Houston is the largest city in Texas. It sits mainly in Harris County, with a part in Fort Bend County. According to ZIP-Codes.com, Houston has 178 ZIP codes: 98 standard, 75 PO Box and 5 unique. Its census population is 2,304,580, and the area codes are 281, 346, 621, 713 and 832. Other sites quote 146, 179 or 185 ZIPs because they count PO Box, unique and partially covered codes differently. For mail and address lookups, only the standard codes matter.
Many “Houston” mailing addresses are outside the city limits, so the Houston ZIP list is not the same as the city boundary. The wider Houston metro area has 421 ZIP codes.
Houston ZIP codes by area
Most low-numbered Houston ZIPs run in rough geographic bands, but many pages online give contradictory neighborhood labels. The pairings below are the ones most commonly agreed on. Boundaries overlap, so verify by address.
| Area | Common ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Downtown | 77002 (core), 77003 (EaDo), 77010 |
| Midtown / Museum District | 77004 |
| Montrose | 77006, 77098 |
| The Heights | 77007, 77008, 77009 |
| River Oaks | 77019 |
| Upper Kirby | 77027 |
| Uptown / Galleria | 77056, 77057 |
| Rice / West University | 77005 |
| Memorial | 77024 |
| Texas Medical Center | 77030 |
| Energy Corridor | 77079 |
77005 carries the aliases Southside Place and West University Place, and 77008 carries “Heights” and “Houston Heights”.
Additional Houston-area ZIP codes
These have their own mailing city, so they are not “Houston” ZIPs in postal terms, but people often say they live in Houston.
- The Woodlands: 77380, 77381, 77382, 77384, 77385, 77386
- Katy: 77449, 77450, 77494
- Sugar Land: 77478, 77479
- Cypress: 77429, 77433
- Spring: 77373, 77379, 77388, 77389
- Pearland: 77581, 77584
- Pasadena: 77502 to 77506
- Baytown: 77520, 77521
- Galveston: 77550
Check the USPS lookup before using any of these in a form, since I took them from general knowledge rather than from a source I could cite.
Houston ZIP code range
- Most Houston street addresses fall in 77001 to 77099.
- Houston also uses 77201 to 77299 for PO Boxes and unique addresses. Harris County lists 77299 as the last Houston-range code.
- Some Houston-addressed ZIPs reach higher, and one source gives an overall range of 77001 to 77598.
- A claim that Houston has only about 89 or 99 ZIPs is out of date.
Tips to find the right Houston ZIP code
- Search by full street address on the USPS ZIP Code Lookup (tools.usps.com). It also returns the 9-digit ZIP+4.
- Check whether the address is in the city or unincorporated Harris County. The mailing city “Houston” doesn’t tell you, and taxes, services and school districts depend on it.
- Use a boundary map such as ZipDataMaps or ZIP-Codes.com. Neighborhoods often span several ZIPs and ZIPs often span several neighborhoods.
- Avoid PO Box and unique codes for street delivery. 77001 is a PO Box code, and the 772xx codes are mostly PO Box or unique codes.
- Treat blog “neighborhood by ZIP” lists with caution. Several give contradictory answers (for example 77002 as both downtown and the Heights).
Popular Houston ZIP codes
- 77002: downtown, with the theater district and nightlife.
- 77006: Montrose, known for its arts scene and restaurants.
- 77008 and 77007: The Heights and nearby Washington Avenue.
- 77019: River Oaks, an upscale area.
- 77056: Uptown and the Galleria, a major shopping and office district.
- 77024: Memorial, a family-oriented residential area.
- 77030: the Texas Medical Center.
- 77005: Rice University and West University Place.
FAQ
How many ZIP codes does Houston have?
178 according to ZIP-Codes.com. Other sites say between 146 and 185.
What is the ZIP code for downtown Houston?
77002 is the usual answer. 77003 and 77010 cover the nearby east side.
What ZIP code is the Heights in?
77008, and also 77007 and 77009 for parts of it.
What ZIP code is the Galleria in?
77056, with 77057 for the west side.
What ZIP code is Montrose in?
77006, with some of it in 77098.
What ZIP codes does Houston range from and to?
Mostly 77001 to 77099, with 77201 to 77299 for PO Box and unique codes.
Are all Houston ZIP codes inside city limits?
No. Many extend into unincorporated Harris County, Fort Bend County and nearby cities.
Is 77001 a real address ZIP?
It’s a PO Box ZIP and has no residential population.
Which counties does Houston cover?
Harris and Fort Bend.
Do Houston ZIPs change?
Yes, the USPS occasionally adjusts them, so confirm before mailing or shipping.