People are often stuck between zip code vs postal code, and they do not even understand when to use which- first zip code or postal code.

When you attempt to send any mail, document, or any kind of packages from one country to another in the world, you must need that specific country’s zip code and postal code. 

These codes containing letters and numbers will help you identify the exact geographical location you are searching for.

This article provides a detailed discussion on zip code vs postal code in the next sections.

What Is a ZIP Code?

Zip refers to Zonal Improvement Plan. It is related to specific geographical locations. If we go back to history, United States Postal Service introduced this zip code in 1943 for the first time.

The code basically consists of some particular numbers which people use to exchange mails and other messages. While delivering mails to any specific geographical area, zip code gets used as a reference for that area.

What do the digits in a ZIP code mean: How to read a ZIP code

Generally, there are five digits in a zip code. The first digit represents a group of states in the United States in which you will particularly send your mails. The second and third digits will direct you to the specific region among those states that the first digit has already highlighted. 

Lastly, the fourth and fifth digits narrow down the location more. They indicate addresses of the area you target to send your mails. Sometimes, there might be more than five digits in a zip code, but it must not exceed eight digits.

Mainly people of the Philippines and United States use these zip codes for their business purposes. Zipcodes help to detect any fraudulence in business and direct to the right demographic information. 

Standard examples of US zip code include 99801 (Alaska), 95814 (California), 32301 (Florida) etc.

What Is Postal Code?

Postal codes indicate postal locations or addresses. They consist of numeric numbers or digits or sometimes both. Unlike zip codes, the United Kingdom introduced this postal code between the years 1956 and 1974.

Later on, many other countries, especially those who speak English, have adopted this postal code system.

How to read a postal code?

In a postal code, there are several numbers and letters together. The first digit indicates a particular local town. You will get to know the specific region by the second digit, and the third will represent a specific place. Finally, there you might find one or two letters or numbers that are set arbitrarily.

People mainly use Postal codes for specifying geographical locations like zip codes. But sometimes, people use postal codes for personal purposes – individual addresses, institutions, etc.

Standard examples of UK postal codes involve Buckingham SW1A1AA, Down house BE67JT, Houses of Common SW1A0AA etc.

Zip Code Vs Postal Code: What Is the Difference?

You have already got some basic ideas about zip code and postal code. For more specifications, here goes a brief yet informative discussion about the differences between zip code and postal code of different states:

  • Zipcode contains only specific numbers, whereas postal code contains both numbers, digits and letters altogether.
  • The United States introduced zip codes, but the United Kingdom introduced a postal code system.
  • Zipcode gets used mainly in the Philippines and United States, whereas postal code gets used by the rest of the world, highly by the English-speaking countries.
  • Postal code has no boundaries for numbers and letters. It can be either short or long as per need. On the other hand, the zip code must always remain between five to eight numbers. 
  • Some countries use postal codes as PIN codes, but zip codes do not have this kind of usage.
  • The main purpose of using a zip code is location identification and reference. On the contrary, people use postal codes also for route planning and census other than these purposes. 
  • Zip code is mainly used within a country, whereas the postal code is used within a city. 
  • Zip code is often considered as the longer version of the postal code. 

Conclusion

People actually use both codes for identifying correct geographical and local locations. When you are using a zip code or postal code in the case of sorting mails, it is clear that there is no fraudulence associated with it.

Hopefully, now the debate on ZIP code vs Postal code has over, and you’ve understood the main differences between zip code and postal code services.