Russia Postcode: Six Digits and How to Use Them in an Address
A Russian postcode (in Russian, indeks) is a six-digit number with no letters or spaces, for example 190000 or 196084. The first three digits identify the region or a large city's postal area, and the last three identify the specific post office that serves the address. Saint Petersburg postcodes begin with 19, which is a quick way to check that an address you were given is really in the city.
Customers from abroad often call our shops with an address copied from a letter or a messenger chat and ask whether the postcode is enough for the flowers to arrive. For post it is essential; for a courier it is a useful check but not the main thing. Below we explain how Russian postcodes are built, how to write a full Russian address correctly, and which details a flower courier really needs.
How a Russian postcode is built
Russian postcodes were introduced in their six-digit form in the 1970s and are still used by Russian Post today. The structure is hierarchical: the first three digits point to a region, a republic or a large city, and the remaining three narrow it down to one post office. In big cities the first three digits differ from district to district, so two addresses in the same city can have quite different codes.
Saint Petersburg codes run from 190 to 199 at the start, for example 191 for parts of the historic centre and 196 or 198 for southern and south-western districts. Moscow codes mostly start with 1, such as 101 to 129. Codes for the Leningrad Region around Saint Petersburg start with 18, which helps when someone says they live 'in Petersburg' but actually lives in a suburb.
A postcode never contains letters, and it is always written as one block of six digits without a space or dash. If you see five or seven digits, or a code with a letter in it, something has been copied wrongly. It is worth checking such an address with the recipient before using it for a parcel or a delivery.
How to write an address in Russia
Russian addresses traditionally go from the largest unit to the smallest: postcode, region, city, street, house number, flat. Under the current Russian Post rules you can also write it the way much of Europe does, starting with the recipient's name, then street, house and flat, then the town, the region and the postcode at the end. Both forms are understood, as long as each element is clear and nothing is missing.
A typical Saint Petersburg address for a letter from abroad looks like this: recipient's full name; street name, house number, building number if there is one, flat number; Saint Petersburg; postcode; RUSSIA. Write the country in capitals in English on the last line so that the post office in your own country routes the item correctly. The rest of the address can be in Russian or in Latin letters.
Two parts confuse foreign senders most often. 'Dom' is the house number and 'kvartira' is the flat, while 'korpus' or 'stroenie' is a building number inside a larger block of houses with the same street number. Leaving out the korpus is a common reason why letters and couriers end up at the wrong entrance of a large residential complex.
Bouquets we can deliver
Common mistakes with Russian addresses
The most frequent mistake we see is a postcode from the recipient's old address. People move within a city, and relatives abroad keep the code from years ago in their notes. The street may be correct while the postcode belongs to a different district, which slows post and confuses anyone checking the address.
The second is mixing up the city and the region. Towns such as Pushkin, Kolpino or Peterhof are administratively part of Saint Petersburg and have Saint Petersburg postcodes, while Gatchina or Vsevolozhsk, just as close, belong to the Leningrad Region. Write the town name exactly as the recipient uses it, together with the postcode, and the address will be read correctly.
What a flower courier needs besides the postcode
A courier does not navigate by postcode; the postcode only confirms the district. What the courier needs is the street, house number, korpus if there is one, entrance number (podezd), floor, flat number and the entry code for the door or gate. In Saint Petersburg many older buildings have courtyards entered through an arch, so a note such as 'second courtyard, door on the left' saves real time.
The recipient's phone number is just as important as the address. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, which gives them time to come down or open the gate. If the number is wrong or switched off, even a perfect address will not help, so check it with a family member if you are not sure.
For offices, add the company name, the floor and the name of the reception or security desk. Business centres often have one entrance for visitors and another for deliveries, and staff at the desk may sign for flowers on the recipient's behalf only if they know who the bouquet is for.
Finding the right postcode when you only know the street
If your recipient gave you a street and house number but no postcode, Russian Post has an official online search by address, and it is the most reliable source. Map services also show postcodes for many buildings. Avoid taking a code from a random listing for the same street, because long streets in Saint Petersburg cross several postal areas and the code can change halfway along.
Another simple method is to ask the recipient to look at any utility bill or official letter they have received at home. Russian bills always print the full postal address with the postcode at the top. This also helps you get the exact spelling of the street, which can differ from how it is written in English transliteration.
Keep a saved copy of the full address in the original Russian once you have it. Transliteration varies, and 'Srednerogatskaya', 'Srednerogatskaja' and 'Srednerogatskaia' all refer to the same street. When you place an order or send a parcel, the Russian spelling removes any doubt.
Sending flowers to an address in Russia
We are Pyat Tsvetov (5 Flowers), and since 2011 we have run three of our own flower shops in Saint Petersburg, on Ilyushina Street, Obvodny Canal Embankment and Srednerogatskaya Street. We deliver flowers across Russia. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order, and this is exactly where a correct postcode and town name help.
In large cities express delivery takes 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed. You can also choose an exact time with a margin of 30 minutes, a window of 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21, or pre-order from 1 to 30 days ahead. In Saint Petersburg delivery runs around the clock. If the recipient is not at home, we agree a second delivery the same day or leave the flowers with a neighbour or concierge with your consent.
Delivery is anonymous by default and the courier does not name the sender, so sign the card if you want to be recognised; the card with your text is free. Payment is online on the site by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa. Choose a bouquet in our catalogue, read the terms on the delivery and payment page, and call 8 (812) 507-67-05 if you want to check an address with us.
Frequently asked questions
How many digits does a Russian postcode have?
Six digits, written as one block without spaces or letters. The first three identify the region or city area, the last three the post office.
What is the postcode for Saint Petersburg?
There is no single code for the whole city. Saint Petersburg postcodes start with 190 to 199 and depend on the district and the post office serving the building.
Where does the postcode go in a Russian address?
Traditionally it comes first, before the region and city. Under current Russian Post rules it can also go at the end, after the town and region; both forms are accepted.
Do I need a postcode to send flowers in Russia?
The courier works from the street address, entrance, floor, flat and the recipient's phone number. A postcode helps confirm the district, which is useful for suburbs and remote areas.
What should I do if I am not sure the address is right?
Ask the recipient to check a utility bill, which shows the full address with postcode. You can also call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05 before placing an order.
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