646 Area Code.

The 646 area code is a New York City telephone code that primarily serves Manhattan. Introduced in July 1999 as an overlay to the original 212 area code, it was created to meet the growing demand for new phone numbers driven by the rise of cell phones and digital communications.

The 646 dialing code is now one of several overlays used in Manhattan alongside 212, 332, and 917, and is commonly assigned to mobile phones, VoIP lines, and newer business numbers. Today, 646 is a widely recognized and active part of Manhattan’s telecommunications system, used across residential, commercial, and tech sectors.

What is the 646 Area Code?

The Area Code 646 is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) and serves nearly all of Manhattan, New York City. It overlaps with area codes 212 and 332, while the 917 area code is designated for mobile and overlay services throughout the city.

Where Is Area Code 646 Located?

The area covered by 646 corresponds to Manhattan, extending from Inwood in the north to the Battery in the south, and includes Roosevelt Island and Governors Island. Interestingly, Marble Hill, although politically part of Manhattan, uses area codes 718, 347, or 929 because its phone lines are physically connected to the Bronx.

Area Code 646 Map and Location.

All Manhattan, New York ZIP codes (10001-10282) lie within the 646/212/332 overlay. The Hudson and East Rivers form its natural west and east boundaries, while 60th Street roughly separates it from the outer-borough 718 territory in Queens and Brooklyn.

The 646 area code map, showing the Manhattan 646 area code location.

Current Coverage of the 646 Area Code.

Every landline, wireless, VoIP, and IoT line activated in Manhattan since mid-1999 may receive a 646 prefix. Ten-digit local dialing is mandatory; the overlay ensures plentiful numbering resources without forcing existing 212 customers to change.

Time Zone of the 646 Area Code.

646 observes the Eastern Time Zone: UTC − 5 during Standard Time and UTC − 4 under Daylight Saving Time (second Sunday in March through first Sunday in November).

Historical Timeline of the 646 Area Code.

Dialing Rules and Numbering Facts for Area Code 646.

• Local calls: dial 646 + 7 digits (or any Manhattan area code + number).
• Domestic long-distance: 1 + 646 + 7 digits.
• Numbering projections show adequate 646/212/332 inventory beyond 2045.
• Regulator: New York Public Service Commission.

Major Prefixes and Landmarks in Area Code 646.

Who Is Calling or Texting Me from Area Code 646?

Common legitimate 646 phone numbers that could be calling you:

• New York University (NYU) – 646-997-XXXX, 646-754-XXXX
  (administrative offices, Langone Health, student services)
• Mount Sinai Health System – 646-605-XXXX, 646-276-XXXX
  (appointment reminders, billing departments, clinical offices)
• NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital – 646-962-XXXX
  (Weill Cornell Medicine, patient outreach, medical scheduling)
• City of New York (311 / NYC Gov Offices) – 646-632-XXXX, 646-892-XXXX
  (housing programs, city surveys, public health outreach)
• Columbia University – 646-774-XXXX
  (medical center, research studies, ColumbiaDoctors appointments)
• Chase Bank – Manhattan Branches – 646-366-XXXX
  (fraud alerts, customer service, loan officers)
• Goldman Sachs – 646-324-XXXX
  (recruitment, investor services, business units based in NYC)
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) – 646-252-XXXX
  (customer support, MetroCard services, accessibility inquiries)
• NYC Department of Education – 646-313-XXXX
  (school district communication, student services, tech support)
• WeWork NYC Headquarters – 646-389-XXXX
  (coworking space management, membership, events)
• United Nations NYC Offices – 646-781-XXXX
  (press briefings, consular services, NGO outreach)
• New York Times – 646-428-XXXX
  (subscriptions, editorial inquiries, customer support)
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center – 646-888-XXXX
  (patient scheduling, research programs, clinical outreach)
• Verizon Business & Enterprise NYC – 646-420-XXXX
  (account management, business tech solutions)
• NYC Health + Hospitals – 646-614-XXXX
  (COVID testing follow-ups, community health services)

