Shipping tools

USPS Zone Calculator & U.S. Map

Look up a shipment's zone or explore nationwide zones from a warehouse. New to USPS zones? Start with ZIP3, learn to read the result, and use it in a rate comparison.

Explore the map: enter an origin ZIP and date. Check a shipment: add its full destination ZIP, for example 90001 → 10001. Keep any leading zeros.

Your zone map

USPS zone lookup Ready to explore
Shipping route Enter your origin ZIP
Distance reference —
ZIP3 overview

Choose an origin first. Map colors will show zones from that origin to each destination ZIP3.

All 50 states · Alaska and Hawaii shown as insets

Hover or tap a region to see its ZIP3 and zone

Loading map…

Use arrow keys on the map; Esc clears selection. Selecting a region does not fill a destination ZIP.

The base map aggregates Census 2020 ZCTAs by ZIP3. Arrows are not actual transport paths; distance references are not road mileage or delivery promises. Gray does not mean undeliverable. ZIPs absent from the map can still be entered for a lookup. Boundary information

Data source: EasyShippingX's existing zone lookup service. Read the full ZIP result for a route; before rating, cross-check the official USPS zone chart with the same ZIPs and date.

Origin ZIP3 zone chart

Look up an origin to see destination ZIP ranges and their zones.

Destination ZIP rangeZone
Enter an origin ZIP and look up zones.

For example, destination ZIP 01001 uses prefix 010. Ranges include both endpoints; the first returned match takes precedence. The map uses all rows. Check full-ZIP exceptions for individual parcels; see the Zone 9 guidance below.

START HERE

What is a USPS shipping zone?

A zone is a postal pricing group for an origin-to-destination ZIP pair. Look it up first, then compare rates using the service, weight and packaging.

A zone belongs to a route, not a state

The same destination may have a different zone from another warehouse. Standard USPS zones use distances between ZIP3 area centers, rather than road mileage between street addresses.

Rule reference: USPS DMM 608 §9

READING A ZIP CODE 01001 Full ZIP: 01001 ZIP3: first three digits, 010 The leading zero is part of the ZIP.

Use the map for an overview

Enter an origin ZIP and date to explore nationwide zones from that origin. A state does not have a fixed zone.

Use five digits for a parcel

Add the full destination ZIP and read the route result. The official USPS chart includes five-digit exceptions, so a map color alone cannot confirm a parcel’s zone.

Compare prices after the zone

A zone is not a dollar quote or a delivery-time promise. Weight, dimensions, service and price basis can change the cost of parcels in the same zone.

Five-digit exceptions: USPS official chart

ZONE REFERENCE

Distance references and special cases

Use this table to understand standard zone bands. USPS areas and zone charts govern the boundaries; do not substitute driving distances.

Standard zone distance reference (miles)
ZoneApproximate distance band
Zone 1Same ZIP3, or area centers up to 50 miles apart
Zone 2About 50–150 miles
Zone 3About 150–300 miles
Zone 4About 300–600 miles
Zone 5About 600–1,000 miles
Zone 6About 1,000–1,400 miles
Zone 7About 1,400–1,800 miles
Zone 8Beyond about 1,800 miles

Source: USPS DMM 608 §9.4.2

Zone 9: check the special definition

USPS DMM defines Zone 9 for the §2.2 destinations: Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. It is not a longer-distance tier above Zone 8.

Do not assume Alaska, Hawaii or every offshore destination is Zone 9. This page’s lookup source may return 9 for some offshore routes. Cross-check the same full ZIP pair and date on the official chart before rating.

Check the official USPS zone

Keep Local separate from Zone 1

The DMM Local definition applies to designated products such as USPS Connect Local. A same-city shipment is not automatically priced as Local across all services; look up the applicable route.

An absent boundary does not mean no service

The map includes 50 states and DC, with AK/HI insets. Puerto Rico, other territories and military mail areas are not drawn. Check their zones, service rules and restrictions using the specific ZIP.

FROM ZONE TO RATE

How should you compare USPS services?

Keep the parcel, ZIP pair and ship date constant when comparing services. The zone number alone cannot tell you which service fits best.

USPS Ground Advantage

Check prices for the applicable weight and zone, then review package dimensions. A zone lookup supplies one input, not the final charge.

Priority Mail

Weight-and-zone-priced parcels need the route’s zone. Compare using a consistent retail or commercial price basis.

Priority Mail Flat Rate

Eligible parcels in designated USPS Flat Rate packaging are priced independently of destination zone. Verify packaging eligibility before comparing against weight-and-zone options.

USPS Ground Advantage rules · Priority Mail and Flat Rate rules

Prepare the next inputs: sealed-parcel weight, length, width, height, packaging, service and account price basis.

