Difference Between Zip Code and Postal Code (with Comparison Chart)

We all know that whenever we write our postal address while sending something to someone at another place, we have to mention code at the end, for which specific place is provided. These codes can be numbers or a combination of numbers and letters which stands for geographic location, point or route. They are postal codes which are used by the postal department or courier companies in automated sorting of the piece of mail and quick delivery.

However, the postal code is not used by all the countries, i.e. there are some countries which use Zip code instead. A zip code serves the same purpose as a postal code and is used by countries like the United States and the Philippines.

There is a thin line of difference between zip code and postal code. However, both are used for routing and sorting mails as well as determining the time and cost of transporting the mail. Moreover, these codes are also helpful in collecting demographic information of an economy.

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Zip Code	Postal Code
Meaning	The zip code is nothing but a coding system commonly used in the United States which helps in identifying the location and accelerating the delivery of mail.	Postal Code is an alphanumeric or numeric code, which helps in tracking the location at which the mail-piece has to be delivered.
Introduced in	1963	1959
Countries	The United States and the Philippines	All the other countries except the US and the Philippines.
Objective	Reference and location identification	Reference, location identification, census and route planning
Contains	Numbers only	Numbers only or a combination of numbers and letters, or sometimes punctuation marks are also used with numbers and letters.

Definition of Zip Code

The word Zip Code is an abbreviation for Zone Improvement Plan, which was introduced by United States Postal Services (USPS) in the year 1963.

Zip Code is mainly used to identify the exact location where the parcels, packages and letters are to be delivered, by dividing the regions into simple geographic groups, which speed up the mail delivery system as the sorting of mails becomes easy. These geographic groups may consist of various addresses, businesses, landmarks, etc.

Formerly, it was a five-digit number, which has been changed to a 9 digit number, for better identification of the place, where the mail has to be delivered.

Definition of Postal Code

Postal Code can be defined as a coding system used by many countries in the world to facilitate the sorting of mails automatically. It is a series of number, or a combination of numbers and letters, which helps the postal departments and the courier companies to recognize the exact location and place, where the mail has to be delivered or dropped.

The postal code reflects the range of delivery jurisdiction, meaning that there is one postal code, for various delivery destinations, that comes under the same jurisdiction. For this purpose, there is an areawise allotment of postal code and so they are linked to a specific geographical location, however, the format and implementation differs from one nation to another.

So, postal codes may cover the entire country, region, municipality, district, streets, military unit, etc.

Key Differences Between Zip Code and Postal Code

The difference between zip code and postal code are discussed in the points hereunder:

Zip Code refers to a postal code, used in a few countries with a postal address to specify the location at which mail is sent. On the other hand, postal code indicates the code used in the postal address, which assists in the sorting the mails for the purpose of delivering them at their exact destination.
Zip Code system was initiated by United States Postal Services (USPS) in1963, whereas in the year 1959 Postal code system was established.
Zip Code is mainly used in the United States and the Philippines. As against, Postal Code is used in the rest of the countries.
Zip Code aims at categorizing regions so as to facilitate sorting of mails, for which it identifies the location at which the mail is directed. As against, Postal Code is used for the purpose of identifying and referring the location, route planning and to collect demographic information.
The zip code contains numbers only, whereas postal code comprises of numbers or a combination of numbers and letters, and sometimes punctuations are also included in the code along with the numbers and letters.

Conclusion

Many countries in the world use codes either the postal code or zip code or any other similar code, by whatever name it is called, in the postal address. These often make the movement and delivery of the mail easier, faster and efficient, which not only saves the time and efforts of the delivery man as well as prevents confusion, if two areas are known with the same name, in a city or town.