business phone · 8 min read
Area Code for Kansas City
Kansas City spans two states: Missouri side uses 816 and 975 overlay; Kansas side uses 913. Full guide to KC area codes, history, cities, and getting a local number.
Kansas City has two main area codes — not one — because it is the only major US metro that spans a state line and has always carried different codes on each side.
The Missouri side (KCMO, Independence, Lee’s Summit) uses 816 and the newer 975 overlay (activated October 13, 2023). The Kansas side (KCK, Overland Park, Olathe) uses 913. For businesses, getting the right code matters: 816 signals Missouri-side credibility, 913 signals the Johnson County Kansas tech corridor.
This guide covers every KC area code with history, neighborhood maps, the 816 vs 913 identity divide, scam alerts, and how to get a local number.
What’s the area code for Kansas City?
Kansas City’s metro is served by four area codes under the North American Numbering Plan (NANP):
| Code | State | Established | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 816 | Missouri | 1947 | Kansas City (KCMO), St. Joseph, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs | Original NANP code; primary Missouri KC code |
| 975 | Missouri | 2023 | Overlay of 816 — same geography | Activated Oct 13, 2023; 10-digit dialing required |
| 913 | Kansas | 1947 | Kansas City (KCK), Overland Park, Olathe, Shawnee, Lenexa | Original NANP code; Johnson + Wyandotte counties |
| 660 | Missouri | 1997 | Outer northwest/northeast Missouri | Split from 816 in 1997; not metro KC |
| 785 | Kansas | 1997 | Western and central Kansas | Split from 913 in 1997; not metro KC |
All four codes share Central Time (CT) — UTC−6 standard, UTC−5 daylight saving.
Quick rule of thumb: 816 or 975 = Missouri side. 913 = Kansas side. 660 = rural outer Missouri. 785 = rural outer Kansas.
Kansas City metro area codes by region
KCMO core — 816 and 975
Downtown Kansas City, Missouri and its surrounding neighborhoods all fall under 816 (and the new 975 overlay):
- Downtown / Power & Light District — the central business core; 816 prestige addresses
- Plaza / Westport / Brookside — upscale retail, dining, and residential; 816
- Crossroads Arts District — tech startups, galleries, creative agencies; 816
- Northland (north of the Missouri River) — Liberty, Gladstone, Parkville, Kearney; 816
- East KC — Raytown, Grandview, Belton, Harrisonville; 816
The 975 overlay does not change these neighborhoods — it simply means new numbers assigned here may carry 975 rather than 816.
Missouri suburbs — 816
Several major suburban cities on the Missouri side share 816:
- Independence — KC’s largest suburb; birthplace of Harry S. Truman; 816
- Lee’s Summit — fast-growing suburb southeast of KC; 816
- Blue Springs — eastern Jackson County; 816
- St. Joseph — 60 miles north of KC; Buchanan County; 816
Kansas side — 913
The Kansas portion of the metro is one of the most prosperous suburban regions in the central US. All fall under 913:
- Overland Park — Johnson County seat; Sprint/T-Mobile campus; largest KS city; 913
- Olathe — Garmin global HQ; fast-growing family suburb; 913
- Lenexa — logistics and distribution hub; 913
- Shawnee — western Johnson County; 913
- Mission / Prairie Village / Roeland Park — established inner-ring KC suburbs; 913
- Leawood — affluent south Johnson County; AMC Theatres HQ; 913
- Kansas City, KS (KCK) — Wyandotte County; NFL stadium site for future KC development; 913
History of Kansas City area codes
Kansas City’s area code story begins at the invention of the entire US phone numbering system.
1947 — Two codes from day one. When AT&T engineers designed the North American Numbering Plan, they drew two codes at the Kansas-Missouri border. Area code 816 covered western Missouri. Area code 913 covered northern Kansas. Kansas City was the only major metro in the US to receive two different area codes in 1947 because it straddles a state line.
