Originally the 1996 code for Houston's suburban ring outside Beltway 8; since 1999 it has been part of the Houston all-services overlay (713/281/832/346/621).
The essentialsNumbering data · NumberResearch · as of 2026-09-18
Place
Houston
Type
geographic
Status
in service
In service since
1996
Projected exhaust
2039 Q2
Status, dates and counts are read from NumberResearch (NANPA / CNAC / FCC records). Assignment records show initial assignees, not the carrier serving a number today.
A · Where it is
Where 281 is
Greater Houston metropolitan area, Texas.
Communities served wholly or partly by 281:
HoustonKatyThe WoodlandsSugar LandPearlandPasadenaBaytownLeague City
Representative; the original 1996 suburban distinction dissolved when the overlay formed in 1999.
B · Relationships
How it relates to other codes
The codes 281 was split from, spawned, or shares its area with. A split divides the map and changes some numbers; an overlay shares the same ground and changes none — what's the difference?
Split from · 1996713Houston281 was created Nov 2, 1996 for Houston's suburbs, roughly along Beltway 8.
Overlay · 1999832Houston (overlay)832 added as an overlay when the 713/281 boundary was erased.
Overlay · 2014346Houston (overlay)346 added as a fourth overlay in 2014.
Overlay · 2025621Houston (overlay)621 added as a fifth overlay on Jan 23, 2025.
What's changing. Member of the 713/281/832/346/621 all-services overlay. Mandatory 10-digit dialing since 1999.
C · History
How 281 got here
1996-11-02
Created by a split from 713 for suburbs outside Beltway 8.
Source: Wikipedia (Area codes 713, 281, 832, 346, and 621)
1999-01-16
713/281 boundary erased; both became overlay codes and 832 was added; 10-digit dialing became mandatory.
Source: Wikipedia (Area codes 713, 281, 832, 346, and 621)
2025-01-23
Fifth overlay 621 entered service.
Source: NANPA Planning Letter PL-623 / PUC of Texas
D · Capacity
How full it is
Prefixes assigned
800
Prefixes available
0
Thousands-blocks assigned
2,688
Prefix-assignment counts describe allocation to carriers, not how many individual numbers are in use. Full technical records: NumberResearch ↗.
Live status, dates, assignment counts and exhaust forecast — data as of 2026-09-18 (CC BY 4.0).
Place, relationships and history above are compiled by North American Numbers from the sources listed and last checked 2026-09-18. A check date is not an expert review — see how this is made. Flag an error.
North American Numbers