To check whether a pin code is serviceable by courier in India, enter the 6-digit pin code into the tool below. The lookup returns a carrier-by-carrier matrix — DHL Express, FedEx, DTDC, Bluedart, Delhivery, India Post, Aramex, and CourierBook — showing which deliver to that pin, whether COD is supported, the delivery TAT, and whether an ODA (Out of Delivery Area) surcharge applies. India has roughly 19,000 active pin codes across 28 states and 8 UTs.
How to Check Pin Code Serviceability
The widget runs the lookup as you type. Three steps:
- Enter the 6-digit pin code. The tool validates against the standard PIN regex and resolves city, state, and district from India Post’s pin directory.
- See the carrier matrix. Each row shows a carrier, whether they serve the pin, COD availability, expected TAT in days, and any ODA surcharge.
- Click to book the best option. The “Book now” button opens the lead form pre-filled with the destination pin and the selected carrier.
If you need pricing alongside serviceability, see the instant quote guide — it walks through the rate-comparison flow once serviceability is confirmed.
Indian Pin Code Structure (So You Know What You’re Entering)
The 6-digit PIN encodes geography:
- First digit = postal region (1, 2 = Northern; 3, 4 = Western; 5, 6 = Southern; 7, 8 = Eastern; 9 = Army Postal Service)
- Second digit = sub-region within the region
- Third digit = sorting district
- Last three digits = specific post office
Worked example: 110001 = 1 (Northern) → 1 (Delhi sub-region) → 0 (Central Delhi sorting) → 001 (Connaught Place head post office). The India Post pin directory is the source of truth — verify city/state resolution against it when the tool’s data looks off. Delhi’s standard range is 110001-110099 for South and Central Delhi; the Delhi city page covers pickup across the NCR pin range.
Why Some Pin Codes Show ODA (Out of Delivery Area) Surcharge
ODA pins are areas where the carrier doesn’t have direct delivery infrastructure — they hand off to a sub-contractor or last-mile partner. Typical ODA surcharges:
- Domestic ODA: ₹50-150 per parcel
- International ODA: ₹500-1,500 per parcel
Common ODA zones: rural North-East states, Himalayan villages, Andaman & Nicobar outer islands, parts of Lakshadweep, certain J&K and Ladakh pins. ODA surcharges are sometimes invoiced after delivery (not at booking) — confirm before you ship high-value. For the broader fee picture, see hidden fees in international door-to-door shipping and the regional shipping strategy guide.
COD-Supported Pin Codes (and Why Some Aren’t)
Roughly 17,500 of India’s ~19,000 active pin codes support Cash-on-Delivery via at least one carrier. The exceptions:
- Some defence zones (Army Postal Service pins)
- Certain remote tehsils where COD cash-collection logistics aren’t viable
- All international inbound shipments — COD is a domestic-only construct
COD upper limits typically sit at ₹50,000 for most carriers, with ₹2 lakh available on select B2B contracts. The serviceability matrix flags COD support per carrier per pin so you can pick a COD-enabled carrier even when the cheapest option doesn’t support it. For the cost-side trade-off, see comparing courier rates strategy guide.
International Outbound: Which Pin Codes Have Which Carriers
For sending FROM India, international pickup coverage varies by carrier:
- DHL Express pickup: ~10,000 pin codes (widest reach)
- FedEx pickup: ~9,000 pin codes
- Aramex pickup: ~7,500 pin codes
For pins outside pickup coverage, drop the parcel at the nearest carrier centre — each carrier publishes a drop-off list. Toggle “International outbound” in the tool to filter the carrier matrix to international-capable carriers for the pin you entered. If your pin returns no international option, the instant rate comparison flow shows the closest carrier centre.
When the Tool Says “Pin Not Found”
Two reasons a valid pin returns nothing:
- Dataset lag. New pins or recently restructured pins (post-redistricting, post-municipality changes) may not yet be in the carrier serviceability files. Carriers refresh quarterly; this tool follows.
- Restricted / military zone. Army Postal Service pins (starting with 9) and certain defence zones have limited public-carrier access. Try the city-level lookup or contact India Post — the only carrier with universal access.
The fallback CTA at the bottom of the widget opens the lead form so the ops team can route the shipment via a specialised carrier where appropriate.
The official India Post pin code search is at indiapost.gov.in{target="_blank" rel=“noopener nofollow”}, and DGFT’s pin code-based exporter registry is at dgft.gov.in{target="_blank" rel=“noopener nofollow”} — useful when checking export-eligible pins.
Serviceability data is indicative and updated quarterly. Final confirmation at booking time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a pin code is serviceable by courier in India?
Enter the 6-digit pin code into the tool above. The lookup returns a matrix showing which carriers (DHL, FedEx, DTDC, Bluedart, Delhivery, India Post, Aramex) serve that pin, whether COD is supported, the expected delivery TAT, and whether an Out of Delivery Area (ODA) surcharge applies.
Why is my pin code not found in the serviceability tool?
Either the pin is newer than the dataset’s last refresh, or the pin is in a restricted/military zone. Try the city-level lookup or contact us — for restricted pins, we coordinate via India Post or specialised carriers with the right credentials.
What is ODA surcharge and which pin codes attract it?
ODA (Out of Delivery Area) surcharge is an extra fee carriers apply when delivering to areas without direct infrastructure — typically remote, rural, or hill regions. Domestic ODA is usually ₹50-150 per parcel; international ODA can be ₹500-1,500. The tool flags ODA per carrier per pin.
Which pin codes support Cash on Delivery (COD)?
Roughly 17,500 of India’s ~19,000 active pin codes support COD via at least one carrier. COD is typically unavailable in defence zones, some remote tehsils, and for international inbound shipments. The COD column in the lookup matrix tells you carrier-by-carrier.
Can I send international shipments from any pin code in India?
Outbound international pickup is limited to roughly 7,000-10,000 pin codes depending on the carrier — DHL Express has the widest pickup coverage, followed by FedEx and Aramex. For non-pickup pins, drop the parcel at the nearest carrier centre. Toggle International outbound in the tool to filter.
What does the pin code structure mean — first digit, second digit?
India’s 6-digit PIN: first digit is the postal region (1-2 Northern, 3-4 Western, 5-6 Southern, 7-8 Eastern, 9 Army Postal Service); second is sub-region; third is sorting district; last three are post office. For example, 110001 is Delhi, Connaught Place head post office.
How often is the serviceability data updated?
Carriers update their delivery pin lists quarterly on average. This tool’s dataset is refreshed against each carrier’s published serviceability file at least once per quarter. The data shown is indicative — for high-value or time-critical shipments, confirm at the time of booking.
Wrapping Up
Once you know serviceability, the next steps are rate and pickup. For the broader cost picture, see the shipping cost calculator India guide. To book pickup to any serviceable pin with live rates from 8+ carriers, book pickup with CourierBook in 60 seconds.