Full Answer
What are those last 4 digits on my ZIP code?
ZIP+4 Codes | How to find yours and what it means. ZIP+4 Codes are the last 4 digits of a nine-digit full ZIP Code. A 9-digit ZIP Code is made of two parts. The first part is the first five digits of the zip code which indicates the destination post office or delivery area. The last 4 digits of the nine-digit ZIP Code represents a specific delivery route within that overall delivery area.
How do I Find my 4 digit ZIP code?
The address you are shipping to should be written as follows:
- Recipient’s name.
- Business’s name (if applicable)
- Street address (with apartment or suite number)
- City, State and ZIP code (on the same line)*
- Country*
How to find my unique 4 digit ZIP code extension?
Visit the USPS website and click on the link titled "Look Up a ZIP Code." Enter the mailing address in the appropriate boxes and click "Find." For example, enter 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC if you are looking up the ZIP Code+4 Extension for the White House.
What are the last four digits of my ZIP code?
The last four digits are not specific to a city but to a street address or Post Office Box. The first five digits identify the area of the country and the delivery office to which the mail is directed. Similarly one may ask, What is the 9 digit ZIP Code of an address? The 9-digit ZIP Code consists of two sections.
How many numbers are in a zip code?
What the traditional zip code means. When someone asks for your zip code, you probably reply with a string of five numbers. This is the norm for most people and has actually been the norm for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) since the beginning.
What does a 5 digit zip code mean?
Most frequently, your five digit zip code represents the destination of the post office your mail is sent to before being handed off to your mail carrier. Each number of a zip code corresponds to a specific piece of information about the destination. The first number, between 0-9, denotes a geographic area of the U.S.
What does the first number in zip code mean?
The first number, between 0-9, denotes a geographic area of the U.S. The second two numbers of a zip code specify a specific region within that geographic area and the last two are meant to indicate a specific Post Office.
When did zip codes become more precise?
As infrastructure in the U.S. grew, the five digit zip codes system had to be replaced with something more precise. In 1983, a system was created to locate buildings more precisely. A standard zip code coupled with the four extra zip code numbers can now be used to designate specific streets, buildings, houses or businesses.
Do post offices have more than one zip code?
Some post offices service more than one zip code but, for much of the U.S., there's a one-to-one ratio of post offices to zip code s. This is why you're often required to go to a specific location to conduct business with the USPS.
Can you use a five digit zip code to send mail?
Most mail will arrive at its destination no-problem if you just use your standard five-digit zip code, but if you're worried about nondelivery of a package, specifying the intended destination even further doesn't hurt your chances.
How many digits are in a zip code?
Many people are often unaware of their ZIP code’s last four digits, and their number is surprisingly high. Apart from this, most people are unaware of the full 9-digits ZIP code for the direct mails they send out.
What is a ZIP+4 code?
Hence in 1983, the USPS introduced the ZIP+4 codes, which are also known today as “+4 codes,” and the purpose of this ZIP+4 code is simply to add more precision to the standard five -digit ZIP codes. In a nine-digit full ZIP Code, the first five digits represent the specific delivery area or post office of an address, ...
Why did the USPS introduce ZIP+4?
It was introduced as a solution to make mail travel faster. During its inception, the ZIP codes only consisted of 5 digits but, as the mail system grew bigger and more complex along with the growing population in the US, the 5-digit ZIP codes were no longer doing the job good enough. Hence in 1983, the USPS introduced the ZIP+4 codes, ...
Why is it important to have a 9 digit zip code?
Therefore, it is always best to provide the full 9-digits ZIP code if you want the letter or package delivered sooner rather than later.
What does the first digit of a ZIP code mean?
The first digit of your five-digit ZIP code signifies the national area, while the next two digits signify the sectional center or large city post office.
What is the benefit of ZIP 4?
But perhaps what can be considered the most significant benefit of the ZIP 4 code, especially for businesses, is that the ZIP+4 codes require address validation. In other words, in order to get the ZIP+4 code of an address, it must first be standardized and validated to exist.
How often does a ZIP code change?
On the other hand, the ZIP 4 code can change much more frequently and may sometimes change once a month based on a number of factors.