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Postal codes

Postal Code Lookup

Enter an address or place to get its postal code, or enter a postal / ZIP code (add a country to be sure, e.g. “10001 US”) to see where on the map it points. One box, both directions.

Try:

Postal data comes from OpenStreetMap and varies by country — some codes pin a street, others cover a wide area, and some regions are not mapped. Treat results as a guide.

One box, two questions

A postal code — the ZIP code in the US, the postcode in the UK, the PLZ in Germany, the CAP in Italy — is the short code a postal service uses to route mail to the right delivery area. This tool answers both everyday questions about them. Going forward, type an address or place (“20 W 34th St, New York” or “Eiffel Tower”) to get the postal code for that spot. Going backward, type the code itself to see the area, or areas, it covers, with a map. A search that looks like a code is treated as a code; words are treated as a place. Add a country to remove any doubt.

How to use it

  1. Find the code for an address. Type the street, building or place name (the more complete the address, the more precise the code) and press Search.
  2. Find the place for a code. Type the postal / ZIP code. Because codes repeat across countries, add a country to narrow it — “1010 AT” for Vienna, not Lisbon.
  3. Pick from the matches. If a code or place returns more than one result, choose the one you meant from the list to focus the map on it.
  4. Copy or go further. Copy the code or place name, open it in Google Maps, or jump to its GPS coordinates for the exact latitude and longitude.

Coverage and accuracy vary by country

This lookup uses OpenStreetMap, a map built by volunteers — so coverage is detailed in some places and thin in others. In countries with tightly mapped codes (the Netherlands, Germany, much of Western Europe) a postcode often pins down a street or a block. In the United States a ZIP code names a delivery area, not a point, so a single code can span several square kilometres — the map shows a representative centre, not a precise address. Some rural and developing regions have sparse or missing postcode data entirely. Treat the result as a strong hint rather than an official record: for anything legally binding, confirm with the national postal authority. When a code returns nothing, add a country, simplify it, or try the coordinates-to-address tool from a known point nearby.

Postal code formats around the world

CountryLocal nameExampleFormat
United StatesZIP code100015 digits (+ optional 4)
United KingdomPostcodeSW1A 1AAAlphanumeric, 2 parts
GermanyPLZ101155 digits
NetherlandsPostcode1012 JS4 digits + 2 letters
JapanYūbin bangō100-00013 digits + 4 digits
CanadaPostal codeK1A 0B1Letter-digit, 2 parts
BrazilCEP01310-1005 digits + 3 digits
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Frequently asked questions

How do I find the postal code for my address?
Type your full address into the box and press Search — the more complete it is (street number, street, city), the more precise the code returned. The tool reads the postal code from the matched OpenStreetMap record. If no code comes back, the data for that exact spot may be missing; try a nearby landmark or street.

Can I look up where a ZIP or postcode is?
Yes. Type the code into the same box and the tool shows the place(s) it covers, with a map. Because codes repeat across countries, add a country to be specific — for example “1010 AT” for Vienna. A US ZIP code maps to an area, so the pin is a representative centre, not a single building.

Why does my postal code show the wrong place or no result?
Postcode data comes from OpenStreetMap, which is community-mapped and uneven. Some regions are mapped precisely, others sparsely or not at all, and identical codes exist in many countries. Add a country, simplify the code, or pick from the match list. For an official record, check your national postal service.

What is the difference between a ZIP code and a postal code?
“ZIP code” is simply the United States name for a postal code; “postcode” is common in the UK and elsewhere, and other countries use local names like PLZ (Germany), CAP (Italy) or CEP (Brazil). They all do the same job: identify a delivery area so mail can be sorted and routed. Formats differ — see the table above.

How precise is a postal code as a location?
It depends entirely on the country. In the Netherlands or Germany a postcode can pin down a street or block; in the United States a ZIP code covers a whole delivery area, sometimes several square kilometres. For an exact point, use the GPS coordinates the tool can show, which use the WGS84 datum, the same reference frame as GPS and Google Maps.

Is the postal code lookup free and private?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no limit. Your search goes to a small, cached lookup service that forwards to OpenStreetMap to return a result; it is not tied to you or stored. See our privacy policy for details.