Consumer Guide

Postal codes look simple, but a wrong one can delay a parcel, raise a shipping price or get a form rejected. This guide explains how postal codes work and how to use them with confidence.

What a postal code is

A postal code (also called a ZIP code in the United States, a postcode in the United Kingdom and Australia, or a PIN code in India) is a short series of letters and/or numbers that tells the postal service which delivery area an address belongs to. Codes let mail be sorted by machine and are also used for shipping prices, insurance, tax and planning.

How formats differ between countries

  • United States: 5 digits (e.g. 10001), sometimes followed by 4 more (ZIP+4).
  • United Kingdom: letters and numbers in two parts (e.g. SW1A 1AA). The first part is the postcode district.
  • Canada: letter-number-letter, space, number-letter-number (e.g. M5V 3L9).
  • India: 6-digit PIN codes; Pakistan, Germany, France, Spain, Italy: 5 digits; Australia, New Zealand: 4 digits; Japan: 7 digits written 123-4567.
  • Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates do not use postal codes for normal mail. Saudi Arabia's 5-digit postal codes are part of its National Address system, so use the full National Address when sending there.

Each country site on ZipYell shows an example of the local format.

Tips for addressing mail and parcels

  • Write the address in the format of the destination country, with the postal code where that country expects it.
  • Write the country name in capital letters on the last line for international mail.
  • Do not guess a code from a nearby town — one city can have dozens of codes.
  • Keep spaces and letters exactly as written (for UK and Canadian codes the space matters on many forms).
  • For valuable or time-critical items, confirm the code with the postal operator's official look-up.

Using postal codes online

  • Shopping and delivery estimates: retailers use your code to calculate shipping and taxes; a wrong code can lead to a wrong price or failed delivery.
  • Forms and applications: government and bank forms often check that the code matches the city — use the exact code for your address.
  • Privacy: a postal code plus a few other details can identify a household. Share your full address only with services you trust.

Watch out for scams

Fake "missed delivery" messages often ask you to "confirm your address" or pay a small redelivery fee. Postal services do not ask for card details by text message. ZipYell will never ask for payment or personal documents. When in doubt, go to the postal operator's official website directly instead of clicking a link.

Getting help

For lost or delayed items, contact the sender or the delivery company. For questions about our data, see the Help Center or contact us.