Canada Postal Code Format Explained — A1A 1A1 FSA & LDU System
Canada has one of the most precise postal code systems in the world. A Canadian postal code is a six-character, alphanumeric string in the pattern A1A 1A1 — for example K1A 0B1, the code for Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Each code narrows mail down to roughly one side of one city block.
The Two Halves: FSA and LDU
| Part | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| FSA (Forward Sortation Area) | K1A | First 3 characters — region and sorting facility |
| LDU (Local Delivery Unit) | 0B1 | Last 3 characters — specific delivery area |
The First Letter: Province or Region
| First Letter | Province / Region | Example |
|---|---|---|
| K, L, M, N, P | Ontario | M5V (Toronto) |
| H | Quebec (Montreal) | H2Y (Montreal) |
| V | British Columbia | V6B (Vancouver) |
| T | Alberta | T2P (Calgary) |
| R | Manitoba | R3C (Winnipeg) |
| S | Saskatchewan | S4P (Regina) |
| B | Nova Scotia | B3J (Halifax) |
| E | New Brunswick | E3B (Fredericton) |
| A | Newfoundland and Labrador | A1A (St. John's) |
| C | Prince Edward Island | C1A (Charlottetown) |
| X | Nunavut / Northwest Territories | X0A |
| Y | Yukon | Y1A (Whitehorse) |
Rules Worth Knowing
- Letters D, F, I, O, Q and U are never used — too easy to confuse with digits.
- A 0 as the second character of the FSA means a rural or remote delivery area.
- Always write the code in uppercase with a single space between FSA and LDU.
🍁 Looking Up a Canadian Postal Code?
Search cities across every Canadian province and territory — free and instant.
Search Canada Postal Codes →