Distance Between ZIP Codes
Enter any two US ZIP codes to get the straight-line (great-circle) distance between them in miles and kilometers, plus the bearing and midpoint.
ZIP coordinates come from the free Zippopotam.us database (representative point per ZIP, not a boundary). Distances are straight-line haversine — driving distance will be longer.
How to use this tool
Type a 5-digit US ZIP code, e.g. 90210.
Type another 5-digit ZIP code, e.g. 10001.
See miles, kilometers, bearing, and both points pinned on the map.
What people use this tool for
Quickly estimate how far apart two destinations are.
Get a rough distance for freight or delivery quotes.
Settle bets about how far two cities really are.
How it's calculated
ZIP codes are resolved to centroid coordinates via the Zippopotam.us API. Distance is the great-circle distance computed with the haversine formula on the WGS84 mean radius (6,371 km). This is a straight-line distance — road distance is longer.
Related tools and resources
Frequently asked questions
How is the distance between two ZIP codes calculated?
Each ZIP code is mapped to its centroid coordinates, then the haversine formula computes the great-circle distance between the two points.
Is this the driving distance?
No — it is the straight-line (as-the-crow-flies) distance. Driving distance is typically 20-40% longer.
Why use ZIP code centroids instead of exact addresses?
A ZIP code covers an area, so its published centroid is the standard reference point used for ZIP-level distance estimates.
How accurate are the ZIP coordinates?
Zippopotam.us provides official postal centroid data; coordinates are accurate to the ZIP-code level, not the street level.
What is the bearing shown in the result?
The initial compass bearing from the first ZIP code to the second, measured clockwise from north (0-360 degrees).
What is the midpoint?
The geographic point halfway along the great-circle path between the two ZIP centroids.
Does this work for Canadian or UK postal codes?
This tool targets US ZIP codes. Use the postal code finder for other countries' formats.
What if a ZIP code is not found?
Retired or invalid ZIP codes return an error — double-check the digits and try again.