Common 646 Text Message Scams and Spam Calls

• Fake Delivery Notifications – Texts claiming to be from UPS, FedEx, or USPS with tracking links that lead to phishing websites. Often includes phrases like “Your package is on hold” or “Confirm your shipping address.”
• Bank and Credit Card Phishing – Messages pretending to be from Chase, Citi, Bank of America, or Apple Pay, asking you to verify suspicious charges or reset your PIN. Spoofed 646 numbers are commonly used for credibility.
• Social Security or IRS Impersonation – Calls or texts claiming your Social Security number has been suspended or that you owe taxes. These often include threats of arrest or frozen accounts and demand immediate action.
• Fake Job Offers or Interviews – Messages offering high-paying remote jobs with minimal qualifications. Some scams request upfront training fees or personal information under the pretense of employment screening.
• Crypto Investment Scams – Calls and texts promoting “guaranteed” returns through Bitcoin or Ethereum. May reference platforms that don’t exist or impersonate real exchanges.
• Fake Tech Support Calls – Spoofed 646 calls claiming to be from Apple, Microsoft, or Norton Support, warning you about malware or account breaches. Victims are urged to download remote access software or provide login details.
• Student Loan Forgiveness Scams – Automated 646 calls offering loan consolidation or forgiveness, often requiring an upfront fee or fake application process.
• Medical or Medicare Fraud – Calls asking for insurance information or offering free COVID tests, back braces, or Medicare coverage upgrades to collect personal health data.
• Amazon or PayPal Account Alerts – Texts saying your account has been locked or a suspicious purchase was made. Includes a fake link to log in and verify details.
• Romance or Sextortion Scams – Unsolicited messages from strangers using 646 numbers to start romantic conversations, later leading to money requests or extortion threats.

Pop-Culture Significance of the 646 Area Code

The 646 code became shorthand for “new New Yorker” status after its 1999 debut—famously ribbed in Seinfeld and late-1990s stand-up routines. Today musicians, social-media creators, and streetwear brands use 646 as a branding badge when 212 numbers are scarce.

How do I Get a Number in the 646 Area Code Today?

• Ask your wireless or VoIP carrier for a Manhattan rate-center assignment; most still stock 646 numbers.
• Order a cloud-PBX or virtual phone line from providers such as Dialpad or RingCentral that offer instant 646 provisioning.
• Port a legacy 212 or out-of-region number into 646 through a vanity-number broker if you want specific digits.

The Area Code 646 in the Future.

With thousands-block pooling and the added capacity of 332, analysts project ample numbering supply for Manhattan well into the 2040s. Ongoing growth in fintech, media streaming, and IoT deployments will continue to shift new activations toward 646 and 332 rather than the legacy 212.

For more information about the 212/332/646/917 NPA area codes complex, please search the NANPA website for 646.

What are the Top Counties in Area Code 646?

Top Cities in Area Code 646

What are the Largest Telephone Carriers (Landline) in the 646 Area Code?

Largest Telephone Carriers (Wireless)

646 Area Code Phone Number Prefixes.

• 99% of numbers are assigned to a telecom company.
• 49% are Landlines
• 2% Unknown
• 49% are Wireless

Here is a breakdown of the 646 area code phone number prefixes:

Frequently Asked Questions about the 646 Area Code.

Where is the 646 area code located?

It covers the borough of Manhattan—everything south of the Harlem River except Marble Hill, plus Roosevelt and Governors Islands.

Is 646 area code a cell phone in the USA?

No. 646 is an overlay, so it can be assigned to landlines, mobiles, VoIP lines, or machine-to-machine devices. Whether the number is a “cell phone” depends on the carrier that issued it.

What area code is 646 in WhatsApp?

WhatsApp uses the same national format as regular calling: +1 646 xxx xxxx. It denotes a U.S. number registered in Manhattan.

When did the 646 area code start?

It went live on July 1, 1999, as Manhattan’s first true overlay to legacy 212 numbers.

How to get a 646 number?

Request one from any major U.S. carrier with Manhattan inventory, or purchase a virtual 646 line from cloud providers such as RingCentral, Dialpad, or Google Voice.

Which country code is 64?

Country code +64 belongs to New Zealand. It is unrelated to the U.S. 646 area code.

What are the typical 646 area code scams?

Common scams include Chinese-consulate robocalls, IRS tax-debt threats, student-loan forgiveness pitches, and fake package-delivery texts. Always verify before responding.

Why am I getting a 646 area code text message?

You may be receiving a legitimate text from a Manhattan-based person or business, or it could be spam or spoofed traffic because 646 numbers are plentiful and inexpensive for mass-texting platforms.

What is the most famous U.S. area code?

Many regard 212 (Manhattan) and 310 (Los Angeles’ Westside) as the most iconic, thanks to pop-culture exposure and scarcity of available numbers. 212’s notoriety is one reason 646 was added.

Who is calling from 646?

Any individual or organization with a Manhattan-based line—ranging from Wall Street banks to Broadway box offices—could appear as 646. Use a reputable reverse-lookup or spam-filtering service to confirm unknown callers.

What area code is 646 on Reddit?

Reddit discussions about 646 often appear in r/Scams or r/nyc, where users warn others about fraudulent calls or compare NYC area-code prestige.

What city is the 647 area code?

647 serves Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as an overlay to 416 and 437; it is unrelated to Manhattan’s 646.