# Zip Code, U.S. Post Office question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 18, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-code-u-s-post-office-question/245835 "2004-05-18T20:21:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hauss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5fc32e/32.png) [@hauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hauss)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-code-u-s-post-office-question/245835/1 "2004-05-18T20:21:07Z")
Can you use just zip code and coresponding (P.O. Box?) numbers (33312-xxxx) to mail something, or do you still need the physical address on the envelope? Similar Question: What are the least amount of things needed on the envelope to mail it? ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-code-u-s-post-office-question/245835/2 "2004-05-18T20:48:55Z")
There is a boatload of information in the [FAQ](http://hdusps.esecurecare.net/cgi-bin/hdusps.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=jUPXSGbh&p_lva=&p_li=&p_srch=1&p_gridsort=&p_row_cnt=48&p_search_text=&p_prod_lvl1=2&p_prod_lvl2=%7Eany%7E&p_group=&p_page=1&x=10&y=7) at [http://www.usps.gov](http://www.usps.gov) . Give it a look and see if you can find what you want there. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2004, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-code-u-s-post-office-question/245835/3 "2004-05-19T01:07:19Z")
If it’s a PO box, the answer is “Yes.” Sorta. A lot of PO boxes have Zip+4’s that don’t correspond directly to the box number. At the PO closest to me, for example, they have two ranges of box numbers: 9XXX and 90XXX. The Zip+4’s for the former are all 0XXX, where the XXX is the last three digits of the PO box, and the latter has Zip+4’s in the format of 1XXX, again with the last three digits being the same. So, if you sent a letter to someone at a PO Box with only the Zip and Zip+4, it would get to them, provided you used the correct format. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-code-u-s-post-office-question/245835/4 "2004-05-19T01:50:40Z")
When I was a kid (maybe 30-35 years ago) Mad Magazine published a picture of the envelope in which a letter had arrived. The Post Office delivered a letter to Mad Magazine addressed with only a picture of Alfred E. Neumann on the front. They were quite proud of this, it was presented as fact, not a joke. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zip-code-u-s-post-office-question/245835/5 "2004-05-19T02:25:05Z")
FWIW, I’ve mailed letters using only street address and Zip code (no city/state) and the mail has gotten there fine, and on time. There’s no reason it shouldn’t, but it sure does feel strange writing an address without the city and state.