What Is The Zip Code For New York City: A Complete Guide To The Five Boroughs
New York City zip codes are essential numerical identifiers that ensure efficient mail delivery across the nation’s largest metropolis. This guide explains the structure of these codes, how they vary by borough and neighborhood, and why understanding them is important for residents and businesses alike. Whether you are mailing a letter or filling out an online form, knowing the correct zip code prevents delays and errors.
New York City is not a single city with one zip code but a collection of hundreds of distinct postal routes spread across five boroughs. Each borough comprises many neighborhoods, and each neighborhood often has its own set of zip codes to manage the volume of mail handled by the United States Postal Service. The system may seem complex at first, but it follows a logical pattern tied to geography and historical development.
The basic format of a zip code is five digits, although a longer ZIP+4 code adds four more digits for even greater precision. In NYC, the first digit or two often indicates a broader region, while the subsequent digits narrow the location down to a specific sector or post office. Understanding this structure helps explain why addresses that appear close together might still have different zip codes.
Geography plays a major role in how zip codes are assigned in New York City. Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island each have distinct starting numbers that reflect their location and administrative divisions. Within each borough, densely populated areas, commercial districts, and residential blocks are further subdivided to streamline sorting and delivery.
The history of zip codes in New York City dates back to the introduction of the Zone Improvement Plan in 1963. Prior to that, mail delivery relied on a system of zones and manual sorting, which was slower and more prone to human error. The implementation of five-digit codes was part of a nationwide effort to modernize the postal service and handle growing urbanization.
For residents, knowing the zip code can affect everything from receiving packages to completing census forms and tax documents. Businesses rely on accurate zip code data for marketing, logistics, and customer service. In a city where timing and accuracy matter, the humble zip code plays a surprisingly critical role in daily life.
Manhattan Zip Codes: The Heart Of The City
Manhattan zip codes generally begin with 100 and cover a wide range of neighborhoods, each with its own distinct character and postal identity. From the financial district in the south to Harlem in the north, the borough’s zip codes reflect its dense urban layout and diverse communities.
Here are some common examples of Manhattan zip codes and the areas they serve:
- 10001 covers parts of Chelsea and the Garment District.
- 10002 is associated with the Lower East Side and East Village.
- 10003 includes neighborhoods around Union Square and the East Village.
- 10004 serves the Financial District and parts of Battery Park City.
- 10005 is linked to parts of Lower Manhattan and Battery Park City.
- 10006 covers the Financial District and Battery Park City.
- 10007 is associated with Tribeca and parts of Lower Manhattan.
- 10008 serves the Upper East Side and parts of Midtown.
- 10009 includes East Harlem.
- 10010 is linked to Greenwich Village and parts of the West Village.
- 10011 covers parts of Chelsea and the Meatpacking District.
- 10012 includes parts of the West Village and Hudson Square.
- 10013 serves the TriBeCa neighborhood.
- 10014 includes parts of the West Village and Hudson Square.
- 10016 covers parts of the East Side, including Gramercy Park and Murray Hill.
- 10017 includes Midtown and parts of the East Side.
- 10018 serves the Garment District and parts of Midtown.
- 10019 covers parts of Midtown and the Theater District.
- 10020 includes parts of the Upper West Side.
- 10021 serves the Upper East Side.
- 10022 includes parts of the Upper East Side and Yorkville.
- 10023 covers the Upper West Side.
- 10024 includes parts of the Upper West Side and Lincoln Center.
- 10025 serves the Upper West Side and part of Morningside Heights.
- 10026 includes parts of the Upper West Side and Lincoln Center.
- 10027 serves parts of the Upper West Side and Morningside Heights.
- 10028 includes parts of the Upper East Side and Yorkville.
- 10029 serves parts of Harlem and East Harlem.
- 10030 includes parts of Harlem and Hamilton Heights.
- 10031 serves parts of Harlem and Hamilton Heights.
- 10032 includes parts of Harlem and Sugar Hill.
- 10033 serves parts of Harlem and Sugar Hill.
- 10034 includes parts of Harlem and Sugar Hill.
- 10035 serves parts of Harlem and Central Harlem.
- 10036 includes parts of Harlem and Central Harlem.
- 10037 serves parts of Harlem and Central Harlem.
- 10038 includes parts of Harlem and Central Harlem.
- 10039 serves parts of Harlem and Central Harlem.
- 10040 includes parts of the Bronx adjacent to Manhattan, though this is technically in the Bronx.
These codes are assigned based on the volume of mail and the location of delivery offices. The United States Postal Service regularly updates and adjusts boundaries to accommodate population shifts and new development, although the basic codes tend to remain stable over time.
