothing technical for you to figure out. Tell us what you want, and our team gets your new line ringing the right way.
Go with 212, a Manhattan overlay like 646 or 332, or a number almost anywhere in the U.S. 212 numbers have an upcharge because they cost us more to secure, and we pass that cost straight through. Every other area code, including 646, 332, and 917, has no upcharge.
Choose the plan that fits how you work, from voicemail only to a full phone system for your team. Every plan comes with greetings recorded by real people.
Order online and we'll call you within one business day to set up your number, greeting, and call routing. Rather talk first? Call 913-599-6500.
Features
Your 212 number isn't just a number. It plugs into a full answering system that helps you take care of every caller. Here's what you get, and which plan includes it.
Every plan
Not a fan of your phone voice? No problem. We'll help write your greeting and record it with a real, polished voice.
Every plan
Every voicemail lands in your email and texts as written words. Read it in a meeting, on the subway, wherever.
Every plan
Hear who's calling before you pick up, so you can take the client and skip the robocall.
Solo + Team
Calls ring your cell, then your office, then a teammate, in the order you choose. Callers reach a person instead of voicemail.
Solo + Team
Text customers from your 212 number, not your personal cell. Messaging is an easy add-on starting at $5/mo.
Team
A friendly phone menu greets every caller ("Press 1 for sales...") and sends them to the right place, day or night.
Team
Give everyone on your team their own extension, or set up one for billing, one for scheduling, and so on. All from one 212 number.
Team
Callers type a few letters of a name and get connected. It's a big-company touch that saves everyone time.
Add-on
Want calls answered 24/7? An AI agent can answer questions, book appointments, and route calls. Available on Solo and Team plans.
Benefits
Plenty of companies can sell you a 212 number. We go further and give you everything you need to sound like a big business, no matter how small your team is.
Every business is different, so our plans are flexible. You only pay for what you need.
Not everyone has a "radio voice," and that's fine. We'll write and record a greeting that fits your business and your brand.
Our service is reliable, but if you ever have a question, you'll talk to our own U.S.-based support team. We never outsource it.
We don't say "we'll get back to you." Whenever we can, we solve it during the call, so you can get back to business.
No hidden costs and no surprise fees. We'd rather keep you because you're happy, not because you're stuck.
Whether your people work from Midtown, home, or three different states, one 212 number connects every caller to the right person.
FAQ
No. 212 is a local area code for Manhattan. If you'd like a number that's free for callers anywhere in the country, we offer toll-free numbers too.