1950 — 816 shrinks. Area code 417 was carved from 816’s southwestern Missouri territory, reducing 816 to the KC metro and northwest Missouri corridor.
1997 — Both codes split. Rapid 1990s population growth and the explosion of fax machines, pagers, and early mobile phones exhausted both codes. The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) approved two simultaneous splits:
- 816 → 660 (effective 1997): Rural northeast and northwest Missouri counties separated from 816. Kansas City and St. Joseph retained 816.
- 913 → 785 (effective July 20, 1997): Everything from Lawrence westward — Topeka, Manhattan, Salina, Hays — moved to 785. Area code 913 was reduced to the eight Kansas counties of the KC metro.
2023 — 975 overlay activates. After decades of growth, KC’s Missouri side ran low on 816 numbers. The Missouri Public Service Commission authorized the 975 overlay. It activated on October 13, 2023, making 10-digit dialing mandatory for all calls in 816 territory.
Sources: NANPA, FCC, Missouri PSC overlay order, Kansas Corporation Commission 785 split proceedings.
816 vs 913: the KC state-line identity
State Line Road is a 12.5-mile north–south street that literally divides Missouri from Kansas through the heart of the KC metro. Northbound lanes run in Missouri; southbound lanes in Kansas. It is one of the most unusual streets in the United States.
The road also divides two area codes with distinct identities.
816 = Missouri credibility. The Missouri side is home to KC’s historical core — the jazz district, the barbecue joints, Union Station, and the original city. Major institutions on the 816 side include:
- Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs, NFL) in Jackson County
- Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City Royals, MLB) in Jackson County
- The Power & Light District and downtown entertainment corridor
- Kansas City’s jazz and blues heritage rooted in 18th & Vine
A business with an 816 number signals deep roots in Kansas City’s original urban core. Law firms, financial institutions, and heritage brands operating downtown prize 816 numbers for that reason.
913 = Johnson County prosperity. The Kansas side — especially Johnson County — is one of the most affluent suburban counties in the central US. The 913 code signals a different kind of KC credibility: suburban tech sector, Fortune 500 campuses, and high-growth professional services.
Sporting KC (MLS) plays its home games at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas — technically a 913 address — though the club’s fan base spans both states.
Both sides share the KC identity: the same barbecue traditions, the same metro newspapers, and the same fierce loyalty to the Chiefs and Royals. The state line creates two area codes but one metro culture.
Kansas City area code spam and scams
Kansas City’s bi-state geography creates a unique scam environment. Fraudsters spoof both 816 and 913 numbers — reaching residents on either side of the line with calls that look locally familiar.
Common KC-specific scam patterns:
- Evergy utility impersonation — Evergy is the dominant electric utility serving both Missouri and Kansas sides of KC. Scammers spoof Evergy numbers (using both 816 and 913 caller IDs) and threaten a 30-minute power shutoff unless immediate payment is made by phone. Evergy never demands same-day phone payment.
- IRS impersonation — Callers spoofing local 816 or 913 numbers claim to be IRS agents threatening arrest. The IRS never initiates contact by phone and never demands gift-card payment.
- Fake H&R Block or Cerner job offers — KC is home to both companies. Scammers exploit name recognition to run fake job-offer or credential-harvesting calls spoofing local numbers.
- Jackson County court threats — Callers claim you missed jury duty in Jackson County and demand payment to avoid arrest.
These calls work because a local number looks like a real KC business. STIR/SHAKEN — the FCC-mandated caller authentication framework — combats this by assigning an attestation level to every call. Spoofed scam calls receive C-attestation or none, triggering “Spam Likely” labels on modern phones.
When you get a Kansas City business number through DialPhone, outbound calls carry A-attestation — the highest STIR/SHAKEN trust level — so your calls reach customers as verified.
See the FCC’s spoofing guidance: fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-caller-id.
For the full framework explanation, see our STIR/SHAKEN glossary entry.
