What is a tracking number?

A tracking number is the code a carrier gives a parcel so you can follow it from pickup to your door. Every carrier writes its numbers in its own pattern. UPS numbers start with 1Z, FedEx Express numbers have 12 digits, and the USPS numbers on most parcels have 22 digits and start with 9. Most formats end in a check digit, calculated from the other characters, which catches typos.

International mail uses the S10 format of the Universal Postal Union: two letters for the service, eight digits, a check digit and the two letter code of the country whose post office sent it.

Tool description

Paste a tracking number from a shipping email or label. The tool shows the carrier, the number format, the service when the number names one, and whether the check digit is right. Spaces, dashes and lowercase letters don't matter.

For UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL and OnTrac numbers, the Open tracking page button opens the carrier's tracking page with the number filled in. Amazon shows its parcels in Your Orders instead.

For S10 numbers, the tool shows the flag and name of the sending country and its post office. There's no single tracking page for these, so look the number up on the website of that post office, or on the website of your own post office once the parcel reaches your country.

The tool goes by the pattern and the check digit only. It can't tell whether a parcel exists or where it is right now. Detection uses the ts-tracking-number library, which is based on the tracking_number_data project.

Features

  • Recognizes UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL, OnTrac, Amazon and international postal numbers
  • Checks the check digit to catch typos
  • Opens the carrier's tracking page, or shows the sending country of international mail with its flag