Area code
Area code 872 — Chicago, IL
Illinois · in service since November 7, 2009
Area code 872 covers the Chicago, IL area. It is an overlay: 312, 773 serve the same area, so neighbors can have different area codes.
Local time in Chicago
Spam reports from Sep 23 – Oct 22, 2026
Average #208 of 461 codes
452 FTC complaints
Consumer reports, not verified by the FTC.
See the reports- Time zoneCentral Time
- Local calls1 + 10 digits
- Prefixes293 assigned
- Runs out~4Q 2046
- Unwanted call?Block & report
Spam call reports about 872 numbers
Complaints by week
Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026Show as table
| Week starting | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Sep 7 (3 days) | 36 |
| Sep 14 | 124 |
| Sep 21 | 123 |
| Sep 28 | 105 |
| Oct 5 | 99 |
| Oct 12 | 99 |
| Oct 19 (4 days) | 70 |
Compared with all codes
- Robocalls
- 70%all codes 75%
- Callers with the same code
- 7%all codes 35%
- Rank by complaints
- #208of 461 · middle half
- FCC complaints, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026
- 7220 about text messages
What the calls were about
Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026
| Subject | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans) | 181 28% | |
| Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends | 73 11% | |
| Dropped call or no message | 48 7% | |
| Energy, solar, & utilities | 7 1% | |
| Warranties & protection plans | 5 1% | |
| Computer & technical support | 3 <1% |
Where the people who complained live
Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026
| State | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 226 34% | |
| California | 54 8% | |
| Florida | 36 5% | |
| Texas | 34 5% | |
| Pennsylvania | 27 4% |
October 2026 (partial) report · most reported
Consumer reports, not verified by the FTC · source
Source: FTC Do Not Call complaints created Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026. They are reported by consumers and are not verified by the FTC; caller ID can be spoofed (how we count).
Source: FCC Consumer Complaints data, unwanted calls filed Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026, by caller ID; not verified by the FCC.
Area code 872 location and prefixes
| Exchange (NANPA) | Place | County | Prefixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHICGOZN01 | Chicago | spans 2 counties | 39 |
| CHICGOZN03 | Chicago | spans 2 counties | 36 |
| CHICGOZN04 | Chicago | spans 2 counties | 32 |
| CHICGOZN07 | Chicago | spans 2 counties | 30 |
| CHICGOZN08 | Chicago | spans 2 counties | 30 |
| CHICGOZN02 | Chicago | spans 2 counties | 27 |
| CHICGOZN06 | Chicago | spans 2 counties | 24 |
| CHICGOZN09 | Chicago | spans 2 counties | 21 |
| CHICGOZN10 | Chicago | spans 2 counties | 21 |
| CHICGOZN05 | Chicago | spans 2 counties | 16 |
Plus 1 smaller exchange areas.
Source: NANPA CO codes of Oct 23, 2026; places: U.S. Census Bureau, matched by DialWhere (how).
NANPA record
- Location
- Illinois
- Assigned by NANPA
- July 23, 1999
- Local dialing
- 1 + 10 digits (NANPA: 1+10D)
- NANPA planning letters
- PL-392, PL-390, PL-195
Source: NANPA, NPA database of Oct 24, 2026.
Is 872 running out of numbers?
Previous forecast (October 2025): 2031, moved later by 15 years.
Forecast exhaust year by edition
Source: NANPA NRUF forecast, April 2026 edition.
Who holds 872 prefixes
The five largest of 40 original holders
As listed by NANPA, not today’s carrier.
| Holder (as listed) | Prefixes | |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile USA, Inc. | 67 23% | |
| Onvoy, LLC | 55 19% | |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC | 30 10% | |
| Bandwidth.com CLEC, LLC | 19 6% | |
| Ton80 Communications, LLC | 13 4% |
Source: NANPA CO codes of Oct 23, 2026.
Questions about area code 872
What area code is 872?
An Illinois area code, in service since November 7, 2009.
Where is 872 area code, and what time zone is it in?
Chicago, IL; Central Time.
Why am I getting spam calls from 872?
452 FTC complaints from Sep 23 – Oct 22, 2026, most often about debt reduction (not verified by the FTC; caller ID can be spoofed).
Will 872 get a new area code?
NANPA forecasts exhaust in 4Q 2046; no relief planning listed.