How to get a Kansas City business phone number
Getting an 816 or 913 number for your business takes under 10 minutes through a cloud VoIP provider. No Kansas City office required.
Step 1: Choose your area code. Decide whether 816 (Missouri-side credibility — downtown KC, Plaza, Northland) or 913 (Johnson County KS — Overland Park, Olathe tech corridor) fits your market. Both are available as virtual numbers.
Step 2: Sign up with a VoIP provider. DialPhone lets you search available Kansas City numbers during signup. Filter by 816 or 913 depending on your audience.
Step 3: Assign the number. Route your KC number to your mobile, desktop app, or a team call queue. Add an AI receptionist or voicemail greeting in the same setup.
Step 4: Configure outbound caller ID. Set your 816 or 913 number as the outbound caller ID so every call you make displays the local Kansas City number — not an 800 number or personal cell.
Step 5: Port existing numbers if needed. If you already have a KC number with another carrier, number porting to DialPhone takes 2–5 business days for US local numbers.
See DialPhone pricing for plan details, or start a free trial to claim your Kansas City number today.
For the full porting walkthrough, see our number porting guide.
Famous companies in Kansas City area codes
Kansas City’s corporate landscape splits almost perfectly along the state line — and by area code.
816 — Missouri-side headquarters:
- Hallmark Cards — Crown Center campus, Kansas City, MO; one of the world’s most recognized greeting card brands; HQ 816
- H&R Block — 1301 Main St, Kansas City, MO; the nation’s largest tax preparation company; HQ 816
- Honeywell FM&T — Kansas City Plant, a US national nuclear security facility operated under DOE contract; 816
- Commerce Bancshares — KC-based regional bank; 816
- Russell Stover Candies — founded in Kansas City; 816
913 — Kansas-side headquarters:
- T-Mobile US / Sprint (Overland Park campus) — Sprint was headquartered at 6200 Sprint Pkwy, Overland Park (913) before T-Mobile acquired it in 2020; the campus remains a major tech employer
- Garmin International — global GPS and navigation leader; HQ 1200 E 151st St, Olathe, KS; 913
- AMC Theatres — the world’s largest movie theater chain; HQ Leawood, KS; 913
- Black & Veatch — global engineering firm; HQ Overland Park; 913
- Cerner Corporation (now Oracle Health) — electronic health records giant; originally HQ KC MO (816); major campus still in North KC
The 913 corridor in particular has evolved into one of the Midwest’s premier suburban tech zones, anchored by the legacy Sprint/T-Mobile campus and Garmin’s global HQ.
Kansas City area code FAQ
Kansas City area code FAQ
What is the area code for Kansas City?
Kansas City is unique because it straddles two states, and the area code depends on which side of State Line Road you're on.
The Missouri side — Kansas City proper (KCMO), Independence, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, St. Joseph — uses area code 816. A 2023 overlay, area code 975, was activated October 13, 2023 to relieve 816 number exhaustion. New numbers in the same territory may be assigned as 975.
The Kansas side — Kansas City (KCK), Overland Park, Olathe, Shawnee, Lenexa — uses area code 913.
Is Kansas City in Missouri or Kansas?
Both. There are two cities named Kansas City sharing a single metro area. Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO) is the larger of the two — home to the Power & Light District, Plaza, Westport, Arrowhead Stadium, and most of the metro's downtown core. Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) is directly across the state line.
The broader Kansas City Metropolitan Statistical Area covers counties in both states and has a combined population of over 2.2 million people.
What area codes are near Kansas City?
Four area codes serve the extended KC region. Area code 816 and overlay 975 cover the Missouri metro — KC, St. Joseph, Independence, and surrounding counties. Area code 913 covers the Kansas metro — KCK, Overland Park, Olathe, Johnson and Wyandotte counties.
For outer Missouri beyond the immediate metro, area code 660 covers the rural northeast and northwest (split from 816 in 1997). For outer Kansas beyond Johnson County, area code 785 covers western and central Kansas (split from 913 in 1997).
