Comprehensive Guide to Zip Codes That Cover New York City

New York City is serviced by approximately 145 geographic ZIP codes distributed across its five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. These primary codes range from 10001 to 11697. When accounting for unique building codes, government entities, and PO Box-only designations, the total number of ZIP codes within the city limits exceeds 200.

Understanding the distribution of ZIP codes across the five boroughs is essential for logistics, real estate analysis, and navigation within the United States' most populous city. As of 2026, the ZIP code system remains the primary infrastructure for mail delivery, demographic data collection by the U.S. Census Bureau, and localized economic reporting. Because New York City is incredibly dense, a single ZIP code can represent tens of thousands of residents, whereas in rural areas, a ZIP code might cover hundreds of square miles.

The Structure of NYC’s Postal System

The Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) was introduced by the USPS in 1963 to improve mail sorting and delivery speed. In New York City, the system is designed to handle extreme "vertical density." Unlike most American cities where ZIP codes are strictly horizontal polygons on a map, NYC features "Vertical ZIP Codes" where a single skyscraper—such as the Empire State Building (10118)—is assigned its own unique code due to the sheer volume of mail it receives.

The first three digits of an NYC ZIP code generally indicate the central mail processing facility. For example, "100" prefixes usually indicate Manhattan, while "112" prefixes signify Brooklyn. Understanding these prefixes is the first step in identifying which borough a specific address belongs to.

Manhattan: The 100xx, 101xx, and 102xx Series

Manhattan is the most complex borough regarding postal distribution. As the economic hub of the city, it requires a high density of specialized codes. While the general residential and commercial codes fall under the 100xx range, the 101xx and 102xx ranges are often reserved for specific buildings, large organizations, or post office boxes.

• Lower Manhattan (10004, 10005, 10006, 10007, 10038): These codes cover the Financial District and City Hall areas. These are some of the oldest parts of the city and include high-density commercial zones.
• Greenwich Village and Chelsea (10011, 10012, 10013, 10014): These codes represent some of the most expensive real estate in the world. 10013, for instance, covers parts of Tribeca, SoHo, and Hudson Square.
• Midtown Manhattan (10001, 10016, 10017, 10018, 10019, 10022, 10036): This is the commercial heart of the city. 10001 includes the area around Penn Station and the Hudson Yards development.
• Upper East Side (10021, 10028, 10044, 10065, 10075, 10128): Historically associated with high net-worth individuals, these ZIP codes are densely packed with luxury high-rises. 10044 specifically covers Roosevelt Island.
• Upper West Side (10023, 10024, 10025, 10069): These codes stretch from Lincoln Center up toward the southern edge of Harlem.
• Harlem and Washington Heights (10026, 10027, 10029, 10030, 10031, 10032, 10033, 10034, 10035, 10037, 10039, 10040): These codes cover the northern section of Manhattan island.

Brooklyn: The 112xx Backbone

Brooklyn is the most populous borough and uses the 112xx prefix almost exclusively, with very few exceptions. Because Brooklyn's geography is more spread out than Manhattan's, its ZIP codes tend to cover larger land areas, though they are still very dense compared to national averages.

• North Brooklyn (11201, 11205, 11206, 11211, 11222, 11231, 11249, 11251): This includes areas like Brooklyn Heights (11201), Williamsburg (11211/11249), and Greenpoint (11222). 11249 is a relatively recent addition, carved out of 11211 to accommodate the massive population growth on the Williamsburg waterfront.
• Central Brooklyn (11213, 11216, 11221, 11225, 11226, 11233, 11238): These codes cover Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, and Prospect Lefferts Gardens.
• South Brooklyn (11204, 11209, 11214, 11219, 11220, 11223, 11224, 11228, 11230, 11235): Covering areas like Bay Ridge (11209), Bensonhurst (11214), Borough Park (11219), and Coney Island (11224).
• East Brooklyn (11207, 11208, 11212, 11236, 11239): Including East New York and Canarsie.

Queens: The Diverse 111xx to 116xx Range

Queens is the largest borough by land area and uses the widest variety of prefixes, including 111xx, 113xx, 114xx, and 116xx. This borough is unique because mailing addresses in Queens often use neighborhood names (e.g., Astoria, Flushing, Jamaica) instead of just "New York, NY."

• Western Queens (11101, 11102, 11103, 11104, 11105, 11106, 11109): This covers Long Island City, Astoria, and Sunnyside. 11101 is a major industrial and residential hub.
• Northeast Queens (11354, 11355, 11356, 11357, 11358, 11359, 11360, 11361, 11362, 11363, 11364): Centered around Flushing, Whitestone, and Bayside.
• Central Queens (11365, 11366, 11367, 11372, 11373, 11374, 11375, 11377, 11378, 11379, 11385): Includes Jackson Heights, Forest Hills, and Ridgewood.
• Southeast Queens and Jamaica (11411, 11412, 11413, 11422, 11423, 11426, 11427, 11428, 11429, 11432, 11433, 11434, 11435, 11436): This includes Jamaica, Laurelton, and Queens Village.
• The Rockaways (11691, 11692, 11693, 11694, 11697): These codes cover the peninsula separating Jamaica Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.

The Bronx: The 104xx Corridor

The Bronx uses the 104xx prefix. It is the only borough primarily located on the United States mainland (the others are on islands or parts of islands).

