Postal Codes in Alberta
Alberta's postal codes cover a province built on energy wealth, wide-open prairie, and the dramatic backdrop of the Canadian Rockies along its western edge. With around 4.7 million residents, Alberta's population concentrates heavily in two rival major cities - Calgary and Edmonton - each with a distinct economic identity and a friendly, long-running civic rivalry.
How Postal Codes Are Organized Across the Province
Like the rest of Canada, Alberta's postal codes follow the alphanumeric format used nationwide, with the first letter identifying the province or region. Alberta uses the letter "T" as its leading character, so every Alberta postal code starts with T, followed by a mix of numbers and letters that narrow down to increasingly specific areas - Calgary's codes generally start with T2 and T3, while Edmonton's fall under T5 and T6.
Alberta's Major Cities by Population
The chart below shows how population splits between Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta's two dominant cities, with Red Deer forming a smaller but significant third hub.
Calgary's postal codes cover Alberta's largest city, historically the headquarters hub for the Canadian oil and gas industry, alongside a growing tech and finance sector that has helped diversify the local economy in recent years. Edmonton, the provincial capital, carries a strong government and manufacturing presence, along with a reputation as the "Gateway to the North" for its role supplying Alberta's more remote resource-extraction communities. For a broader comparison, our full ZIP and postal code directory shows how Alberta's system fits alongside other regions we cover.
Fort McMurray and the Oil Sands
Northern Alberta is home to the Athabasca oil sands, one of the largest petroleum resource deposits in the world, and Fort McMurray has grown into a significant regional hub supporting this industry despite its relatively remote location. Postal codes here reflect a boom-and-bust economic pattern tied closely to global oil prices, with population swings that can be dramatic compared to more stable urban centers further south.
Southern Alberta and the Rockies
Southern Alberta, near the border with Montana, blends ranching country with dramatic mountain scenery around Banff and Jasper national parks, two of the most visited destinations in all of Canada. Postal codes in these mountain towns see significant seasonal tourism, with both winter skiing and summer hiking drawing visitors from around the world.
Why Postal Codes Matter Beyond Mail
In Alberta, postal codes carry particular significance for the energy industry, given the province's status as the center of Canada's oil and gas sector - companies rely on postal-code-level data extensively for workforce and logistics planning, especially around Fort McMurray and the oil sands region. Calgary's growing tech sector uses postal codes for site selection and talent recruitment. And Alberta's lack of a provincial sales tax continues to influence real estate and business location decisions across the province.
Finding the Right Postal Code
Use the list below to browse Alberta's postal codes by city, region, or population - sorted so the most populous areas surface first. Each entry links through to a detailed page with additional demographic data. If you're trying to identify the postal code for a specific address rather than browsing by city, the search tool at the top of this page will get you there faster than scrolling through the full list.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many postal codes does Alberta have?
Alberta has thousands of postal codes, concentrated most heavily around Calgary and Edmonton, with far fewer covering the province's rural and northern resource regions.
What letter do Alberta postal codes start with?
Alberta postal codes all begin with the letter T, part of Canada's national alphanumeric postal code system.
Which Alberta city has the most postal codes?
Calgary and Edmonton together account for the vast majority of Alberta's postal codes, given how heavily the province's population concentrates in these two cities.
Can I look up an Alberta postal code by city name?
Yes, use the search tool on this page or browse the full list below, which is organized by city and sorted by population.
Whether you're relocating to Calgary or Edmonton, researching property near Banff, or simply trying to pin down the right postal code for a specific Alberta address, the data below covers every corner of the province.