# List of ZIP code ranges **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 28, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-zip-code-ranges/735994 "2015-10-28T18:13:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-zip-code-ranges/735994/1 "2015-10-28T18:13:53Z")
Does anyone know where there’s a list of ZIP code ranges by state? What I’m looking for, specifically, is a chart that says ‘If the ZIP code is greater than or equal to [minimum number] and less than or equal to [maximum number], then the state abbreviation is [XX].’ That is: 90000 - 96199 CA 98000 - 99499 WA That sort of thing. I found [this page](http://www.structnet.com/instructions/zip_min_max_by_state.html), which at first glance looks like what I want; only there are overlaps. For example, the minimum ZIP code for VA is 20040 and the maximum is 20167 (also 22001 to 24658). But there’s also 20042 to 20599 for Washington, DC, and 20042 to 20042 for VA. So without looking up the ZIP code, I don’t know if 20042 for DC, or for VA. So that page isn’t entirely useful to me. I could use a U.S. map with ZIP codes on it and type everything up, or (which I’ll probably do) use the linked source and just look up questionable ranges; but it would be a lot easier if there’s an accurate list as I described earlier! ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-zip-code-ranges/735994/2 "2015-10-28T18:27:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Does anyone know where there’s a list of ZIP code ranges by state? What I’m looking for, specifically, is a chart that says ‘If the ZIP code is greater than or equal to [minimum number] and less than or equal to [maximum number], then the state abbreviation is [XX].’ That is: > > 90000 - 96199 CA > 98000 - 99499 WA > > That sort of thing. > > I found [this page](http://www.structnet.com/instructions/zip_min_max_by_state.html), which at first glance looks like what I want; only there are overlaps. For example, the minimum ZIP code for VA is 20040 and the maximum is 20167 (also 22001 to 24658). But there’s also 20042 to 20599 for Washington, DC, and 20042 to 20042 for VA. So without looking up the ZIP code, I don’t know if 20042 for DC, or for VA. So that page isn’t entirely useful to me. > > I could use a U.S. map with ZIP codes on it and type everything up, or (which I’ll probably do) use the linked source and just look up questionable ranges; but it would be a lot easier if there’s an accurate list as I described earlier! You’re not going to find such a list, because ZIP code ranges and even individual ZIP codes can cross state lines. ZIPs are about delivery zones, not about political boundaries. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-zip-code-ranges/735994/3 "2015-10-28T18:28:14Z")
The overlap among DC-MD-VA comes from federal offices in the suburbs carrying zip codes that do not match the surrounding area. If you look on Wikipedia, several prefixes beginning with “20\_” are [categorized](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ZIP_code_prefixes) as “Government” rather than assigned to a particular state. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-zip-code-ranges/735994/4 "2015-10-28T18:31:49Z")
Map [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/ZIP_Code_zones.svg/2000px-ZIP_Code_zones.svg.png) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/ZIP_Code_zones.svg/2000px-ZIP_Code_zones.svg.png) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-zip-code-ranges/735994/5 "2015-10-28T18:56:04Z")
**Johnny** - Towards the bottom this recent thread touches on some of the details. [Why do online forms need both ZIP code AND state? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=773280) Bottom line: contrary to popular belief, the zip code system is not hierarchical and is not aligned with state, county, or city boundaries. It’s \*mostly \*that way, but not to the degree that you can build an algorithm with that as one of your conceptual foundations. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-zip-code-ranges/735994/6 "2015-10-28T19:03:04Z")
I can even see one error in the map. At least[one place in New York State](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishers_Island,_New_York) has a zip code beginning with 06 – the number for Connecticut. There’s a logical reason for it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-zip-code-ranges/735994/7 "2015-10-28T19:24:05Z")
Yeah, I saw that one NY island with the CT ZIP code. As it turns out, we’re not going to worry about the ZIPs so I don’t have to program for them. Thanks for the answers. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-zip-code-ranges/735994/8 "2015-10-28T19:29:49Z")
Actually, they are hierarchical, but the hierarchy is completely independent of state boundaries.