If you’re building tools or conducting analysis across North America, understanding how postal systems differ between countries is essential.
In Canada, postal codes use a six-character format (e.g., M5V 3L9), where the first three characters form the Forward Sortation Area (FSA) and the last three define the Local Delivery Unit (LDU). In the U.S. ZIP codes follow a five-digit format, optionally extended with ZIP+4.
These differences aren’t just cosmetic. They affect how geographic coverage is modeled. Canadian postal polygons are often more granular and detailed due to dense urban LDUs, while U.S. polygons tend to follow address clusters and population centers.
Aeroview provides both Canadian and U.S. postal boundary datasets, carefully curated and updated using authoritative sources. For cross-border applications — from logistics to franchise planning — understanding these nuances allows developers to maintain consistency while respecting regional formats.
Get the most out of your international analysis by using the right postal polygons for each geography.
