Area Code 316

About Area Code 316

Area code 316 is a geographic telephone area code assigned to Wichita, Kansas. It operates in the Central time zone and was first introduced in 1947. Original NANP code. Southern Kansas around Wichita.

Within Kansas, area code 316 shares numbering capacity with 3 other area codes. The state's 2,940,865-person population (2023 Census Bureau estimate) is served by a combined 4 active codes, with 316 primarily responsible for the Wichita region. Kansas's state capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita.

When you receive a call from a 316 number on your Caller ID, the call originated from a phone number assigned to the 316 area code — but be aware that Local Number Portability (in effect since 2003) means the caller could be physically located anywhere in the US or Canada. Area code 316 only confirms where the number was originally assigned.

Where is the 316 area code located?

Area code 316 is assigned to Wichita, Kansas, in the Central time zone. The state of Kansas uses 4 active area codes, and 316 is one of them. Calls placed from the 316 area code originate from numbers assigned by NANPA — the North American Numbering Plan Administrator — and the 316 prefix appears on Caller ID for both landline and wireless calls placed from this region.

The Central time zone observes Daylight Saving Time, shifting from UTC-6 to UTC-5 in summer. The local time shown above is always current, so you can quickly check whether it's a reasonable hour to call back.

What cities and counties use the 316 area code?

The 316 area code serves 10 notable cities, listed below in order of population. The largest city in the 316 territory is Wichita (395,699 residents in Sedgwick County).

• Wichita, KS — 395,699 residents (29.6% of 316 numbers)
• Overland Park, KS — 197,726 residents (14.8% of 316 numbers)
• Kansas City, KS — 153,345 residents (11.5% of 316 numbers)
• Olathe, KS — 144,436 residents (10.8% of 316 numbers)
• Topeka, KS — 125,963 residents (9.4% of 316 numbers)
• Lawrence, KS — 95,118 residents (7.1% of 316 numbers)
• Shawnee, KS — 67,805 residents (5.1% of 316 numbers)
• Manhattan, KS — 54,032 residents (4% of 316 numbers)
• Lenexa, KS — 57,434 residents (4.3% of 316 numbers)
• Salina, KS — 46,389 residents (3.5% of 316 numbers)

Phone number format in area code 316

All phone numbers within area code 316 follow the standard North American 10-digit format:(316) NXX-XXXX. The NXX is the central office prefix (also called an "exchange") and XXXX is the subscriber line number. For long-distance calls within the NANP, dial 1 + 316 + NXX + XXXX. From outside North America, dial your country's international access code, then 1 (the NANP country code), then the 10-digit number.

If you need to verify whether a specific 316 number is wireless, landline, or VoIP, you can use our reverse phone lookup tool. Be aware that number portability means the area code no longer guarantees the caller's physical location — only where the number was first assigned.

History of area code 316

Original NANP code. Southern Kansas around Wichita.

The original 86 area codes were assigned by AT&T and Bell Labs in 1947 as part of the North American Numbering Plan. At the time, rotary-dial phones meant codes with lower digits (like 212 for NYC, 213 for LA, 312 for Chicago) were given to the largest cities because they took less time to dial. Today's area code assignments still reflect those early choices, even though touch-tone and cell phones made the original reason obsolete.

Is the 316 area code safe to answer?

Area code 316 itself is a normal geographic code with no elevated spam risk. That said, scammers can spoof any area code — including 316 — so if you don't recognize the full number, let it go to voicemail and verify the caller's identity before calling back.