Germany
How to Find a German Postal Code (PLZ)
How to look up a German PLZ using the national postal operator's own directory, how to confirm it, and what to do if a street spans several codes.
Updated 14 October 2026 · 3 min read
The most reliable source for a German PLZ is the directory published by the national postal operator, Deutsche Post. Enter the street, the house number and the town, and the tool returns the matching code. Because it is built on the operator's own data, it reflects the code that sorting systems use.
Why the house number matters
In a small town, the town name alone is often enough because the whole municipality shares one code. In larger cities, a PLZ describes a delivery district. A long street can run through several districts, and the code may switch part way along. Looking up only the street name can therefore return several results. The house number settles which one applies.
Where else the code appears
- Previous letters and invoices addressed to the property.
- Delivery notifications and order confirmations in an existing account.
- Contracts, utility bills or registration documents.
- The business signage or imprint of a shop, which usually lists its full address.
How to check the result
First check the shape. A valid code has five digits and no letters, as described in Germany postal code format explained. Then check that the town name in the lookup result matches the town you expect. Be careful with places that have the same name in different parts of the country. Many German town names repeat, so a lookup can return several places that differ only in the surrounding region.
If you are unsure
- Do not guess a code. A wrong PLZ may delay a parcel or send it to a different district.
- Ask the recipient to confirm the full address in writing.
- For new housing areas, check with the municipality, because new streets may take time to appear in the directory.
- Use the name on the doorbell and any building details, since some addresses are only reliably found by these.
Adding an exact point
When an address is hard to locate, such as a rear building or a farm outside a village, a UPCS code can be attached alongside the PLZ. Choose the entrance on the UPCS map and use the generated DE code (placeholder: DE-XXXX-XXXX). It does not change the postal code and is not used by the postal operator. Continue with the Germany overview or read about delivery and addressing challenges.
Frequently asked questions
Can one German street have more than one PLZ?
Yes. A long street can cross code boundaries, and the code may depend on the house number range. Always look up the full address including the house number.
Is a town name enough to find a PLZ?
Only for small places. Larger cities have many codes, so you need the street and house number too.