Brooklyn Zip Codes: Diversity Across The Borough
Brooklyn zip codes also start with 112 and cover a vast and varied area, from the brownstone streets of Park Slope to the coastal neighborhoods of Brighton Beach and Coney Island. The borough’s size and diversity are reflected in the number of distinct zip codes.
Some common Brooklyn zip codes include:
- 11201 covers parts of Downtown Brooklyn.
- 11202 includes parts of Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene.
- 11203 serves parts of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.
- 11204 includes parts of Boerum Hill and Cobble Hill.
- 11205 covers parts of Park Slope and Windsor Terrace.
- 11206 includes parts of Williamsburg and Greenpoint.
- 11207 serves parts of Bushwick and East Williamsburg.
- 11208 includes parts of Bushwick and Bedford-Stuyvesant.
- 11209 covers parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights North.
- 11210 includes parts of Crown Heights North and Crown Heights South.
- 11211 serves parts of Crown Heights South and Weeksville.
- 11212 includes parts of Flatbush and Midwood.
- 11213 covers parts of Flatbush and East Midwood.
- 11214 includes parts of Flatbush and West Midwood.
- 11215 serves parts of Bensonhurst and Bath Beach.
- 11216 includes parts of Gravesend and Bensonhurst.
- 11217 covers parts of Brighton Beach and Homecrest.
- 11218 includes parts of Sheepshead Bay and Marine Park.
- 11219 serves parts of Bay Ridge.
- 11220 includes parts of Sunset Park and Green-Wood Cemetery.
- 11221 covers parts of Windsor Terrace and Park Slope.
- 11222 includes parts of Borough Park and Kensington.
- 11223 serves parts of Midwood and Homecrest.
- 11224 includes parts of Sheepshead Bay and Marine Park.
- 11225 covers parts of Flatlands and Mill Basin.
- 11226 includes parts of Marine Park and Georgetown.
- 11228 serves parts of Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights.
- 11229 includes parts of Bensonhurst and Mapleton.
- 11230 covers parts of Gravesend and Coney Island.
- 11231 includes parts of Coney Island and Brighton Beach.
- 11232 serves parts of Sea Gate and Bensonhurst.
- 11233 includes parts of Gravesend and Midwood.
- 11234 covers parts of Flatbush and East Flatbush.
- 11235 includes parts of East Flatbush and Remsen Village.
- 11236 serves parts of East New York and Cypress Hills.
- 11237 includes parts of East New York and Starrett City.
- 11238 covers parts of Canarsie and Georgetown.
- 11239 includes parts of Brownsville and East New York.
- 11249 serves parts of Ridgewood and Glendale.
- 11255 includes parts of Lindenwood and Howard Beach.
- 11256 covers parts of Woodhaven and Ozone Park.
- 11257 serves parts of Richmond Hill and Woodhaven.
- 11258 includes parts of Richmond Hill and Kew Gardens.
- 11259 covers parts of Ozone Park and South Ozone Park.
- 11261 includes parts of Middle Village and Ridgewood.
- 11265 serves parts of Glendale and Ridgewood.
Brooklyn’s neighborhoods are deeply tied to their zip codes, influencing everything from real estate values to community identity.
Queens Zip Codes: A Wide Range Across A Diverse Borough
Queens zip codes generally begin with 113, 114, and 110, reflecting the borough’s role as New York’s most geographically diverse borough. It is home to major airports, thriving immigrant communities, and a mix of residential and industrial areas.
Common Queens zip codes include:
- 11354 covers parts of Flushing and Murray Hill.
- 11355 includes parts of Flushing and Bayside.
- 11356 serves parts of Whitestone and Beechhurst.
- 11357 covers parts of College Point and Whitestone.
- 11358 includes parts of Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst.
- 11359 serves parts of Astoria and Ditmars Steinway.
- 11360 covers parts of Long Island City and Dutch Kills.
- 11361 includes parts of Astoria and Ravenswood.
- 11362 serves parts of Long Island City and Queensbridge.
- 11363 covers parts of Sunnyside and Woodside.
- 11364 includes parts of Elmhurst and Corona.
- 11365 serves parts of Rego Park and Forest Hills.
- 11366 covers parts of Forest Hills and Kew Gardens Gardens.
- 11367 includes parts of Richmond Hill and Ozone Park.
- 11368 serves parts of South Ozone Park and Howard Beach.
- 11369 covers parts of Woodside and Sunnyside.
- 11370 includes parts of Long Island City and Dutch Kills.