When did Kansas City get a new area code?
Kansas City's Missouri side added area code 975 as an overlay on October 13, 2023. The overlay was originally approved by the Missouri Public Service Commission in 2001 but suspended indefinitely due to number pooling measures that extended 816's lifespan.
By 2022, projections showed 816 approaching exhaustion. The Missouri PSC reauthorized 975, and it activated in October 2023. Since then, all local calls in the 816/975 territory require 10-digit dialing.
What is the 816 area code?
Area code 816 is the original telephone area code for northwestern Missouri, established in 1947 as one of the first 86 North American Numbering Plan (NANP) codes. It covers Kansas City, Missouri and surrounding counties including Jackson, Clay, Platte, Cass, Buchanan, and Ray.
Major cities in 816: Kansas City (KCMO), Independence, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Liberty, St. Joseph, Grandview, Raytown, Gladstone, Belton, and Harrisonville. The overlay 975 covers the same territory.
What is the 913 area code?
Area code 913 serves the Kansas side of the Kansas City metro. Established in 1947, it originally covered all of northern Kansas. After a 1997 split, it was reduced to eight counties along the Missouri border — the Kansas portion of the KC metro.
Major cities in 913: Kansas City (KCK), Overland Park, Olathe, Shawnee, Lenexa, Mission, Prairie Village, Leawood, and Bonner Springs. It also covers Johnson and Wyandotte counties — the heart of the Kansas suburban tech corridor.
Are 816 or 913 calls spam?
Not inherently. Both are legitimate local area codes. The issue is caller ID spoofing — scammers fake local 816 or 913 numbers to increase answer rates using a tactic called neighbor spoofing.
Common KC-specific scams include fake Evergy utility shutoff threats, IRS impersonation, and fake process servers citing Jackson County courts. DialPhone numbers carry STIR/SHAKEN A-attestation — the highest trust level — so your outbound calls display as verified, not 'Spam Likely.' See our STIR/SHAKEN guide for details.
Can I get a Kansas City 816 or 913 number without a physical office there?
Yes. Virtual (VoIP) phone numbers are not tied to a physical address. Any business can get a Kansas City 816 or 913 number through a cloud phone provider and route calls to any device — mobile, desktop, or team queue.
Choosing 816 signals Missouri-side credibility (downtown KC, Plaza, Northland). Choosing 913 signals Johnson County Kansas presence (Overland Park tech corridor, Olathe, Shawnee). DialPhone assigns both codes in minutes with no hardware, no contract, and STIR/SHAKEN A-attestation included.
Get a Kansas City business number
A verified Kansas City 816 or 913 number builds local trust on both sides of the state line — whether you’re a national company entering the KC market or a local business that wants its calls answered, not screened.
DialPhone provides both 816 and 913 numbers with STIR/SHAKEN A-attestation, AI receptionist, call recording, and SMS — on a single plan with no hardware and no long-term contract.
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About the author
Growth Operations Lead at DialPhone
Darshan leads Growth Operations at DialPhone, where he owns three interconnected programs: the comparison content operation, the open VoIP Pricing Dataset, and the test-call methodology used to verify every pricing claim published on the site.
His research process starts with hands-on product trials and live vendor quotes — not marketing pages. Pricing figures are cross-checked against actual invoices and re-verified on a rolling quarterly cycle, with the underlying dataset kept public for independent re-verification. That dataset now covers 40+ VoIP and virtual-number providers across the US and Canada market.
Darshan also leads DialPhone's AI receptionist evaluation program, running structured test-call scenarios across English, Spanish, and French to assess transcription accuracy, intent routing, and escalation behavior. Methodology notes and raw scoring are archived in the research section.
For factual corrections or dataset discrepancies, Darshan can be reached at the DialPhone editorial address. Verified corrections are published as errata with a changelog date — no silent edits.