Navigating New York City postal zones can feel overwhelming, especially across two of its most expansive and populated boroughs. If you're trying to track down a specific address, relocate, or sort mail logistics, understanding how Brooklyn and Queens zip codes are structured makes all the difference. Unlike Manhattan's straightforward grid or numerical systems, these two boroughs mix historic patterns with expanding commercial zones.
Brooklyn zip codes almost exclusively begin with the prefix 112, spanning from 11201 down to 11256. Queens zip codes are more diverse, largely starting with 111, 113, 114, and 116, while occasionally overlapping with Nassau County prefixes like 110. Knowing these numerical ranges saves you from misrouting packages or misidentifying neighborhood boundaries.
Understanding Brooklyn Zip Codes
Brooklyn contains dozens of distinct residential and commercial postal codes, all sharing the 112 prefix. The borough's numbering system loosely mirrors historical postal delivery zones from decades past, though modern real estate developments and gentrification have carved out hyper-specific sub-zones.
Northwest and Waterfront Brooklyn
The northwestern part of the borough houses some of Brooklyn's oldest and most expensive real estate, marked by dense commercial corridors and historic brownstones.
- 11201: Covers Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn, Vinegar Hill, and parts of Boerum Hill. This zone captures major transit hubs and high-rise developments alongside cobblestone streets.
- 11205: Encompasses Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and western edges of Bedford-Stuyvesant.
- 11231: Spans Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Red Hook, and the Columbia Street Waterfront district.
North and Northeast Brooklyn (The Creative Hubs)
As you move north toward the East River and the Queens border, the zip codes shift into fast-evolving cultural and residential districts.
- 11211 and 11249: Dominate Williamsburg and East Williamsburg. Note that 11249 was carved out of the western waterfront portion of 11211 to handle massive high-rise residential growth along Kent and Wythe avenues.
- 11206 and 11221: Cover Bushwick and parts of eastern Bedford-Stuyvesant, known for industrial conversions, arts communities, and vibrant street life.
- 11222: Exclusively serves Greenpoint, Brooklyn's northernmost neighborhood hugging Newtown Creek.
Central, South, and Eastern Brooklyn
Stretching south toward Coney Island and east toward Queens, these zones cover vast residential expanses, multi-family housing, and distinct ethnic enclaves.
- 11226: Centers on Flatbush, Prospect Park South, and Prospect Lefferts Gardens.
- 11219 and 11204: Anchor Borough Park, Mapleton, and parts of Bensonhurst, recognized for dense residential blocks and active commercial strips.
- 11235 and 11224: Cover coastal Brighton Beach and Coney Island, stretching along the southern Atlantic shoreline.
- 11207 and 11208: Manage East New York, Cypress Hills, and City Line right on the border of Queens.
For a complete visual layout of these boundaries, check the NYC Board of Elections district maps or consult official postal data via the USPS Location Finder.
Unpacking Queens Zip Codes
Queens is geographically the largest borough in New York City, and its postal layout reflects its patchwork of former small towns, villages, and independent municipalities that were consolidated into NYC in 1898. Because of this history, Queens zip codes span multiple prefixes rather than just one.
Western Queens (The Waterfront and Transit Connectors)
Positioned directly across the East River from Manhattan, western Queens features dense industrial-to-residential conversions and rapid transit corridors.
- 11101, 11102, 11103, 11104, and 11106: All serve Long Island City, Astoria, and Sunnyside. These codes handle heavy commuter populations and massive new high-rise construction along the waterfront.
- 11377: Covers Woodside.
- 11372: Handles Jackson Heights, famous for its historic garden apartments and diverse immigrant communities.
Central and Northern Queens
Moving inland and toward the northern shorelines along the Long Island Sound reveals major commercial hubs and sprawling residential neighborhoods.
- 11354, 11355, and 11358: Center on Flushing, home to one of the city's largest downtown hubs and transit centers.
- 11375: Covers Forest Hills and Kew Gardens, blending urban apartment complexes with Tudor-style residential homes.
- 11373 and 11368: Span Elmhurst and Corona, two of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the United States.
- 11385: Captures Ridgewood and Glendale, sharing a continuous border with Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood.
Southern and Eastern Queens
Stretching toward Nassau County and the Atlantic Ocean, southeastern Queens features quieter residential layouts, aviation hubs, and coastal communities.
- 11434 and 11430: Encompass Jamaica, Rochdale, and John F. Kennedy International Airport logistics zones.
- 11414: Covers Howard Beach near Jamaica Bay.
- 11691, 11692, 11693, and 11697: Serve the Rockaway Peninsula, running from Far Rockaway all the way down to Breezy Point at the western tip.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with NYC Postal Zones
When managing mail, shipping logistics, or real estate listings in these boroughs, people frequently run into specific errors that delay delivery or confuse municipal agencies.
- Confusing Borough Boundaries: Neighborhoods along the Brooklyn-Queens border—such as Ridgewood (Queens) and Bushwick (Brooklyn)—frequently share similar street names or numbering conventions. Always double-check the borough name alongside the zip code.
- Ignoring Unique ZIP Codes: Large facilities like the Brooklyn Navy Yard (11251) or major hospitals and universities often have dedicated institutional zip codes. Using a general neighborhood code for these sites can result in sorting delays.
- Assuming Sequential Ordering: In Queens particularly, zip codes do not increase in a clean geographic grid. Two adjacent blocks might fall under completely different numerical prefixes depending on historical postal routes established before automated sorting existed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Brooklyn and Queens share any zip code prefixes?
No. Brooklyn residential zip codes exclusively begin with 112. Queens utilizes a mix of prefixes starting with 111, 113, 114, and 116, while certain eastern pockets touch Nassau County's 110 prefix.
Why do some Queens addresses list Flushing or Jamaica even if I am not in those neighborhoods?
Many historical postal distribution centers in Queens routed mail through central hubs like Flushing or Jamaica. Consequently, older databases or automated shipping labels still list those historic postal city names despite the physical address being in a distinct neighborhood like Fresh Meadows or Hollis.
How can I verify a property's exact zip code for official paperwork?
Always cross-reference property listings with the official USPS Zip Code Lookup Tool to ensure absolute accuracy for tax documents, utility setups, or legal mailings.
