~2025-42588-72: /* ZIP+4 */

2025-12-23T03:28:00Z

ZIP+4

← Previous revision		Revision as of 03:28, 23 December 2025
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	<blockquote>		<blockquote>
	<poem>		<poem>
	~~Mr.~~ John Smith		John Smith
	3256 Epiphenomenal ~~Avenue~~		3256 Epiphenomenal Ave Apt 601
	Minneapolis, MN~~{{nbsp}}{{nbsp}}554''16''~~		Minneapolis, MN 55416
	</poem>		</poem>
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>
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	In 1983, the U.S. Postal Service introduced an expanded ZIP Code system that it named ''ZIP+4'', often known as "plus-four codes", "add-on codes", or "add-ons". A ZIP+4 Code uses the basic five-digit code plus four additional digits to identify a geographic segment within the five-digit delivery area, such as a city block, a group of apartments, an individual high-volume receiver of mail, a post office box, or any other unit that could use an extra identifier to aid in efficient mail sorting and delivery. However, the new format was not adopted universally by the public.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.randomhistory.com/zip-code-history.html\|title=Organizing America: A History of the ZIP Code\|date=25 July 2014\|website=RandomHistory.com\|publisher=Random History\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812203838/http://www.randomhistory.com/zip-code-history.html\|archive-date=12 August 2014\|access-date=19 June 2017}}</ref>		In 1983, the U.S. Postal Service introduced an expanded ZIP Code system that it named ''ZIP+4'', often known as "plus-four codes", "add-on codes", or "add-ons". A ZIP+4 Code uses the basic five-digit code plus four additional digits to identify a geographic segment within the five-digit delivery area, such as a city block, a group of apartments, an individual high-volume receiver of mail, a post office box, or any other unit that could use an extra identifier to aid in efficient mail sorting and delivery. However, the new format was not adopted universally by the public.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.randomhistory.com/zip-code-history.html\|title=Organizing America: A History of the ZIP Code\|date=25 July 2014\|website=RandomHistory.com\|publisher=Random History\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812203838/http://www.randomhistory.com/zip-code-history.html\|archive-date=12 August 2014\|access-date=19 June 2017}}</ref>

	Commercial customers generally apply a ZIP+4 or a delivery point code (i.e., ZIP+6) to mail as part of address normalization. They may need to do so to receive discounted postage rates.<ref>{{Cite journal \|date=11 July 2013 \|title=New Standards to Enhance Package Visibility \|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2013-07-11/pdf/2013-16524.pdf \|journal=[[Federal Register]] \|volume=78 \|issue=133 \|pages=41721–41731}}</ref> The public does not need to write the ZIP+4 code, as mail is read by a [[Multiline Optical Character Reader\|multiline optical character reader]] (MLOCR) that ~~almost instantly~~ determines the correct ZIP+4 Code from the address—along with the even more specific [[delivery point]]—and ~~sprays~~ an [[Intelligent Mail barcode]] (IMb) on the face of the mail piece that corresponds to 11 digits—nine for the ZIP+4 Code and two for the delivery point.		For example:

			<blockquote>
			<poem>
			John Smith
			3256 Epiphenomenal Ave Apt 601
			Minneapolis, MN 55416-2931
			</poem>
			</blockquote>

			Commercial customers generally apply a ZIP+4 or a delivery point code (i.e., ZIP+6) to mail as part of address normalization. They may need to do so to receive discounted postage rates.<ref>{{Cite journal \|date=11 July 2013 \|title=New Standards to Enhance Package Visibility \|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2013-07-11/pdf/2013-16524.pdf \|journal=[[Federal Register]] \|volume=78 \|issue=133 \|pages=41721–41731}}</ref> The public does not need to write the ZIP+4 code, as mail is read by a [[Multiline Optical Character Reader\|multiline optical character reader]] (MLOCR) that determines the correct ZIP+4 Code from the address—along with the even more specific [[delivery point]]—and prints an [[Intelligent Mail barcode]] (IMb) on the face of the mail piece that corresponds to 11 digits—nine for the ZIP+4 Code and two for the delivery point.

