How to extract ZIP codes from text
Use this tool to find ZIP-5 values shaped like five digits and ZIP+4 values shaped like five digits, a hyphen, and four digits. Each match appears with its type, source line, and a shortened context snippet.
Use the extractor
The input starts with sample text, and the page processes it immediately. Replace it with your own content, or load a file.
- Paste text into the input area. Select Upload to open the file picker, which advertises
.txt,.csv,.json, and.logfiles. You can also drop a file on the input area; dropped files are passed directly to the text reader and are read as text without that picker extension filter. Unsupported files, read failures, and cancelled reads show an inline message with a retry-or-paste path. - Review the results table. Its columns are ZIP Code, Type, Line, and Context. The output textarea contains the currently filtered matches, one per line.
- Change the checkboxes if needed. The results table, output textarea, and count update when the input or either checkbox changes.
Filter and count the results
- Unique only is enabled by default. It keeps the first exact raw occurrence, including its line and context; later duplicates are removed.
- Enable ZIP+4 only to keep only matches with the hyphen and four-digit extension.
- Check the result count after filtering. It reports the displayed total and the ZIP-5 and ZIP+4 counts.
Understand the result details
Context is a shortened snippet from near the match, with up to 25 characters on either side and collapsed whitespace. The matcher rejects a value touching another digit or hyphen, so it does not take a five-digit slice from a longer digit sequence.
Copy or download the filtered list
Review the filtered list, then select Copy to copy the output textarea contents. Select Download to save the same output as zip-codes.txt. Both actions do nothing when the output is empty.
Browser processing and limitations
Selected and dropped file content is read as text in your browser by the page script, then processed there. This tool matches numeric ZIP-5 and ZIP+4 shapes only. It does not check a USPS database or confirm assignment, current validity, or a city, state, or address match. It also cannot determine whether a matching number is a US ZIP code or an international postal code.
When there are no matches, the results panel stays hidden while the input and filter controls remain available. If a file read fails or is cancelled, the shared text-upload contract shows an inline diagnostic and leaves the input available for another file or pasted text.
Frequently asked questions
How does this tool avoid matching digits from longer numbers?
The extractor only matches a five-digit (or five+four-digit) run that is not directly touching another digit or hyphen. A five-digit slice inside a longer number - like part of a phone number, account number, or tracking ID - is not pulled out as a ZIP code.
Does this tool validate that a ZIP code is real or currently in use?
No. This tool matches the numeric pattern of US ZIP and ZIP+4 codes only. It does not check the result against the USPS ZIP code database, so it cannot confirm a code is currently assigned, valid, or correctly matched to a city or state.
What is the difference between ZIP-5 and ZIP+4 in the results?
ZIP-5 is a five-digit match. ZIP+4 is a five-digit match followed by a hyphen and four more digits. The tool detects and labels both formats.
Why is this tool separate from a full address extractor?
This page extracts standalone ZIP-5 and ZIP+4-shaped values. The separate Address Extractor is intended for address and location strings.