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A letter without a ZIP code may not reach its intended destination. That is because of the way addresses are read by automated postal systems. Rules that are taken for granted when people send mail are actually unusually strict to increase post office efficiency. Processing machines read addresses from the bottom up.

The correct format for a numeric ZIP+4 code is five digits, a hyphen, and four digits. The first five digits represent the 5-digit ZIP Code; the sixth and seventh digits (the first two after the hyphen) identify an area known as a sector; the eighth and ninth digits identify a smaller area known as a segment.

Yes, when using a ZIP+4 ZIP Code, the number must consist of five digits, a hyphen (or dash), and four digits. Improperly labeled mailpieces may progress slower through the mail system and may be returned to sender if the United States Postal Service® is unable to deliver the item.

So what do the extra numbers mean? These last 4 digits represent specific delivery routes within delivery areas. This extra detail means an even more precise matching to a more granular level. It could represent a handful of houses on one side of a street, or even a single building that receives a high volume of mail.

A ZIP Code is a 5-digit number that specifies an individual destination post office or mail delivery area. ZIP Codes determine the destination of letters for final sorting and delivery.

If you want to improve the chances that the letter will make it to its destination quickly, you should use the five-digit ZIP code plus the four additional numbers that are specific to the area. To format, write the ZIP code with a hyphen afterward and then the four additional numbers will immediately follow that.