Zip Code Lookup API? [closed]

Asked 20/8, 2011 at 2:55 Answered 3/7, 2013 at 13:23

I need an API to give me the zip code of a location when someone enters a location like Los Angeles, California. I have seen many APIs that give you the details by the zip code, but I need the reverse.

Godewyn answered 20/8, 2011 at 2:55 Comment(7)

You said "zipcode" -- did you mean zipcodes? Have you considered cities that have a lot of zipcodes? New York? Los Angeles? – Geier 20/8, 2011 at 2:59

Yeah, but when I enter something like New York, NY on Weatherbug or another similar service it chooses a zip code. I was also wondering how they did that. – Godewyn 20/8, 2011 at 18:1

Try this github.com/Loceo/loceo-jquery-plugin – Winy 8/11, 2012 at 17:13

How in the world is this question opinion-based? – Jackiejackinoffice 9/2, 2014 at 20:58

www.boundaries-io.com is a cheap paid service(simple rest API)...many of users. – Diplomat 3/3, 2016 at 13:25

You can check form-api.com - disclaimer: i am member of the development team – Nasty 17/3, 2019 at 15:41

You can also use thezipcodes.com – Import 28/12, 2020 at 14:41

USPS has an address information api. You give it an address and it gives you the zip code. And as the commenters said, you need to provide an address, because many cities have multiple zip codes.

Barren answered 20/8, 2011 at 3:3 Comment(3)

Excellent point about the multiple zip codes. But the USPS' API can only be used if you're mailing things with the information you request... – Gamache 21/6, 2012 at 14:50

There's also the undocumented JSON API that their online ZIP code lookup tool uses, which doesn't require any tokens or registration, just a user agent string:

curl 'https://tools.usps.com/tools/app/ziplookup/zipByAddress' --data 'companyName=&address1=1234 example rd&address2=&city=Anytown&state=NY&urbanCode=&zip=12345' -H "User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0"

They'll probably get mad if you start using it heavily though. – Recalesce 26/2, 2020 at 1:15

You can use thezipcodes.com as well. – Import 31/12, 2020 at 13:0

Check out the API from SmartyStreets.

As with the USPS address information API (mentioned above), you provide an address, the API provides the verified, standardized address along with the complete ZIP Code (5-digit code, Plus 4 Code, and Delivery Point).

Feel free to experiment with the free demo.

The advantages of this API over the USPS API are numerous. Also, the USPS API is meant specifically "to facilitate USPS shipping transactions only". SmartyStreets utilizes official, current USPS data.

**UPDATE: New users can sign up for a free trial.

***UPDATE: SmartyStreets now offers an address API and a ZIP Code API.

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm a software developer at SmartyStreets.

Respect answered 4/1, 2012 at 18:9 Comment(3)

Why is there a link "DO NOT READ THIS" on the site? I don't want to be weak but the curiosity is killing me ... why would you put a link like that on the site ... probably because you WANT me to "read this" right? But ... it says NOT TO!! (fetal position) :D – Flip 2/2, 2016 at 15:50

Our plan is working perfectly... – Respect 2/2, 2016 at 19:37

Smarty (formerly SmartyStreets) recently terminated the free monthly option without notice. Don't waste your time. – Grapeshot 5/10, 2023 at 16:49

USPS has an address information api. You give it an address and it gives you the zip code. And as the commenters said, you need to provide an address, because many cities have multiple zip codes.

Barren answered 20/8, 2011 at 3:3 Comment(3)

Excellent point about the multiple zip codes. But the USPS' API can only be used if you're mailing things with the information you request... – Gamache 21/6, 2012 at 14:50

There's also the undocumented JSON API that their online ZIP code lookup tool uses, which doesn't require any tokens or registration, just a user agent string:

curl 'https://tools.usps.com/tools/app/ziplookup/zipByAddress' --data 'companyName=&address1=1234 example rd&address2=&city=Anytown&state=NY&urbanCode=&zip=12345' -H "User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0"

They'll probably get mad if you start using it heavily though. – Recalesce 26/2, 2020 at 1:15

You can use thezipcodes.com as well. – Import 31/12, 2020 at 13:0

This Zip Code API provides the following functions:

Distance Between Zip Code API
Zip Codes in Radius API
Zip Code to City and State API and Zip Code to Latitude/Longitude API
Zipcode based on City and State

Etude answered 3/7, 2013 at 13:23 Comment(4)

I can't find the Zip Codes in Radius API information. That's exactly what I need. Hopefully you can point me in the right direction? – Doak 30/12, 2016 at 19:32

For example it cant find zip for Sterling Heights, MI – Sporades 7/2, 2018 at 9:12

It has the reverse way - zipcode to Sterling Heights - zipcodeapi.com/API#zipToLoc - 48310. Just a bad search capability for matching a two word city name... – Etude 8/2, 2018 at 13:14

I sent an email to the developer and they fixed it. They said they had converted the "St" into "Saint" so the search they were running was "Sainterling Heights"... – Etude 8/2, 2018 at 14:38

They have a cross reference database of zipcode, to lat/long-itude, and the weather station.

I am not aware of anything freely available, you will likely need to pay to compile this

Teresaterese answered 21/9, 2011 at 11:45 Comment(0)

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