Navigating Queens requires understanding how postal zones map to distinct neighborhoods. If you're trying to track down a specific address or figure out local boundaries, the system spans from the 111 prefix near Manhattan out to the 116 codes on the Rockaway Peninsula.
Queens postal codes operate under a structured geographic blueprint managed by the USPS Location Finder. Every code tells you roughly where a property sits within New York City's largest borough by area, bridging dense urban commercial strips and quiet residential blocks.
Understanding the Queens Postal Structure
Queens uses three primary postal prefixes: 111, 113, and 114, alongside a few overlaps from the 110 Nassau County border and the 116 Rockaways. Unlike Manhattan, where zip codes often change block by block based on office buildings, Queens zones correspond heavily to historic neighborhood borders.
- 111 Prefix: Covers western Queens along the East River, including Astoria and Long Island City.
- 113 Prefix: Handles northern and central sections, spanning from Flushing and Bayside down to Forest Hills and Ridgewood.
- 114 Prefix: Governs southeastern zones, heavily anchored around Jamaica, Ozone Park, and Laurelton.
- 116 Prefix: Dedicated entirely to the Rockaway Peninsula down south.
Western Queens: 111 Prefix Zones
The western edge of the borough faces Manhattan and undergoes rapid development. This region relies on tight, highly populated postal zones where high-rises meet historic row houses.
Astoria and Long Island City
- 11101: Covers long stretches of Long Island City, Dutch Kills, and parts of Astoria near the Queensboro Bridge.
- 11102: Centers on upper Astoria along the waterfront near Astoria Park.
- 11103: Captures the bustling commercial corridors around 30th Avenue and Steinway Street.
- 11104: Services Sunnyside Gardens and the northern border of Sunnyside.
- 11105: Spans the northernmost tip of Astoria, including Ditmars-Steinway.
- 11106: Reaches inland Astoria toward the Broadway and 31st Street corridors.
Northern and Central Queens: 113 Prefix Zones
Moving east and south brings you into the heart of northern Queens. These areas mix massive commercial hubs with sprawling residential grids.
Flushing, Bayside, and College Point
- 11354: Anchors downtown Flushing around Main Street and Northern Boulevard.
- 11355: Covers southern Flushing and Queensboro Hill.
- 11356: Services College Point along the Flushing Bay waterfront.
- 11357: Spans Whitestone and Malba.
- 11358: Covers Auburndale and clearview sections of Flushing.
- 11359: Reaches Bayside along the Little Neck Bay.
Corona, Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights
- 11368: Covers Corona and parts of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
- 11369: Encompasses East Elmhurst and northern Jackson Heights.
- 11370: Centers on Jackson Heights near the Rikers Island bridge approach.
- 11372: Captures the dense residential core of Jackson Heights.
- 11373: Services Elmhurst, home to major commercial avenues and diverse eateries.
Forest Hills, Rego Park, and Ridgewood
- 11374: Rego Park zone, flanked by Queens Boulevard.
- 11375: Forest Hills, covering the historic Gardens area down to Yellowstone Boulevard.
- 11377: Spans Woodside and parts of Maspeth.
- 11378: Maspeth industrial and residential zone.
- 11379: Middle Village and Glendale neighborhoods.
- 11385: Ridgewood and Glendale, bordering Brooklyn.
Southeastern Queens: 114 Prefix Zones
The 114 prefix covers the vast expanse of southeastern Queens, anchoring around major transit hubs like JFK Airport and the Long Island Rail Road branches.
Jamaica and Surrounding Areas
- 11411: Cambria Heights and parts of Queens Village.
- 11412: St. Albans residential neighborhoods.
- 11413: Laurelton and Springfield Gardens.
- 11414: Howard Beach near the southern marshlands.
- 11415: Kew Gardens, nestled between Forest Hills and Jamaica.
- 11416 and 11417: Ozone Park zones.
- 11418: Richmond Hill.
- 11419: South Richmond Hill.
- 11420: South Ozone Park.
- 11421: Woodhaven and the northern edge of Ozone Park.
- 11422: Rosedale, sitting near the Nassau County border.
- 11423: Hollis and parts of Queens Village.
- 11426: Bellerose and Floral Park border areas.
- 11427, 11428, 11429: Queens Village residential blocks.
- 11430: Dedicated almost entirely to John F. Kennedy International Airport.
- 11432, 11433, 11434, 11435: The core Jamaica zones, spanning from Jamaica Estates down toward Rochdale Village.
- 11436: South Ozone Park extension.
The Rockaways: 116 Prefix Zones
Cut off from the rest of the borough by Jamaica Bay, the barrier island of the Rockaways utilizes the 116 postal prefix.
- 11691: Far Rockaway and Edgemere.
- 11692: Arverne.
- 11693: Broad Channel, sitting on the narrow strip crossing Jamaica Bay, plus western Rockaway Beach.
- 11694: Rockaway Park and Neponsit.
- 11697: Breezy Point at the far western tip of the peninsula.
Common Mistakes When Addressing Mail in Queens
Sorting or mailing packages to Queens often leads to mix-ups due to historic naming conventions. The NYC Department of City Planning notes that post office city names don't always match neighborhood boundaries.
- Using "Flushing" or "Jamaica" universally: Many zip codes across central and eastern Queens officially list "Flushing" or "Jamaica" as the preferred municipal city name in the postal database, even if you live in Rego Park or Hollis. Always rely on the exact 5-digit code rather than the written neighborhood name to prevent routing delays.
- Mixing up Nassau and Queens borders: Communities like Floral Park, New Hyde Park, and Elmont straddle the county line. Double-check whether an address falls under Queens County or Nassau County to ensure proper tax and utility service mapping.
- Forgetting directional prefixes: North, South, East, and West distinctions matter immensely in Queens street naming. 72nd Road in Forest Hills is entirely different from 72nd Road in Flushing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the lowest and highest zip code in Queens?
The numeric range spans from 11004 in Glen Oaks up to 11697 in Breezy Point.
Why do so many different neighborhoods share the same postal city name?
The postal service assigns historic main post office names to large sectors. For instance, mail addressed to parts of Fresh Meadows or Kew Gardens Hills often lists Flushing in the address line because those areas route through the main Flushing facility.
How do I verify a Queens address boundary?
You can verify official block-by-block assignments by plugging the property details into the official USPS lookup tool or reviewing local district maps provided by NYC urban planning portals.
Do zip codes change during redistricting?
Postal code boundaries shift occasionally to accommodate population booms or new residential developments, though massive overhauls are rare unless a new large-scale housing complex alters delivery routes significantly.
