USPS shipping zone map and calculator
Find the zone between two U.S. ZIP codes. Then see why carriers disagree on the same lane.
Carriers assign zones from their own official charts. Bands here are approximate guidance only. Confirm the exact figure for your service.
How shipping zones work
A zone is distance, not a place. Zones radiate outward from your origin ZIP. Farther means a higher zone and a higher cost. The same address sits in different zones for different senders.
This diagram shows the shape of the system. It is not a carrier's actual chart. Bands are approximate and for guidance only. Carriers assign the exact zone from their chart. Bands vary by carrier, service and date. Zone 9 covers U.S. territories and some military addresses.
Zones are not the same across carriers
Most zone tools answer for one carrier only. That number does not transfer. Each carrier draws its own bands. The cutoffs do not line up.
| How the model works | USPS | UPS & FedEx (U.S. domestic) | Canada Post & Purolator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Distance zones 1–8. Zone 9 covers territories and some military addresses. |
Distance zones from the origin ZIP. Each carrier uses its own chart. |
Priced by origin and destination region. Read from the postal code. Not the U.S. chart. |
| Keyed on | Origin and destination ZIP code. | Origin and destination ZIP code. | Origin and destination postal code. |
| One chart for every service? | Main ground and Priority services share one chart. Some services differ. | No. Ground and air use separate charts. One carrier can give two zones. |
Rate tables differ by service and destination region. |
| Does weight change the zone? | No. Zone depends on origin and destination only. | No. Zone depends on origin and destination only. | No. The region pair is fixed by addresses. |
| What it means for you | A USPS zone number is a USPS answer. | Confirm the figure per carrier and per service. | A U.S. zone says nothing about Canadian rates. |
Carrier charts and rate tables change over time. Confirm the zone and rate before printing.
Why one lane can be two different zones
Four reasons the same box gets different zone numbers.
Different charts, different cutoffs
Each carrier sets its own band boundaries. Near a line, two carriers can disagree.
Ground and air are priced apart
Ground and air usually sit on separate charts. Your service choice can change the zone.
Origin is the anchor
Zones measure outward from where the package starts. Move your origin and every zone shifts.
Some services ignore zones
Flat-rate services price by box, not distance. They can beat zoned rates on long hauls.
Shipping from or into Canada? Zones work differently
The 1–8 chart is a U.S. domestic system. Canada Post and Purolator price by region instead. Region comes from the postal code. A U.S. zone number does not translate.
Rollo Ship applies the correct model for each carrier. Canadian, U.S. and cross-border shipments all get like-for-like rates. Compare USPS, UPS, FedEx, Canada Post and Purolator together.
Lower your zone, lower your cost
Distance is the biggest lever on ground shipping cost. Zone 2 to Zone 8 can multiply the price.
Ship from closer
Fulfil from the warehouse nearest the buyer. Shorter distance means a lower zone.
Split your inventory
Stock East and West to shorten the average trip. More orders land in lower zones.
Consider zone skipping
Move parcels in bulk closer to the destination first. The carrier leg then starts lower.
Use flat-rate for high zones
Flat-rate services ignore zones entirely. They can win on long, heavy hauls.
Rollo Ship compares zoned and flat-rate options on one screen. The cheapest choice surfaces before you print.
How to find your shipping zone
Four steps, about a minute, no account needed.
Enter your origin U.S. ZIP
Enter the ZIP the package ships from. Zones measure outward from the origin. Different senders get different zones.
Enter the destination U.S. ZIP
Enter the ZIP the package is going to. Weight and box size never change the zone.
Read the zone
The finder returns the USPS zone for your lane. UPS and FedEx publish their own charts. Their zone can differ.
Compare the real rates
Zone sets the price band, not the price. Compare all five carriers in Rollo Ship. Do it before printing the label.
Rollo Ship is a free multi-carrier shipping platform. It serves shippers across the U.S. and Canada. It weighs zone, weight and service together. Then it surfaces the cheapest real rate. Compare USPS, UPS, FedEx, Canada Post and Purolator. Rollo Ship is a platform, not a carrier. You keep carrier choice without lock-in. It runs on web, iOS and Android. Rollo Ship is rated 4.8 on Capterra. Rollo Ship is used by 500,000+ shippers across the US and Canada.
More shipping tools
Free calculators from Rollo Ship.
Knowing the zone is half the answer.
Rollo Ship is the free multi-carrier shipping platform. Compare USPS, UPS, FedEx, Canada Post and Purolator. Sort by zone, weight and service. Then print the cheapest label.
Join 500,000+ shippers. No credit card. No subscription.
Shipping zone FAQ
What shippers ask about zones.
What is a shipping zone?
A shipping zone measures distance from origin to destination. It is not a fixed region. Zones run from 1 to 8. Zone 9 covers territories and some military addresses. Carriers price domestic U.S. shipments by zone. Higher zone means longer distance and higher cost.
How do I find my shipping zone?
Enter your origin and destination ZIP codes above. The zone comes from the carrier's official chart. That chart is keyed on both ZIP codes. Longer distance usually means a higher zone. A higher zone usually means a higher rate.
Do USPS, UPS and FedEx use the same zones?
No. All three measure distance outward from the origin ZIP. So the concept matches across carriers. But each carrier publishes its own chart. The same ZIP pair can land in different zones. Do not apply a USPS number to a UPS shipment.
Why is my UPS zone different from my USPS zone?
Because they are different charts. Each carrier draws its own bands around the origin. The cutoffs do not line up. Carriers also split ground and air onto separate charts. One carrier can give two zones for one lane.
Does weight or box size change my shipping zone?
No. Zone depends on origin and destination only. Weight and dimensions change the price within that zone. They never move a shipment to another zone. Zone and billable weight are two separate levers.
How many shipping zones are there?
Eight main domestic zones, 1 through 8. Some services add Zone 9. That covers offshore, territory and certain military destinations. Zone 1 is local. Zone 8 is the longest cross-country distance. Not every carrier uses every zone number.
Do shipping zones apply in Canada?
Not in the same form. The 1-to-8 chart is a U.S. domestic system. Canada Post and Purolator price by region instead. Region is read from the postal code. Rollo Ship applies the correct model per carrier. Compare all five carriers together.
Is there a USPS shipping zones map?
Yes. USPS zones map outward from your origin ZIP. They run from Zone 1 to Zone 8. Enter both ZIP codes in the finder above. Rollo Ship then compares rates for that lane. That covers USPS, UPS, FedEx, Canada Post and Purolator.
Is there a UPS or FedEx shipping zones map?
Both carriers publish their own zone charts. They map outward from the origin ZIP too. But the cutoffs differ from the USPS chart. Treat a USPS map as a guide only. Confirm the figure for your carrier and service.
Is the zone calculator free?
Yes, and no account is needed. Rollo Ship is a free multi-carrier shipping platform. There is no monthly subscription. Your first 200 labels are free. Labels then cost 5 cents each. VIP tier of Rollo Rewards drops that to 1 cent.