- 11371 serves parts of Astoria and Ditmars Steinway.
- 11372 covers parts of Corona and Elmhurst.
- 11373 includes parts of Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst.
- 11374 serves parts of Flushing and Murray Hill.
- 11375 covers parts of Bayside and Little Neck.
- 11377 includes parts of College Point and Flushing.
- 11378 serves parts of Whitestone and Beechhurst.
- 11379 covers parts of Astoria and Ditmars Steinway.
- 11385 includes parts of Jamaica and Hollis.
- 11414 serves parts of South Ozone Park and Howard Beach.
- 11415 covers parts of Richmond Hill and Woodhaven.
- 11416 includes parts of Springfield Gardens and Laurelton.
- 11417 serves parts of Rosedale and Cambria Heights.
- 11418 covers parts of Queens Village and Floral Park, though part of this is in Nassau County.
- 11419 includes parts of Queens Village and Cambria Heights.
- 11420 serves parts of Hollis and St. Albans.
- 11421 covers parts of Jamaica and South Jamaica.
- 11422 includes parts of Rochdale and Queens Village.
- 11423 serves parts of South Jamaica and Springfield Gardens.
- 11424 covers parts of Laurelton and Rosedale.
- 11426 includes parts of Cambria Heights and Queens Village.
- 11427 serves parts of St. Albans and Hollis.
- 11428 covers parts of South Jamaica and Springfield Gardens.
- 11429 includes parts of Rochdale and Queens Village.
- 11432 serves parts of Jamaica and South Jamaica.
- 11433 covers parts of Hollis and St. Albans.
- 11434 includes parts of Queens Village and Cambria Heights.
- 11435 serves parts of Rosedale and Cambria Heights.
- 11436 covers parts of Springfield Gardens and Laurelton.
- 11451 includes parts of South Ozone Park and Howard Beach.
- 11459 serves parts of Whitestone and Beechhurst.
- 11461 covers parts of Flushing and Bayside.
- 11466 includes parts of Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst.
- 11467 serves parts of Corona and Elmhurst.
- 11468 covers parts of Richmond Hill and Woodhaven.
- 11469 includes parts of Ozone Park and South Ozone Park.
- 11470 serves parts of Howard Beach and South Ozone Park.
- 11471 covers parts of Cambria Heights and Queens Village.
- 11472 includes parts of Springfield Gardens and Laurelton.
- 11473 serves parts of Rosedale and Cambria Heights.
- 11474 covers parts of Hollis and St. Albans.
- 11475 includes parts of Jamaica and South Jamaica.
- 11476 serves parts of Flushing and Murray Hill.
- 11477 covers parts of Corona and Elmhurst.
- 11478 includes parts of Richmond Hill and Woodhaven.
- 11479 serves parts of Ozone Park and Howard Beach.
Queens’ wide range of codes reflects its mix of residential, commercial, and industrial zones, as well as its role as a major transportation hub with two of New York’s three major airports.
The Bronx Zip Codes: From Riverdale To The South Bronx
The Bronx, the only NYC borough located primarily on the North American mainland, uses zip codes starting with 104. Its postal codes range from the leafy Riverdale neighborhood in the north to the more industrial and residential areas of the South Bronx.
Key Bronx zip codes include:
- 10451 covers parts of Concourse and Highbridge.
- 10452 includes parts of Fordham and University Heights.
- 10453 serves parts of Morrisania and Crotona Park East.
- 10454 covers parts of Tremont and Belmont.
- 10455 includes parts of Hunts Point and Longwood.
- 10456 serves parts of Soundview and Parkchester.
- 10457 covers parts of Castle Hill and Clason Point.
- 10458 includes parts of Country Club and Throgs Neck.
- 10459 serves parts of Baychester and Williamsbridge.
- 10460 covers parts of Eastchester and Pelham Gardens.
- 10461 includes parts of Morris Park and Pelham Parkway.
- 10462 serves parts of Van Nest and Allerton.
- 10463 covers parts of Parkchester and Unionport.
- 10464 includes parts of Throgs Neck and Country Club.
- 10465 serves parts of Williamsbridge and Olinville.
- 10466 covers parts of Riverdale and Fieldston.
- 10467 includes parts of Kingsbridge and Kingsbridge Heights.
- 10468 serves parts of Fordham and Bedford Park.
- 10469 covers parts of University Heights and Morris Heights.
- 10470 includes parts of Soundview and Harding Park.
- 10471 serves parts of Castle Hill and Clason Point.
- 10472 covers parts of West Farms and Melrose.
