Postal Code vs Zip Code: Difference and Comparison

Is there a difference between postal code and zip code (postal code vs zip code)?

For any package to be delivered to a customer or letters and documents to get to their destination, there is always an address to ensure the delivery is successful.

This is why countries around the either have a postal code or a zip code. Each place has a specific code to ensure prompt and accurate delivery of packages, documents, and letters. The postal code or zip code required at the end of the address help mail carriers to identify various location, mailing routes, and point of delivery.

So, is there really a difference between these two types of code? We will discuss that and more in a moment.

What Is a Postal Code?

A postal code is a series of letters or digits that are assigned to geographical areas. A postal code may also consist of both letters and digits, with punctuations or spaces.

Generally, a postal code is also known as a postcode, postcode or ZIP Code in many English-speaking countries. The postal code in India is referred to as PIN Code- PIN is an acronym for Postal Index Number.

According to a report released by the Universal Postal Union in August 2021, exactly 160 countries require the use of postal codes.

Postal codes are generally assigned to geographical areas but certain codes are usually assigned to individual addresses or to institutions, especially those that receive several mails. These institutions are usually government agencies and large commercial organizations.

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What Is a Zip Code?

Zip code is a system of postal codes, especially for addresses served by the US Postal Service (USPS) consisting of five or nine-figure numbers.

Zip code was introduced in July 1963 and the basic format then initially had five digits. Twenty years later, an extended ZIP+4 code was introduced- which included the initial five digits of the ZIP Code, then a hyphen and four digits that specified the locations.

ZIP is an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan- it was registered as a service mark by the US Postal Service (USPS). Zip codes in the United States are usually five numerical digits long and these digits represent the national area, region, or city as well as the delivery area of an address.

ZIP+4 codes or plus-four codes consist of four additional digits and it helps identify a geographical segment in a ZIP code delivery area.

The first digit in a ZIP Code represents a certain group of U.S. states, while the second and third digits both represent a region in that group. These are usually large cities within the group states.

Postal Code vs Zip Code: Difference between Postal Code and Zip Code

Postal codes or Zip codes generally serve a similar purpose, which is to ensure prompt and accurate delivery of packages, documents, and letters.

The term Zip Code is a system of postal codes, especially for addresses served by the US Postal Service (USPS). It is also the standard term used in the South Eastern Asian nation of the Philippines.

Postal code is also known as postcode, postcode or ZIP Code in many English-speaking countries.

Other countries around the world also use a different term for postal code. For example, the term postal code is utilized as PIN (Postal Index Number) and other English-speaking countries and the Netherlands use postcode as the standard term.

The general term used in Canada is postal code but Eastern European countries like Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova use Postal Index as the standard term.

The formats for postal codes can also differ. For example, the Zip code for one of America’s largest cities may look like this “94111”, while a postal code in Canada is something like “KOA 0B4”.

Now if someone asks for a Zip code, they are probably referencing an address within the United States. However, if someone asks for a postal code, they are likely referencing an international address or addresses in other countries outside the United States.

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Standard Terms

Zip code is a system of postal codes that specifically refers to the mail routing system used across the United States.

Zip code was introduced in July 1963 by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and the basic format then initially had five digits. Twenty years later, an extended ZIP+4 code was introduced- which included the initial five digits of the ZIP Code, then a hyphen and four digits that specified the locations.

The term “Postal Code” refers to a series of letters or digits usually assigned to geographical areas. A postal code may also consist of both letters and digits, with punctuations or spaces.

Postal code is the standard term used in different English-speaking countries and even in the Netherlands.

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Postal Code vs Zip Code: Comparison Chart

	Postal Code	Zip Code
Description	A postal code is a series of letters or digits usually assigned to geographical areas. It may also consist of both letters and digits, with punctuations or spaces.	Zip code is a system of postal codes, especially for addresses served by the US Postal Service (USPS) consisting of five or nine-figure numbers.
Countries of adoption	The United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries.	The United States and the Philippines
Year of discovery	Introduced in the United Kingdom in 1959 but was used nationwide in 1974.	Introduced in the United States on July 1, 1963.
Consist of	Number only or a combination of numbers and letters.	Numbers only
Usage	It’s usually used with a country.	Help mail carriers to identify certain geographical areas in larger cities.
Length	Can both be short or long	Zip codes in the United States are usually five numerical digits long and these digits represent the national area, region, or city as well as the delivery area of an address. ZIP+4 codes or plus-four codes consist of four additional digits and it helps identify a geographical segment in a ZIP code delivery area.
Objective	Identification, reference, and route planning.	References as well as location indemnification

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are frequently asked questions on Postal Code vs Zip Code

What is a Zip code?

Zip code is a system of postal codes, especially for addresses served by the US Postal Service (USPS) consisting of five or nine-figure numbers. It’s also the standard term used in the Philippines.

When was the Zip code introduced?

What is a postal code?

A postal code is a series of letters or digits usually assigned to geographical areas. A postal code may also consist of both letters and digits, with punctuations or spaces.

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When was the postal code introduced?

Postal code was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1959 but was used nationwide in 1974.

Are area codes and Zip codes the same?

No! Zip codes in the United States are usually five numerical digits long, while area codes are three-digit numbers in front of phone numbers in the United States.

Conclusion

Zip codes are numeral digits introduced during the early 1960s for the purpose of sorting mail. It’s a standard term primarily used in the United States and the Philippines.

Postal code is the standard term used in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking and it usually consists of both letters and digits, with punctuations or spaces.

We hope this article about the difference between Postal Code vs Zip Code was helpful.

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References

Experian: What is a postal code, a zip code, and how do they differ?
Bankbazaar: Difference between Zip Code and Postal Codes
Differencebetween: Difference Between ZIP Code and Postal Code
Wikipedia: Postal code
Wikipedia: ZIP Code
Coredifferences: 7 Important Differences between Zip Code and Postal Code

Postal Code vs Zip Code: Difference and Comparison

What Is a Postal Code?

What Is a Zip Code?