• South Bronx (10451, 10452, 10454, 10455, 10456, 10459, 10474): This includes Yankee Stadium (10451) and the Hunts Point Market (10474).
• Central Bronx (10453, 10457, 10458, 10460, 10468): Covers areas like Fordham, Tremont, and Belmont.
• North Bronx (10463, 10466, 10467, 10469, 10470, 10471): Includes Riverdale (10471) and Williamsbridge.
• East Bronx (10461, 10462, 10464, 10465, 10472, 10473, 10475): Includes Co-op City (10475), the largest cooperative housing development in the world.

Staten Island: The 103xx Extension

Staten Island is the most suburban borough and uses the 103xx prefix.

• North Shore (10301, 10302, 10303, 10310): Near the St. George Terminal and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
• Mid-Island (10304, 10305, 10306, 10314): 10314 is the most populous ZIP code on Staten Island, covering the Staten Island Mall and the College of Staten Island.
• South Shore (10307, 10308, 10309, 10312): Includes areas like Tottenville and Great Kills.

Summary Table of NYC ZIP Code Prefixes

Why Zip Codes Don’t Always Match Neighborhood Boundaries

In New York City, there is a frequent disconnect between a "neighborhood" and a "ZIP code." This is because ZIP codes were created for the logistical convenience of the USPS, not to define cultural or historical districts.

For example, a resident might live in a building that is culturally part of "Hell's Kitchen," but their ZIP code might also include a portion of the "Garment District." Furthermore, some ZIP codes straddle multiple community board districts. When the city undergoes massive rezoning or development, the USPS rarely changes the ZIP code boundaries unless a sorting facility becomes overwhelmed.

The Real Estate Factor

In 2026, real estate valuation in New York City remains heavily influenced by ZIP codes. For instance, 10013 (Tribeca) and 10021 (Upper East Side) often command higher price-per-square-foot rates than adjacent codes, even if the physical distance between properties is negligible. This is because ZIP codes are often used by insurance companies and banks as a proxy for risk and socioeconomic status, a practice that has faced scrutiny but persists in various algorithmic models.

Technical Logistics and the ZIP+4 System

For high-precision delivery in 2026, the USPS utilizes the ZIP+4 system. In NYC, those extra four digits are crucial. Because of the "Vertical ZIP" concept mentioned earlier, the +4 extension can often identify a specific floor within a skyscraper or a specific segment of a long street block.

1. The First Five Digits: Identify the destination post office or delivery area.
2. The Sixth and Seventh Digits: Identify the "delivery sector," which could be several blocks, a group of streets, or a large office building.
3. The Eighth and Ninth Digits: Identify the "delivery segment," which could be one side of a block or even a specific floor in a large building.

For businesses operating in NYC, using the full nine-digit code is essential for reducing "return to sender" incidents and ensuring that automated sorting machines can process mail without human intervention.

Common Misconceptions About NYC Zip Codes

A common mistake made by visitors or new residents is assuming that "New York, NY" is the correct mailing address for all five boroughs. In reality:

• Manhattan addresses use "New York, NY."
• Bronx addresses use "Bronx, NY."
• Brooklyn addresses use "Brooklyn, NY."
• Staten Island addresses use "Staten Island, NY."
• Queens is the outlier; it typically uses specific neighborhood names like "Astoria, NY," "Long Island City, NY," or "Flushing, NY," though "Queens, NY" is increasingly accepted by automated systems.

Another misconception is that ZIP codes are permanent. The USPS periodically creates new codes (like 11249 in Brooklyn) when a region's mail volume exceeds the capacity of the existing infrastructure. This usually happens in areas undergoing rapid "gentrification" or high-rise residential development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which NYC ZIP code is the most expensive?

Historically and as of 2026, 10013 (Tribeca/SoHo) and 10007 (Lower Manhattan) consistently rank among the most expensive ZIP codes in the United States based on median home sale prices. In 10013, the concentration of luxury lofts and penthouses maintains a price floor significantly higher than most of the city.

Can a building have its own ZIP code?

Yes. In New York City, approximately 40 buildings have their own unique ZIP codes. This is due to the extreme volume of mail processed by the occupants. Examples include the Empire State Building (10118), the MetLife Building (10166), and the Chrysler Building (10174). Even the World Trade Center complex uses a specialized set of codes (10007, 10048—though 10048 was retired/reassigned post-2001).

How many ZIP codes are there in the Bronx?

The Bronx contains roughly 25 geographic ZIP codes. However, this number can fluctuate if you include non-geographic codes assigned to specific institutions like hospitals, universities, or large-scale housing complexes like Co-op City.

What is the largest ZIP code in NYC by land area?

10314 on Staten Island is one of the largest in terms of geographic footprint, covering a vast portion of the center of the island. In contrast, Manhattan ZIP codes like 10022 cover a much smaller land area but have significantly higher population and business density.

Is there a ZIP code for Central Park?

Central Park does not have its own exclusive ZIP code for residential mail because no one (officially) lives there. However, it is surrounded by ZIP codes. The park's administrative offices and institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art (located within the park's geographic footprint) use the ZIP codes of the adjacent avenues, typically 10024, 10023, or 10028.

Practical Recommendation

When sending mail or navigating New York City, always verify the ZIP code using the official USPS ZIP Code Lookup tool. Because boundaries can be non-intuitive—sometimes splitting a single street down the middle—relying on a neighborhood name alone is often insufficient for accurate delivery or GPS routing. For businesses and residents, ensuring the ZIP+4 is updated in your records will facilitate faster processing within the city's highly automated mail sorting hubs.