- 10473 includes parts of Hunts Point and Longwood.
- 10474 serves parts of Morrisania and Crotona Park East.
- 10475 covers parts of Highbridge and Concourse.
- 10476 includes parts of Fordham and University Heights.
- 10477 serves parts of Tremont and Belmont.
- 10478 covers parts of Hunts Point and Longwood.
- 10479 includes parts of Soundview and Parkchester.
- 10488 serves parts of City Island and Country Club.
The Bronx maintains a strong residential identity, and its zip codes reflect the borough’s mix of historic neighborhoods and emerging development areas.
Staten Island Zip Codes: The Borough Of Parks
Staten Island zip codes begin with 103, and the borough is known for its abundant parks, suburban feel, and strong sense of community. It is the least populated of the five boroughs but covers a surprisingly large geographic area.
Common Staten Island zip codes include:
- 10301 covers parts of St. George and Tompkinsville.
- 10302 includes parts of St. George and New Brighton.
- 10303 serves parts of West New Brighton and Port Richmond.
- 10304 covers parts of Graniteville and Bulls Head.
- 10305 includes parts of Mariners Harbor and Elm Park.
- 10306 serves parts of Tottenville and Annadale.
- 10307 covers parts of Great Kills and Huguenot.
- 10308 includes parts of New Dorp and Oakwood.
- 10309 serves parts of Richmondtown and Todt Hill.
- 10310 covers parts of Mid-Island and Grasmere.
- 10311 includes parts of Dongan Hills and Jefferson.
- 10312 serves parts of South Beach and New Dorp.
- 10313 covers parts of Arrochar and Rosebank.
- 10314 includes parts of Clifton and Concord.
- 10315 serves parts of Grymes Hill and Silver Lake.
- 10316 covers parts of New Brighton and West New Brighton.
- 10317 includes parts of Port Richmond and West Brighton.
- 10318 serves parts of Tottenville and Huguenot.
- 10319 covers parts of Annadale and Eltingville.
- 10320 includes parts of Prince's Bay and Richmondtown.
- 10321 serves parts of New Dorp and Oakwood.
- 10322 covers parts of Great Kills and Huguenot.
- 10323 includes parts of South Beach and Midland Beach.
- 10324 serves parts of Arrochar and Grasmere.
- 10325 covers parts of Dongan Hills and Jefferson.
- 10326 includes parts of Clawson and Travis.
- 10327 serves parts of New Springville and New Brighton.
- 10328 covers parts of Annadale and Huguenot.
- 10329 includes parts of Tottenville and Prince's Bay.
- 10330 serves parts of West New Brighton and Port Richmond.
- 10331 covers parts of Graniteville and Bulls Head.
- 10332 includes parts of Mariners Harbor and Elm Park.
- 10333 serves parts of St. George and New Brighton.
- 10334 covers parts of Richmond Valley and Charleston.
- 10335 includes parts of Annadale and Eltingville.
- 10336 serves parts of Tottenville and Huguenot.
- 10337 covers parts of Great Kills and Huguenot.
- 10338 includes parts of New Dorp and Oakwood.
- 10339 serves parts of Richmondtown and Todt Hill.
- 10340 covers parts of Mid-Island and Grasmere.
- 10341 includes parts of Dongan Hills and Jefferson.
- 10342 serves parts of South Beach and Midland Beach.
- 10343 covers parts of Arrochar and Grasmere.
- 10344 includes parts of Clifton and Concord.
- 11010 serves parts of Port Richmond and West New Brighton.
Staten Island’s less dense development pattern means that its zip codes often cover larger geographic areas compared to the other boroughs.
Why Accurate Zip Codes Matter In New York City
In a city where millions of pieces of mail are processed every day, precision is essential. An incorrect zip code can lead to delays, misdeliveries, or returned mail. For businesses, accurate zip code data supports effective marketing campaigns, optimizes delivery routes, and improves customer service.
Real estate professionals rely on zip code data to analyze market trends. Emergency services use it to locate incidents quickly. For residents, providing the correct zip code is a simple but important detail on forms, applications, and official documents.
The United States Postal Service continually refines its systems to improve efficiency. New zip codes are introduced when needed to accommodate new developments or the reorganization of mail delivery routes. Technology also plays a role, with automated systems sorting mail with the help of these numeric identifiers more swiftly than ever before.
Understanding the zip code system in New York City offers more than just mailing convenience. It provides insight into how one of the world’s most complex urban environments is organized. From Manhattan’s high-rises to Staten Island’s quiet suburbs, each code tells a story about its neighborhood and the city it calls home.