	For [[post office box]]es, the general but not invariable rule is that each box has its own ZIP+4 Code. The add-on code is often one of the following: the last four digits of the box number (e.g. PO Box 107050, Albany, NY 12201-7050), zero plus the last three digits of the box number (e.g., PO Box 17727, Eagle River, AK 99577-0727), or, if the box number consists of fewer than four digits, enough zeros are attached to the front of the box number to produce a four-digit number (e.g., PO Box 77, Juneau, AK 99750-0077). However, there is no uniform rule, so the ZIP+4 Code must be looked up individually for each box (e.g. using the USPS's official ZIP Code Lookup tool, and being sure to enter just city and state, not the 5-digit ZIP).<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction_input \|title=ZIP Code™ Lookup {{!}} USPS \|website=tools.usps.com \|access-date=2020-01-23 \|archive-date=December 22, 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222044440/https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction_input \|url-status=live }}</ref>		For [[post office box]]es, the general but not invariable rule is that each box has its own ZIP+4 Code. The add-on code is often one of the following: the last four digits of the box number (e.g. PO Box 107050, Albany, NY 12201-7050), zero plus the last three digits of the box number (e.g., PO Box 17727, Eagle River, AK 99577-0727), or, if the box number consists of fewer than four digits, enough zeros are attached to the front of the box number to produce a four-digit number (e.g., PO Box 77, Juneau, AK 99750-0077). However, there is no uniform rule, so the ZIP+4 Code must be looked up individually for each box (e.g. using the USPS's official ZIP Code Lookup tool, and being sure to enter just city and state, not the 5-digit ZIP).<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction_input \|title=ZIP Code™ Lookup {{!}} USPS \|website=tools.usps.com \|access-date=2020-01-23 \|archive-date=December 22, 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222044440/https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction_input \|url-status=live }}</ref>
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	===Postal barcode===		===Postal barcode===
	{{main\|Intelligent Mail barcode}}		{{main\|Intelligent Mail barcode}}

	The ZIP Code is often translated into an Intelligent Mail barcode printed on the mailpiece to make it easier for automated machines to sort. A barcode can be printed by the sender (some word-processing programs such as [[WordPerfect]]<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://kb.iu.edu/data/aapk.html \|title=Archived: How can I print routing barcodes on envelopes? – Knowledge Base \|publisher=The Trustees of Indiana University \|access-date=July 10, 2009 \|archive-date=March 10, 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310180946/http://kb.iu.edu/data/aapk.html \|url-status=live }}</ref> include the feature), but this is not recommended, as the address-to-ZIP lookup tables can be significantly out of date.		The ZIP Code is often translated into an Intelligent Mail barcode printed on the mailpiece to make it easier for automated machines to sort. A barcode can be printed by the sender (some word-processing programs such as [[WordPerfect]]<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://kb.iu.edu/data/aapk.html \|title=Archived: How can I print routing barcodes on envelopes? – Knowledge Base \|publisher=The Trustees of Indiana University \|access-date=July 10, 2009 \|archive-date=March 10, 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310180946/http://kb.iu.edu/data/aapk.html \|url-status=live }}</ref> include the feature), but this is not recommended, as the address-to-ZIP lookup tables can be significantly out of date.

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	==== International mail ====		==== International mail ====
	There are generally no ZIP Codes for deliveries to other countries, except for the independent countries of the [[Federated States of Micronesia]], the [[Republic of the Marshall Islands]], and the [[Republic of Palau]], each of which is integrated into the U.S. postal system under a [[Compact of Free Association]].<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2019-07-24 \|title=Freely Associated States \|url=https://www.doi.gov/ocl/freely-associated-states \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520215245/https://www.doi.gov/ocl/freely-associated-states \|archive-date=May 20, 2022 \|access-date=2022-04-20 \|website=www.doi.gov \|language=en}}</ref> Another exception is ZIP Codes used for overseas stations of U.S. armed forces.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Military Addresses \|url=https://pe.usps.com/text/pub28/28c2_010.htm \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215222409/https://pe.usps.com/text/pub28/28c2_010.htm \|archive-date=December 15, 2018 \|access-date=December 15, 2018 \|publisher=[[United States Postal Service]]}}</ref>		There are generally no ZIP Codes for deliveries to other countries, except for the independent countries of the [[Federated States of Micronesia]], the [[Republic of the Marshall Islands]], and the [[Republic of Palau]], each of which is integrated into the U.S. postal system under a [[Compact of Free Association]].<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2019-07-24 \|title=Freely Associated States \|url=https://www.doi.gov/ocl/freely-associated-states \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520215245/https://www.doi.gov/ocl/freely-associated-states \|archive-date=May 20, 2022 \|access-date=2022-04-20 \|website=www.doi.gov \|language=en}}</ref>{{Failed_verification\|date=December 2025\|reason=Source does not mention ZIP codes}} Another exception is ZIP Codes used for overseas stations of U.S. armed forces.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Military Addresses \|url=https://pe.usps.com/text/pub28/28c2_010.htm \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215222409/https://pe.usps.com/text/pub28/28c2_010.htm \|archive-date=December 15, 2018 \|access-date=December 15, 2018 \|publisher=[[United States Postal Service]]}}</ref>

