How long does porting a number take?

I just ordered an iPhone SE for $129 that is locked to Total Wireless. I'm currently a T-Mobile prepaid user and I plan on switching to Total Wireless when my iPhone arrives. I want to keep my current number as it would be a hassle to give a new number out to all my contacts and luckily Total Wireless allows this.

However, I was wondering if it will take a while and I'll be without a phone during that time. Have you ever ported a number before? If so, how long did it take?

It usually takes a couple of days. When it happens, it's pretty much instantaneous. There may be a gap of a few minutes. Most of the time required is setting up coordination between your old company and the new one. When they agree on a time, the old company releases the number and the new one picks it up.

You do NOT want to port your number until you have the/a phone in your hand to activate on the new carrier. If you cancel your current account BEFORE you have the new account, you will lose your number. The act of porting cancels your current account with T-Mobile, and then the number get transferred over to Total Wireless.

You want the phone in hand, in case there are problems with the port. Something you can't know about, if you don't have the phone or a phone, to test the port (or use the temporary number on).

Most ports take 12 to 72 hours, depending on the companies involved. Most of the time my ports happened in less than 3 hours.

Porting usually takes anywhere between 12 to 24hrs or less if you're lucky.