281 Area Code

The 281 area code is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) and serves the Houston metropolitan area in Texas, USA. Introduced in 1996 as an overlay to the 713 area code, 281 was created to meet the growing demand for phone numbers in Houston and its surrounding suburbs. The 281 area code covers residential neighborhoods, business districts, and key industrial zones in the region.

Understanding the 281 Area Code

The 281 area code serves Houston and surrounding cities including Pasadena, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Baytown, Pearland, and Katy. It supports landline, mobile, and VoIP services. With the overlay system in place, 10-digit dialing is required for all local calls.

281 Area Code Map and Geographic Location

The 281 area code map covers southeastern Texas, including central and northern parts of the Houston metropolitan area. It encompasses urban neighborhoods, suburban communities, and major commercial and industrial regions. 281 operates alongside area codes 713 and 832 in an overlay plan.

All Major Cities and Regions in the 281 Area Code

Houston
Pasadena
Sugar Land
The Woodlands
Baytown
Pearland
Katy
Conroe
Missouri City

Counties Covered by the 281 Area Code

Harris County
Fort Bend County
Montgomery County
Galveston County (partial)
Waller County (partial)
Brazoria County (partial)

ZIP Codes within the 281 Telephone Zone (Examples)

77002 - Houston
77502 - Pasadena
77479 - Sugar Land
77380 - The Woodlands
77520 - Baytown
77581 - Pearland
77450 - Katy
77301 - Conroe
77459 - Missouri City

Time Zone

The 281 area code is located in the Central Time Zone (CT), observing Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) in winter and Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-5) during daylight saving time.

Dialing, Phone & Service Details

Local dialing: 10-digit dialing is required for all local calls due to overlays.
Long-distance calls within the USA: Dial 1 + 281 + 7-digit number.
International calls: Dial your country�s exit code + 1 + 281 + 7-digit number.
Services: 281 is used for landline, mobile, VoIP, and business phone systems.

Why the 281 Area Code Matters

The 281 area code is essential for the Houston metropolitan region, connecting residents, businesses, healthcare facilities, and government offices. It is recognized as a key area code representing Houston�s commercial and cultural hub.

What area code is 281? / Where's area code 281?

What area code is 281? � 281 is a telephone area code serving the Houston metropolitan area in Texas, USA.

Where's area code 281? � It is located in southeastern Texas, covering Houston and surrounding cities such as Pasadena, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Baytown.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about 281 Area Code

What is the 281 area code?

281 serves the Houston metropolitan area, including major cities like Houston, Pasadena, Sugar Land, and The Woodlands.

When was the 281 area code created?

It was established in 1996 as an overlay to the 713 area code.

Where is area code 281 located?

It is located in southeastern Texas, USA, covering Houston and surrounding cities.

What time zone is 281 in?

The 281 area code follows Central Time (CST/CDT).

Which counties are included in 281?

Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston (partial), Waller (partial), and Brazoria (partial) counties.

Feature	Details
Area Code	281
Region Covered	Houston metropolitan area, Texas, USA
Established	1996 (overlay of 713)
Time Zone	Central Time (CST/CDT)
Major Cities	Houston, Pasadena, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Baytown, Pearland, Katy
ZIP Range	77002-77479 (examples above)
Services	Landline, mobile, VoIP, business
Dialing	10-digit dialing; international format +1 281 NXX XXXX
Country	United States of America

Ares Code	Office / Place	Address
281 Area Code	University of Houston � Clear Lake	2700 Bay Area Blvd, Houston, TX 77058
281 Area Code	San Jacinto College � Central	8060 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena, TX 77505
281 Area Code	Lone Star College � Montgomery	3200 College Park Dr, Conroe, TX 77384
281 Area Code	Texas Chiropractic College	5912 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena, TX 77505
281 Area Code	Lee College	200 Lee Dr, Baytown, TX 77520
281 Area Code	HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake	500 W Medical Center Blvd, Webster, TX 77598
281 Area Code	Houston Methodist The Woodlands	17201 Interstate 45 S, The Woodlands, TX 77385
281 Area Code	HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast	4000 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena, TX 77504
281 Area Code	Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital	4401 Garth Rd, Baytown, TX 77521
281 Area Code	Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital	18951 N Memorial Dr, Humble, TX 77338
281 Area Code	Wells Fargo Bank	19747 Hwy 59 N, Humble, TX 77338
281 Area Code	Chase Bank	3222 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena, TX 77504
281 Area Code	Bank of America	8000 Research Forest Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77382
281 Area Code	PNC Bank	1701 Rollingbrook Dr, Baytown, TX 77521
281 Area Code	Frost Bank	15940 City Walk, Sugar Land, TX 77479
281 Area Code	Harris County Annex � Bay Area	16603 Buccaneer Ln, Houston, TX 77062
281 Area Code	Pasadena City Hall	1149 Ellsworth Dr, Pasadena, TX 77506
281 Area Code	Baytown Municipal Court	3120 N Main St, Baytown, TX 77521
281 Area Code	League City City Hall	300 W Walker St, League City, TX 77573
281 Area Code	Montgomery County Clerk�s Office (The Woodlands)	1520 Lake Front Cir, The Woodlands, TX 77380
281 Area Code	NASA Johnson Space Center	2101 NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058
281 Area Code	Space Center Houston	1601 NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058
281 Area Code	Pasadena Historical Museum	204 S Main St, Pasadena, TX 77506
281 Area Code	Baytown Historical Museum	220 W Defee St, Baytown, TX 77520
281 Area Code	Frank J. Brown Museum	108 Skyview Terrace, Friendswood, TX 77546
281 Area Code	Armand Bayou Nature Center	8500 Bay Area Blvd, Pasadena, TX 77507
281 Area Code	Clear Lake Park	5001 NASA Pkwy, Seabrook, TX 77586
281 Area Code	Walter Hall Park	807 Hwy 3 N, League City, TX 77573
281 Area Code	Jenkins Park	4334 Crosby Cedar Bayou Rd, Baytown, TX 77521
281 Area Code	Northshore Park	2505 Lake Woodlands Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77381
281 Area Code	Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library	16616 Diana Ln, Houston, TX 77062
281 Area Code	Pasadena Public Library	1201 Jeff Ginn Memorial Dr, Pasadena, TX 77506
281 Area Code	Sterling Municipal Library	1 Mary Elizabeth Wilbanks Ave, Baytown, TX 77520
281 Area Code	Friendswood Public Library	416 S Friendswood Dr, Friendswood, TX 77546
281 Area Code	Helen Hall Library	100 W Walker St, League City, TX 77573
281 Area Code	Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base	11210 Blume Ave, Houston, TX 77034
281 Area Code	Bay Area Park & Ride	801 Bay Area Blvd, Houston, TX 77058
281 Area Code	Baytown Park & Ride	6800 Thompson Rd, Baytown, TX 77521
281 Area Code	The Woodlands Express Park & Ride	25853 Interstate 45, The Woodlands, TX 77380
281 Area Code	Sugar Land Regional Airport	12888 Hwy 6, Sugar Land, TX 77498
281 Area Code	Clear Creek ISD Challenger Columbia Stadium	1955 W Nasa Blvd, Webster, TX 77598
281 Area Code	Stallworth Stadium	2509 E Archer Rd, Baytown, TX 77521
281 Area Code	Woodforest Bank Stadium	19115 David Memorial Dr, Shenandoah, TX 77385
281 Area Code	Veterans Memorial Stadium	2906 Dabney Dr, Pasadena, TX 77502
281 Area Code	Turner Stadium	1700 Wilson Rd, Humble, TX 77338

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