How to read a tracking number
Quick answer
The format usually tells you the carrier: UPS numbers start with 1Z, Amazon with TBA, USPS numbers are often 20 to 22 digits starting with 9, FedEx numbers are usually 12 or 15 digits, and DHL Express uses 10 digits. Enter the number on that carrier’s official website or app to see where your package is.
A tracking number is a package’s ID. Once you know which company it belongs to, you can follow every scan from the warehouse to your door.
Which carrier is it?
| Carrier | Common format | Example pattern |
|---|---|---|
| UPS | Starts with 1Z, 18 characters | 1Z 999 AA1 01 2345 6784 |
| USPS | Usually 20–22 digits, often starting with 9 | 9400 1000 0000 0000 0000 00 |
| FedEx | Usually 12 or 15 digits | 1234 5678 9012 |
| DHL Express | Usually 10 digits | 12 3456 7890 |
| Amazon Logistics | Starts with TBA | TBA123456789012 |
Formats can vary, especially for international shipments, which often look like two letters, nine digits and a country code, such as RA123456789US.
What the tracking statuses mean
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Label created | The sender has printed the label, but the carrier may not have the package yet |
| In transit | It’s moving between facilities |
| Out for delivery | It’s on the truck and should arrive today |
| Delivered | The carrier has marked it delivered, sometimes with a photo |
| Exception / Delayed | Something interrupted delivery, such as weather or a wrong address |
If a package says delivered but isn’t there, check around your door and with neighbors, wait a day (scans are sometimes early), then contact the carrier.
Mailing something yourself? Here’s how much a stamp costs today.
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