	Mail to [[List of diplomatic missions of the United States\|U.S. diplomatic missions]] overseas is addressed as if it were addressed to a street address in [[Washington, D.C.]] The four-digit [[diplomatic pouch]] number is used as a building number, while the city in which the embassy or consulate is located is combined with the word "Place" to form a fictional street name. Each mission uses a ZIP+4 Code consisting of '''20521''' and the diplomatic pouch number.{{~~Citation needed~~\|date=~~April 2022~~}}		Mail to [[List of diplomatic missions of the United States\|U.S. diplomatic missions]] overseas is addressed as if it were addressed to a street address in [[Washington, D.C.]] The four-digit [[diplomatic pouch]] number is used as a building number, while the city in which the embassy or consulate is located is combined with the word "Place" to form a fictional street name. Each mission uses a ZIP+4 Code consisting of '''20521''' and the diplomatic pouch number.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Key Topics – Global Operations \|url=https://www.state.gov/key-topics-global-operations/ \|access-date=2025-12-19 \|website=United States Department of State \|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web \|title=Official Addresses \|url=https://www.state.gov/official-addresses/ \|access-date=2025-12-19 \|website=United States Department of State \|language=en}}</ref>

	For example, the [[Embassy of the United States, New Delhi\|U.S. Embassy in India]] has this address in India's postal system:<ref>{{cite web \|title=U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India \|url=https://in.usembassy.gov/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128174246/https://in.usembassy.gov/ \|archive-date=January 28, 2022 \|access-date=September 23, 2022}}</ref>		For example, the [[Embassy of the United States, New Delhi\|U.S. Embassy in India]] has this address in India's postal system:<ref>{{cite web \|title=U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India \|url=https://in.usembassy.gov/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128174246/https://in.usembassy.gov/ \|archive-date=January 28, 2022 \|access-date=September 23, 2022}}</ref>
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	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

	as well as this U.S. address:<ref~~>{{cite web \|title~~=~~Mail Management \|url=https~~:~~//2009-2017.state.gov/m/a/c8028.htm \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630191152/https://2009-2017.state.gov/m/a/c8028.htm \|archive-date=June 30, 2019 \|access-date=April~~ 1~~, 2015 \|publisher=Diplomatic Pouch and Mail Division of the U.S. Department of State}}<~~/~~ref~~>		as well as this U.S. address for official diplomatic mail:<ref name=":1" />

	<blockquote>		<blockquote>

imported>Largoplazo: Reverted 1 edit by Wikideas1 (talk): This is the primary state prefixes section and there's already a map of those. In addition, I'm on my phone and this image is barely discernible.

2025-11-10T08:34:23Z

Reverted 1 edit by Wikideas1 (talk): This is the primary state prefixes section and there's already a map of those. In addition, I'm on my phone and this image is barely discernible.

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imported>Dicklyon: update TM detail

2025-05-26T22:53:44Z

update TM detail

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ZIP Code - Revision history

~2025-42588-72: /* ZIP+4 */

imported>Largoplazo: Reverted 1 edit by Wikideas1 (talk): This is the primary state prefixes section and there's already a map of those. In addition, I'm on my phone and this image is barely discernible.

imported>Dicklyon: update TM detail