USPS Zones - Shipment Distance | Overview

ShippingEasy Content Team

Updated July 05, 2023 13:35

USPS uses the term "zones" to describe the distance a domestic shipment must travel.

Zones range from Zone 1 (local) to Zone 9 (very far away). A zone is determined by the "ship from" zip code as it relates to the "ship to" zip code. The farther a package must travel, the more zones it crosses, and the more it costs to ship it.

Finding the Zone for a USPS Shipment

The first 3 digits of your destination ZIP Code determine the zone. If you are shipping local (Zone 1) the package is not traveling very far. If you are shipping non-local (Zones 2-9), the zone is determined by how many zones a package crosses to arrive at the destination. You can look up the zone for your shipment using the USPS Zone lookup tool.

Example

You are shipping a 4lb. package from New Orleans, 70117, to Nashville, 37202.

Using the USPS Zone lookup tool, enter in the first 3-digits of your zip code and then Select.

USPS zone search field and submit button highlighted

On the results chart, locate the first 3-digits of the destination zip code to find the zone (4).

USPS Zone search results with cell highlighted

Now, you can look at the rate table to locate the price by finding there the weight and the zone marry. For this example, we use the Priority Mail - USPS Commercial | Rate Table.

The cost of the label is $9.83.

Zone-Based USPS Services

Zones only apply to USPS domestic services. If a service is selected that relies on weight or dimensions to determine the rate, then the zone will also factor into the postage cost. View ShippingEasy's USPS Rate Tables for your plan.

Priority Mail: See USPS rate tables for Priority Mail to determine shipping costs between zones.
Priority Mail Express: See USPS rate tables for Priority Mail Express to determine shipping costs between zones.
Ground Advantage (formerly First-Class Package Service): Available only for packages less than 1 lb. See USPS rate tables for Ground Advantage to determine shipping costs between zones.

USPS Services Exempt from Zones

Some USPS domestic services are exempt from zone-based pricing.

Flat Rate package types: Available for packages up to 70 lbs. Learn more about USPS Flat Rate package rates.

Purchase a Zone Chart

If you wish to inquire further on purchasing a zone chart, contact USPS by:

Email at incsc@usps.gov.
Telephone at 1-800-238-3150. Select “Option 6” followed by “Option 2” to speak with a customer service representative between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm CT (between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm ET).

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