Check dimensional weightRead the USPS service comparison
ECOMMERCE · WAREHOUSES · 3PLS

Use zones in shipping operations

These are operating recommendations. Validate them on actual orders and applicable quotes before changing warehouses, routing or rates.

01 / Compare warehouses

Keep the destination and date fixed; query each candidate warehouse origin. Then include inventory availability, fulfillment fees, transfers and service promises. A lower zone may not lower total cost.

02 / Audit rate differences

Record ZIPs, date, service, packaging, billable weight and zone. When a quote differs from the final charge, reconcile these inputs before reviewing fees and adjustments.

03 / Review the order mix

Group actual orders by origin, service and zone, then compare prices by weight and size. The area of a map color is not a share of your orders or spend.

Professional checklist: what should you keep with the result?
  • Origin: confirm the origin ZIP used by the actual mailing channel. For consolidation or third-party entry, verify it with the provider rather than substituting a return address or an arbitrary entry point.
  • Lookup record: full destination ZIP, ship date, route zone and source; record whether it is an estimate and whether it has been checked against the official chart.
  • Rate record: service, packaging, weight, dimensions, price basis and extra charges. A zone chart is not a rate table.
  • Exceptions: five-digit ZIP exceptions, territory or military rules, absent boundaries and differences from the official chart. Do not update production rating rules from an estimate.

Continue: USPS business rate audit · Separate zones, coverage and surcharges

USPS zone lookup FAQ

Do I need a destination ZIP?
No. Origin ZIP and date are enough for the nationwide map and chart. Add a full five-digit destination for the route result. Tapping the map inspects ZIP3; it does not fill a ZIP.
What is the difference between ZIP3 and a five-digit ZIP?
ZIP3 is the first three digits: 01001 has prefix 010. It is useful for an area overview. Use all five digits for a parcel and check five-digit exceptions.
Can the zone change for the same destination?
Yes. A zone describes an origin-to-destination relationship. Recheck when the warehouse, mailing origin or chart date changes. A destination state has no fixed nationwide zone.
Does Zone 9 mean Alaska and Hawaii?
Do not generalize it that way. USPS DMM specifies the destinations for Zone 9; this lookup source may return 9 for some offshore routes. Verify the full ZIP pair and date with the official chart before rating.
Does a higher zone always mean more expensive or slower delivery?
A zone is one pricing input. Hold service, billable weight, packaging, price basis and date constant when comparing costs. Check delivery expectations for the actual service and route; do not infer them from the zone number.
Is Priority Mail Flat Rate priced by zone?
Eligible parcels using designated USPS Flat Rate packaging are priced independently of destination zone. Do not confuse regular Priority Mail parcel pricing with Flat Rate pricing.
Why do I need a ship date?
The date is sent with the lookup to select the corresponding chart. Use the relevant date for past orders or planned shipping, and separately check the effective date shown by the official chart.
How should I read a difference between the map and route result?
Colors use the ZIP3 chart, while routes use the full-ZIP lookup. The base map also omits some ZIPs. Check the route source and estimate status, then official five-digit exceptions. Do not replace a specific route result with a map color.
Does gray or an absent map boundary mean undeliverable?
No. Gray means no current zone data. An absent boundary may be a ZIP without a ZCTA or an area not drawn here. Verify service eligibility, address validity and restrictions separately.
Can I use an estimated result for a label or billing?
It cannot confirm a USPS zone. When the route lookup fails, the result is a rough ZIP-rule estimate. Retry with the retained inputs or check the official chart. Map colors still use only the retrieved zone chart.
Does this page provide the final USPS postage price?
This page provides zone lookups and guidance, not a dollar quote. Final charges depend on the service, parcel, account pricing and applicable fees. Continue with the DIM tool, USPS service guide and rate comparison.

Continue with your shipping task

Check billable weight

Calculate DIM weight and compare with actual weight.

Open guide →

Choose a USPS service

Compare Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Flat Rate.

Open guide →

Audit business rates

Reconcile the quote, label charge and final cost.

Open guide →

Separate zones from coverage

Distinguish zone groups, service coverage and applicable surcharges.

Open guide →

Explore USPS and platform access

Explore services, labels, Portal and API access.

Open guide →

Move from lookup to label workflows

Read the USPS Shipping API integration guide.

Open guide →
Official references and data notes

Rules reviewed: 2026-10-01. This is the review date for the guidance, not the lookup service’s data-refresh date. Select the relevant ship date when querying.

Map colors and full-ZIP results come from EasyShippingX’s existing lookup service. An estimate is labeled when the route lookup is unavailable. This page does not provide postage prices, address validation or delivery-time confirmation.

Need a complete USPS label and carrier-fit plan?

EasyShippingX provides discounted labels, portal/API onboarding, tracking, and reconciliation for pilot-to-scale operations.

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