Paris Zip Code Guide: Arrondissements And Postal Codes

If you're trying to figure out mail delivery, booking a hotel, or navigating the French capital, understanding the Paris zip code system is essential. Unlike cities that share a single postal code, Paris divides its geography into a precise numerical grid. Every official postal code inside the city limits tells you exactly which neighborhood you're standing in.

Paris uses a five-digit postal code format managed by La Poste, the French national postal service. Every standard Paris zip code begins with 750, representing the department of Paris. The final two digits match the local administrative district, known as an arrondissement. For example, the code 75001 points directly to the 1st arrondissement, while 75011 marks the 11th arrondissement.

How the Paris Postal Code System Works

The layout of Paris isn't random. The city is split into 20 arrondissements that spiral outward in a clockwise pattern shaped like a snail shell, starting from the literal center at the Louvre. Because the postal code mirrors this exact geographic layout, you can instantly decode an address's location just by looking at its numbers.

When you break down a code like 75007, the logic becomes clear:

• 75: Identifies the department of Paris ( Île-de-France region).
• 0: Serves as a historical padding digit used across France for standard urban communes.
• 07: Indicates the 7th arrondissement, home to the Eiffel Tower.

This system makes trip planning and address verification straightforward once you memorize a few structural rules.

Complete List of Paris Zip Codes

Paris contains 21 official postal codes distributed across its 20 arrondissements. The lone exception is the 16th arrondissement, which is so large it requires two distinct codes.

• 75001: 1st Arrondissement (Louvre, Tuileries)
• 75002: 2nd Arrondissement (Bourse, Sentier)
• 75003: 3rd Arrondissement (Northern Marais)
• 75004: 4th Arrondissement (Hôtel de Ville, Île de la Cité)
• 75005: 5th Arrondissement (Latin Quarter, Panthéon)
• 75006: 6th Arrondissement (Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Luxembourg Garden)
• 75007: 7th Arrondissement (Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay)
• 75008: 8th Arrondissement (Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe)
• 75009: 9th Arrondissement (Opéra Garnier, Department Stores)
• 75010: 10th Arrondissement (Canal Saint-Martin, Gare du Nord)
• 75011: 11th Arrondissement (Bastille, République)
• 75012: 12th Arrondissement (Nation, Bercy)
• 75013: 13th Arrondissement (Place d'Italie, Chinatown)
• 75014: 14th Arrondissement (Montparnasse, Catacombs)
• 75015: 15th Arrondissement (Vaugirard, Parc André Citroën)
• 75016 and 75116: 16th Arrondissement (Trocadéro, Passy)
• 75017: 17th Arrondissement (Batignolles, Parc Monceau)
• 75018: 18th Arrondissement (Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur)
• 75019: 19th Arrondissement (Buttes-Chaumont, La Villette)
• 75020: 20th Arrondissement (Belleville, Père Lachaise Cemetery)

The Anomaly: Why the 16th Arrondissement Has Two Codes

Most districts manage their mail under a single postal designation. The 16th arrondissement stands out because of its massive geographic footprint and high population density in western Paris. To manage the volume of post efficiently, La Poste split the district, assigning 75016 to the majority of the area and adding 75116 for specific sectors. When filling out official forms or online shipping fields, both codes route successfully to the 16th arrondissement.

How to Format a Mailing Address in Paris

Writing a letter or shipping a package to France requires a specific format to ensure smooth delivery by La Poste. French mailing standards require the city name and postal code to appear on the same line, with the postal code preceding the city name in all capital letters.

Here is the correct structural order:

1. Recipient's full name or business title (Line 1)
2. Street number and street name (Line 2)
3. Postal code followed by the city name, like 75004 PARIS (Line 3)
4. Country name, like FRANCE (Line 4)

Avoid adding punctuation marks like commas or periods within the address block, as automated sorting machinery in French distribution centers prefers clean text lines.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Travelers and international shoppers often trip up on minor administrative details when dealing with Parisian addresses.

• Confusing Paris proper with the suburbs: Towns immediately bordering Paris—such as Boulogne-Billancourt or Neuilly-sur-Seine—have their own distinct five-digit postal codes starting with 92 or 93. They are not part of the 750xx series, even though they sit right next to the city limits.
• Dropping leading zeros: Never truncate a postal code to four digits. Writing 751 instead of 75001 will cause automated mail sorting systems to reject the package.
• Mixing up arrondissements with postal zones: Locals often refer to neighborhoods simply by their district number (e.g., "living in the 11th"), but online forms always require the full five-digit code.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Paris share a single zip code?

No. Paris doesn't use a single code. It uses 21 different postal codes divided across its 20 municipal districts.

How can I tell which arrondissement a hotel is in based on its address?

Look at the last two digits of the five-digit postal code. If a hotel address lists 75008, the final 08 tells you it sits in the 8th arrondissement.

Are postal codes required for online shopping checkouts in Paris?

Yes. E-commerce platforms operating in France require the correct five-digit code to calculate local shipping rates and assign the package to the correct local La Poste delivery hub.

What is the postal code for central Paris?

The central geographic point of Paris falls within the 1st arrondissement, which uses the postal code 75001.