Custom USPS Shipping Zone Examples

There may be an occasion where it makes more sense to create a specific shipping zone than what is setup by default in the Site Manager. Below is a brief explanation of how zip codes are configured and examples that you may find useful.

Less Accurate Zones

If you don't need to be quite that accurate, you can set up a custom USPS method with some general weight-based amounts. Here is an example, based on recent shipping rates table provided by USPS for Priority Mail:

From weight	Up to weight	Shipping Cost
.1	1	4.60
1	2	6.20 (if you want to go with the middle rate) / 7.50 (if you want to go with the highest)
2	5	11.90/15.85
5	10	16.95/25.05

etc.

More Accurate Zones

United States

Explanation:
A Zip Code is a string of 5 digits used by the US Postal Service to assist in routing mail. The first digit of any Zip Code refers to a grouping of states. The second and third digits refer to a region within that group or sometimes a large metropolitan city. The fourth and fifth digits refer to a post office facility or delivery area.

The lowest Zip Codes begin on the east coast in the New England states and increase going southward. The Zip Codes then increase from there going west and north.

Examples:

Pacific (AK, WA, OR, CA)

90,91,92,93,94,95,960,961,97,98,99

Mountain (ID, NV, UT, AZ, MT, WY, CO, NM)

59,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,880,881,882,883,884,889,89

West North Central (ND,SD, NE, KS, MN, IA, MO)

50,51,52,55,560,561,562,563,564,565,566,567,57,58,63,64,65,66,67,68,69

East North Central (WI, IL, MI, IN, OH)

43,44,45,46,47,48,49,53,54,60,61,62

Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA)

005,07,08,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,190,191,192,193,194,195,196

New England (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI)

01,02,03,04,05,06

West South Central (OK, AR, LA, TX)

7,885

East South Central (KY, TN, MS, AL)

35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42

South Atlantic (WV, MD, DE, DC, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL)

197,198,199,2,30,31,32,33,341,342,343,344,345,346,347,348,349,569

APO/FPO

09,340,962,963,964,965,966

Pacific Islands (HI, PW, FM, MH, MP, GU, AS)

967,968,969

Puerto Rico / Virgin Islands (PR, VI)

006,007,008,009

Canada

Explanation: Canadian Postal Codes are a string of 6 alpha-numeric characters. The first letter denotes a particular postal district, with the first 3 characters together indicating a forward sortation area (FSA). The final 3 characters indicate local delivery unit.



Examples:


Northern Canada (YT, NT, NU)

X, Y

Western Canada (BC, AB, SK, MB)

R, S, T, V

Eastern Canada (ON, QC, NB, PE, NS, NL)

A, B, C, E, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P