How to identify a tracking number

The format of a tracking number tells you who is carrying the parcel. This guide explains the main patterns so you can recognise them at a glance.

The UPU standard: two letters, nine digits, two letters

Numbers like RR123456789CN follow the S10 standard set by the Universal Postal Union. Every postal operator in the world uses it, which is why it is by far the most common format for cross-border mail.

It encodes three things:

Part	Example	Meaning
First letter	R	Service class — R is registered, E is express, C is parcel, U is unregistered
Second letter	R	Assigned by the operator; no fixed meaning across countries
Nine digits	123456789	Serial number, including a check digit
Last two letters	CN	Country of origin — CN China, HK Hong Kong, FR France, DE Germany

So a number ending in CN started its journey in mainland China, and one ending in HK in Hong Kong.

Carrier-specific formats

Private carriers use their own numbering, which makes them easy to identify:

Pattern	Carrier	Notes
Two letters + 9 digits + CN	China Post	RR123456789CN
LP + 14 to 16 digits	Cainiao	LP00432158761234
Two letters + 9 digits + HK	Hongkong Post	RB123456789HK
YT + 11 to 16 digits	Yanwen	YT2012345678901
4PX or LZ prefix, followed by 10 to 20 alphanumeric characters	4PX	4PX3001234567890
10 digits (Express), or JJD / JVGL prefix (eCommerce)	DHL	1234567890
1Z + 16 alphanumeric characters	UPS	1Z999AA10123456784
12, 15 or 20 digits	FedEx	123456789012
20 to 22 digits, or UPU format ending in US	USPS	9400111899223197428490
Two letters + 9 digits + GB	Royal Mail	RM123456789GB
12 to 20 digits, or UPU format ending in DE	Deutsche Post	RA123456789DE
16 digits, or UPU format ending in CA	Canada Post	1234567890123456
Alphanumeric, 12 to 14 characters, or UPU format ending in AU	Australia Post	AA123456789AU
Two letters + 9 digits + JP	Japan Post	EE123456789JP
Two letters + 9 digits + KR	Korea Post	EE123456789KR
Two letters + 9 digits + SG	Singapore Post	RB123456789SG
Two letters + 9 digits + IN	India Post	EE123456789IN
12 to 15 digits, often prefixed SF	SF Express	SF1234567890123
JT + 12 to 16 digits	J&T Express	JT1234567890123456
11 to 14 digits	GLS	12345678901
14 digits	DPD	01234567890123
13 characters, usually starting 6A or 8R, or UPU format ending in FR	Colissimo	6A12345678901
8 digits, occasionally 10 to 12	Mondial Relay	12345678
16 digits	Evri	1234567890123456
Two letters + 9 digits + ES, or 13-19 alphanumeric characters	Correos	RR123456789ES
Two letters + 9 digits + IT, or 12-13 digits for SDA	Poste Italiane	RR123456789IT
3S + 9-13 digits, or UPU format ending in NL	PostNL	3SABCD1234567
18 digits, or UPU format ending in CH	Swiss Post	RR123456789CH
Two letters + 9 digits + FI, or 14-20 digits	Posti	RR123456789FI
Two letters + 9 digits + CZ	Česká pošta	RR123456789CZ
9-24 alphanumeric characters	InPost	620123456789012345
Two letters + 9 digits + RU, or 14 digits domestically	Russian Post	RA123456789RU
Two letters + 9 digits + TR, or 13 digits	PTT	RR123456789TR
10-12 digits	Aramex	12345678901
Two letters + 9 digits + BR	Correios	RR123456789BR
Two letters + 9 digits + NZ, or 13 alphanumeric characters	NZ Post	RR123456789NZ

Common points of confusion

The carrier changes mid-journey. Cross-border parcels are usually handed to the destination country's postal operator for the last mile. Seeing a different carrier name near the end is normal.
Tracking goes quiet for a week or two. Between the departure scan in the origin country and the arrival scan in the destination, there is often no scan at all. The parcel is on a plane or a ship, not lost.
The same parcel has two numbers. Consolidators issue their own reference and the postal operator issues another. Both can be valid; the postal one usually has more detail once the parcel arrives.
The number is not recognised yet. A number becomes trackable when the carrier first scans the parcel, not when the label is printed. That can take one to three days.

Still not sure?

Paste the number on the home page. Detection is automatic, and if the format does not match anything known you will be told rather than left waiting.