Area code 254: Texas
What is area code 254?
Area code 254 is a US state area code for Texas, on Central Time. It has 665 prefixes in service across 111 rate centers, the largest being Waco, Killeen and Temple. NANPA lists no overlay code for it. Local calls there take 10 digits. The code never shows a line is in service.
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See the phone add-onArea code 254 facts
| Location | Texas, United States |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Central Time |
| Overlays | None |
| Split from | 817 |
| In service since | May 25, 1997 |
| Local calls | 10 digits; toll calls 1 + 10 digits |
| Carrier | Not shown. An area code is where a number was issued; numbers port between carriers. Check line type |
In short: 254 is Texas (Central Time). Format checks here are free and run in your browser; the current carrier and line type need a live lookup. Bulk phone number validator · Pro + Phone plan
Local time in area code 254
America/Chicago
Prefixes in service
665 of 792 possible
111 rate centers
Which cities and towns use area code 254?
NANPA records each prefix against a rate center, the local billing area a number belongs to, usually named after its main town. These are the 254 rate centers with the most prefixes in service. 99 smaller ones aren't listed.
| Rate center | Prefixes |
|---|---|
| Waco | 117 |
| Killeen | 88 |
| Temple | 46 |
| Hillsboro | 17 |
| Stephenville | 15 |
| Copperas Cove | 14 |
| Marlin | 11 |
| Mexia | 10 |
| Gatesville | 10 |
| Breckenridge | 9 |
| Eastland | 9 |
| Belton | 8 |
Source: NANPA central office code assignments, file dated 10/17/2026. Each prefix holds up to 10,000 numbers.
How do I dial a 254 number?
NANPA's dialling plan for 254: local calls inside the code take 10 digits, toll calls 1 + 10 digits. From another area code, dial 1 first. From abroad, use +1. The examples use 555-0147, from a range reserved for fictional numbers.
| Local call inside 254 | 254-555-0147 |
|---|---|
| From another US or Canadian area code | 1-254-555-0147 |
| From outside North America | +1 254 555 0147 |
| E.164, for CRMs and SMS tools | +12545550147 |
When did area code 254 start?
Area code 254 went into service on May 25, 1997, split from 817. It has no overlay, so every number in its area still starts with it.
Tools for 254 numbers
- Bulk phone number validator
Format, country and number type for every number in a CSV, with E.164 output.
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- Area code time zone
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- NPA-NXX lookup
Rate center and state for one prefix, a level below the area code.
- TCPA calling hours checker
Whether it's inside the federal 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. calling window there now.
Next step
A 254 number tells you where it was issued, not what it is now.
Mobiles, landlines and VoIP lines share area codes, and numbers move between carriers. A live line-type and carrier lookup on every number in your list says which is which, and that decides which calling and texting rules apply. It's in the phone add-on.
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Area code 254 questions
- What state is area code 254?
- Area code 254 is in Texas, United States. Its largest rate centers by number of prefixes are Waco, Killeen, Temple, Hillsboro and Stephenville.
- What time zone is area code 254 in?
- Central Time.
- Does area code 254 have an overlay?
- Not as of NANPA's file dated 10/16/2026. Every number in its area uses 254.
- When did area code 254 start?
- Area code 254 went into service on May 25, 1997, split from 817.
- Is a 254 number a cell phone or a landline?
- The area code can't tell you. In the US and Canada mobiles, landlines and VoIP lines share area codes and prefixes, and numbers move between carriers and line types. Only a live line-type lookup answers it for one number.
- How many phone numbers does area code 254 have?
- 665 of its 792 possible prefixes are in service, and each prefix holds up to 10,000 numbers. That counts prefixes assigned to carriers, not numbers in use.
- Does a valid format mean a 254 number is in service?
- No. A format check only says the digits fit the North American Numbering Plan and that 254 is an assigned code. It cannot tell whether the number is connected, who answers it or which carrier serves it today, because numbers are reassigned and ported. A live carrier lookup reports the current carrier and line type, but even that is not proof someone answers.
- Can I check a list of 254 numbers for free?
- Yes. Paste them in the list tab above or upload a CSV to the bulk phone number validator: format, E.164, country and the numbering-plan line type are free for every row, with no account. Live carrier and line-type lookups come with Pro + Phone at $49.99/mo (5,000 a month).
Other area codes in Texas
All Texas area codes on the area code index.
210214281325346361409430432469512621682713726737806817830832903915936940945956972979
Sources
Location, overlays, in-service date and dialling plan: NANPA NPA database, file dated 10/16/2026. Prefixes and rate centers: NANPA central office code assignments, 10/17/2026. Time zones mapped to the IANA time zone database. By the SimpleVerifier Team; how we build these pages.