Navigating New York City postal zones isn't just about dropping a letter in a blue box. Whether you're filling out shipping forms, buying property, or analyzing local demographics, knowing how postal codes map across the five boroughs saves you from costly logistics mistakes. The system follows structured numerical ranges assigned by the USPS, starting with 100 through 104 for Manhattan and the Bronx, stretching across Brooklyn and Queens, and finishing in Staten Island.
Understanding these digits requires looking at how the United States Postal Service structures regional routing. In New York City, codes generally start at 10001 in lower Manhattan and fan outward across the metropolitan area. This breakdown maps out every borough, highlights specific neighborhoods, and clears up common misconceptions about city mail routing.
Manhattan Zip Codes
Manhattan postal codes primarily run from 10001 through 10282, with a few special-use codes. The numeric sequence often gives you a geographic hint about where a street address sits, moving roughly from south to north.
Lower Manhattan kicks off the sequence. For example, 10004 covers the historic tip near Battery Park, while 10007 serves the civic center and City Hall area. Moving up into Midtown, you'll encounter iconic hubs like 10001 for Chelsea and 10036 for the Times Square theater district. Further uptown, the Upper East Side utilizes codes like 10021 and 10028, while Harlem takes over the 10026 to 10039 ranges.
- Financial District: 10004, 10005, 10006, 10038
- Greenwich Village and SoHo: 10012, 10013, 10014
- Upper West Side: 10023, 10024, 10025
- Washington Heights: 10031, 10032, 10033, 10034
Brooklyn Zip Codes
Brooklyn shares Kings County boundaries and uses codes that fall within the 11201 to 11256 range. This borough features a dense web of residential and commercial pockets where single codes frequently represent entire vibrant neighborhoods.
Downtown Brooklyn and neighboring Brooklyn Heights anchor the lower numbers starting at 11201. Heading north brings you to Williamsburg at 11211 and Greenpoint at 11222, areas known for rapid development and creative industries. Southern stretches like Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay use codes in the 11224 and 11235 brackets.
- Park Slope and Gowanus: 11215, 11217
- Bedford-Stuyvesant: 11216, 11221, 11233
- Sunset Park: 11220, 11232
- Bay Ridge: 11209, 11228
Queens Zip Codes
Queens covers a massive geographic footprint, resulting in two distinct numerical blocks: codes starting around 11004 to 11109 for western sections near Manhattan, and 11351 to 11697 for central, eastern, and coastal regions. Navigating Queens requires double-checking street names because formatting can occasionally repeat across postal zones.
Western hubs like Astoria and Long Island City use 11101 through 11106. Heading deeper into the borough, Flushing operates under 11354 to 11358, while Jamaica handles large portions of central Queens through codes like 11432, 11433, and 11434. The coastal Rockaway Peninsula finishes the county sequence with codes ranging from 11691 to 11697.
- Long Island City: 11101, 11109
- Flushing: 11354, 11355, 11358
- Forest Hills: 11375
- Rockaway Beach: 11694
Bronx Zip Codes
The Bronx sits directly north of Manhattan, utilizing postal codes that begin with 104, spanning from 10451 to 10475. It shares Bronx County boundaries entirely, making it one of the more straightforward boroughs to map.
South Bronx areas like Mott Haven and Hunts Point start the sequence at 10454 and 10455. Moving northward toward Westchester County, you'll find Riverdale and Kingsbridge utilizing codes like 10463 and 10471.
- Yankee Stadium Area: 10451
- Fordham: 10458, 10468
- Throgs Neck: 10465, 10473
- Northeast Bronx: 10475
Staten Island Zip Codes
Staten Island is coterminous with Richmond County and features the most compact set of postal codes in the city, running strictly from 10301 to 10314.
The north shore near the ferry terminal uses 10301, while central and eastern communities like New Dorp use 10306. Southern coastal regions like Tottenville wrap up the island's geography at 10307.
- St. George: 10301
- New Dorp: 10306
- Tottenville: 10307
- Willowbrook: 10314
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When dealing with New York City addresses, people often trip over a few persistent formatting traps. Keeping these details straight prevents delivery delays and data entry errors.
- Confusing Boroughs with Cities: Mailing labels require the actual borough name or "New York, NY" for Manhattan, rather than treating neighborhoods like Brooklyn or Queens as separate municipalities in the address line.
- Ignoring ZIP+4 Codes: Standard 5-digit codes work for casual mail, but official tax filings, government forms, and bulk shipping benefit heavily from appending the 4-digit extension for block-level accuracy.
- Assuming Linear Street Numbers: Manhattan and Queens handle street numbering differently. A numeric street name in Queens does not intersect with the same numeric street in Manhattan. Always verify the borough and postal code before dispatching packages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a single building have its own zip code?
Yes. Massive skyscrapers, corporate headquarters, and major institutional complexes in Manhattan often hold unique, dedicated postal codes. For instance, the Empire State Building uses 10118, separating its high-volume mail from surrounding commercial blocks.
Do zip codes change frequently?
Postal codes remain relatively stable, but the USPS updates them when new developments scale up or population shifts strain existing mail sorting routes. Checking official resources like the USPS Lookup Tool ensures you have current numbers.
Why do some Queens addresses share names with Brooklyn?
Historical street naming conventions and overlapping postal distribution facilities mean certain neighborhood names cross municipal boundaries. Relying strictly on the postal code rather than the neighborhood name prevents routing errors.
