Des Moines ZIP codes: US ZIP code list for Des Moines, Iowa (IA)
Quick answer
Des Moines, Iowa has 10 US ZIP codes, running 50309 to 50320 inside Polk County. Each carries the same 7% combined sales tax rate. ZIP boundaries are postal delivery routes, not tax boundaries — a code that crosses a city or district line can hold more than one rate, so destination-based sellers should validate by full street address.
- ZIP codes
- 10Median covered metro: 12
- Number span
- 1250309 to 50320
- Sorting prefixes
- 503USPS sectional centers
- Sales tax
- 7%Same in every listed code
Des Moines ZIP code footprint
How Des Moines's ZIP footprint compares with national norms.
10 ZIP codes are listed for Des Moines, covering a population of 210,381. They span 12 numbers, 50309 through 50320. The median covered metro on this site lists 12 codes; Des Moines ranks 55 of 94 by count. Large metros carry more codes because USPS splits a delivery area once carrier volume outgrows one route cluster, not because the city is geographically bigger.
All 10 codes share the 503 prefix. That first trio is the sectional center facility — the USPS plant that sorts mail for the region — so every piece addressed to Des Moines passes through one facility. The range runs 50309 to 50320.
ZIP boundaries are carrier routes, not city limits. USPS redraws them when delivery volume shifts; Iowa redraws tax and municipal lines on a different schedule entirely. A Des Moines mailing address does not prove an address sits inside Des Moines city limits, and a single code can straddle the boundary.
ZIP codes in Des Moines
All within Polk County, Iowa.
Why ZIP-based rate lookup is unreliable
USPS redraws ZIP codes when carrier routes change. Tax jurisdictions move with annexations, county lines and voter-approved districts. The two never line up. In Iowa, local jurisdictions set their own increments, so remote sellers should validate the full delivery address against the Iowa Department of Revenue lookup at the time of sale.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this area.
- How many ZIP codes does Des Moines have?
- 10. They run from 50309 to 50320 across 1 sectional center prefix (503), spanning 12 numbers.
- What is the first ZIP code in Des Moines, IA?
- 50309 is the lowest-numbered code serving Des Moines. Numbering runs roughly northeast to west nationally, so Des Moines's 503 prefix reflects its position in the Iowa sorting network, not its size.
- Do all Des Moines ZIP codes have the same sales tax rate?
- Inside Des Moines city limits, yes — 7% applies. A code that extends past the city line can carry a different rate on part of its territory. Validate by street address, not ZIP, when the sale is destination-based. Confirm current rates with your state revenue agency before filing.
Des Moines sales tax breakdown and calculator
More Des Moines data
Other Des Moines datasets on this site.
- Des Moines population and income
- Des Moines sales tax rate
- Des Moines property tax
- Des Moines cost of living
- Des Moines home values and rent
- Des Moines crime rates
- Des Moines public schools
- Des Moines weather normals
- Des Moines commute times
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