973 Area Code
Covers Newark and nearby communities in New Jersey.
(973) 555-0142Area code 973 map
Interactive coverage map for area code 973, centered on Newark, New Jersey
40.7357, -74.1724
Open in OpenStreetMapArea code 973 coverage map — centered on Newark. Shaded area shows the approximate reach around the primary city.
Area code 973 is a telephone area code in New Jersey, anchored on Newark. It reaches roughly 645,000 people across places such as Newark, Paterson, Clifton, Passaic and more. The region observes Eastern time, so a number like (973) 555-0142 is on that clock right now. On the ground it spans Essex, Passaic, Bergen and nearby counties. It shares its territory with the overlay codes 862, 201, 551, which sit on the exact same map. Because the 973 region uses more than one area code, you must dial all ten digits — area code included — even for a local call. You do not, however, need to dial a leading 1 for calls within the US and Canada. Keep reading for the current local time in Newark, a map of the 973 coverage area, the places it reaches, nearby and overlay codes, and how to tell a real 973 call from a scam.
Cities covered by 973
Cities & neighborhoods
- Newark
- Paterson
- Clifton
- Passaic
- East Orange
- Belleville
- Bloomfield
- Garfield
- Irvington
- Livingston
- Lodi
- Maplewood
- Montclair
- Morristown
- Nutley
- Wayne
- West Milford
- West Orange
Nearby & overlay area codes
Overlay codes (same area)
These share 973’s geography — a number in either code can be on the same street.
Neighboring codes
Codes for adjacent regions and metros.
Is a call from 973 a scam?
Area code 973 serves Newark and the surrounding area, so most calls are ordinary local and business traffic. As everywhere, spam and robocalls do use 973 numbers, frequently by spoofing a local-looking caller ID to boost pickup rates. The area code itself tells you nothing about who is really calling, so judge the call by what's said, not the number.
Red flags to watch for
- Pressure to act right now, or threats of arrest, fines, or service being cut off.
- Requests to pay with gift cards, wire transfer, crypto, or a payment app.
- Asking for passwords, one-time codes, your SSN, or full card/bank numbers.
- A robocall or recording, or a number that won’t let you call back.
When unsure, hang up and call the organization back on a number you look up yourself.
Calling a 973 number from abroad
Every 973 number is a US/Canada +1 number. From a mobile anywhere, the simplest approach is to dial it in international format:
+1 973 555-0142If your phone can’t dial the +, replace it with your country’s exit code, then 1, then the number:
- UK, Germany, France & most of Europe
00 1 973 555-0142 - Australia
0011 1 973 555-0142 - Japan
010 1 973 555-0142 - Mexico
00 1 973 555-0142
Within the US and Canada you don’t need any of this — just dial the ten digits 973 555-0142.
Reverse phone lookup
Check any US or Canada number to see whether it's a working line, which carrier it sits on, whether it's mobile, landline or VoIP, and roughly where it's registered.
Shows carrier, line type and location. Owner name isn't available here.
Results are for personal, informational use only and may not be used for employment, credit, housing or tenant-screening decisions.
Area code 973: frequently asked questions
Where is the 973 area code located?
The 973 area code is located in New Jersey, centered on Newark. It covers Essex, Passaic, Bergen, Morris and nearby communities including Newark, Paterson, Clifton, Passaic, East Orange, Belleville.
What time zone is 973 in?
Area code 973 is in the Eastern time zone (UTC-5 (EST) / UTC-4 (EDT)). You can see the exact current local time for Newark on the live clock above.
What cities use area code 973?
Cities and areas that use 973 include Newark, Paterson, Clifton, Passaic, East Orange, Belleville. Its primary city is Newark, NJ.
Do I need to dial 1 before 973?
For calls within the US, you do not need to dial a leading 1, but you do need all ten digits: 973 plus the seven-digit number. The 973 area requires ten-digit dialing because more than one area code serves it.
Is 973 a toll-free or scam number?
No — 973 is a normal geographic area code for Newark, not a toll-free code (toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888). A 973 number is not inherently a scam, but the code can be spoofed. See the spam-call section above for how to tell.
What are the overlay area codes for 973?
Area code 973 is overlaid by 862, 201, 551, 908, meaning those codes cover the same geographic area.