{{Short description|Telephone overlay area code in Chicago, Illinois}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} 300px|thumb|right|All NPAs within Illinois

'''Area code 872''' is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan for Chicago in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is an overlay code for a numbering plan area that comprises those of area codes 312 and 773. The overlay commenced service on November 7, 2009.<ref name="Wong">{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2009/08/11/its-area-code-overload/ |title=872 to become Chicago's 3rd area code |last=Wong |first=Wailin |work=Chicago Tribune |date=11 August 2009|access-date=19 August 2009}}</ref> It is the third overlay area code in the region and the tenth area code to serve northeast Illinois.<ref name="Wong" />

As early as 1998, the North American Numbering Plan Administration had recommended a third area code for Chicago, estimating that 312 and 773 would both be exhausted by 2001. However, the Illinois Commerce Commission implemented a series of conservation measures that staved off the need for a new area code. By 2008, a combination of population growth and a large growth in cell phone usage forced the implementation of 872.<ref name="Wong" />

With the implementation of 872, all local calls in Chicago must be dialed with the full 11-digit phone number (10 digits from cell phones).<ref name="Wong" />

The Illinois side of the Chicago area–312/773/872, 708/464, 847/224, 630/331 and portions of 815/779–is one of the largest local calling areas in the United States; with few exceptions, no long-distance charges are applied from one portion of the metro area to another.<ref>[https://localcallingguide.com/lca_exch.php?exch=047801 Local calling guide: Chicago Zone 01: Calumet, IL]</ref>

==See also== *List of Illinois area codes *List of North American Numbering Plan area codes

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Area_code_footer|Map=IL}}

{{Area code box | State = IL | This = 872 / 312 / 773 | N = 847/224 | S = 708/464 | E = 219, Lake Michigan | W = 708/464, 630/331 |S1=IN}}

{{Coord|41.88|-87.6316667|format=dms|display=title|type:adm3rd_region:US-IL}}

872 872 Category:Chicago