Geocoding for North America

SFAQ (Selected Frequently Asked Questions)

What is the geocoding accuracy? We generally return two types of geocoding results, Rooftop / Parcel Geocoding and Street Interpolation Geocoding. (The other types are based on postal/zip codes, city/neighborhood names, ip addresses, etc).

Rooftop / Parcel Geocoding is the most precise Geocoding methodology because it returns an exact match to a single address point (normally placed at the center of the "roof" of the property/parcel, hence "Rooftop".)
Street Interpolation Geocoding works by estimating a location in a known address range, a method also known as address intepolation. The geocoding algorithm matches an address to a street and a specific segment then interpolates the position within that segment. Since this is an approximation, this method is generally less accurate than the "Rooftop" method.

As of Feb 11, 2020 over 70% of the geocoding requests we receive return Rooftop results with Confidence Score = 1.
Interpolated results have a maximum Confidence Score of 0.9.
for Example:

2525 Olympic ST, SPRINGFIELD, OR 97477 (Rooftop)
2524 Olympic ST, SPRINGFIELD, OR 97477 (Interpolated)

How can I use it? Use the free API or Create an account for batch geocoding and premium api access. (see the services page or read the XML api docs.)

Geocode USA and Canada — addresses, intersections, postal/ZIP, IP, latitude,longitude, locations

Output format

https://geocoder.ca/?locate=…

Also: Autocomplete · Geoparse · Batch Geocode · Address verification

API access

For developers & applications

One HTTPS endpoint for forward, reverse, postal, geoparse and autocomplete. Returns XML, JSON, JSONP or CSV. Reading your first result in minutes.

✓ Forward, reverse & postal lookups
✓ Batch tools, polygons, census enrichment
✓ Pay-as-you-go or subscription

Create an API account Read the docs →

Data products

For teams who want the dataset

License the Canadian & U.S. address and postal database. Run it on your own servers with no per-call billing and no caching restrictions — the data is yours.

✓ Downloadable address & postal data
✓ Self-hosted, offline-capable
✓ Flat, predictable cost

Create a data account See pricing →

What it does

One endpoint, the full toolkit

Everything in the examples, grouped by what you'd actually reach for.

Forward

Address, postal/ZIP or intersection → coordinates.

Reverse

Latitude, longitude → nearest address & corner.

Postal / ZIP

Full 6-character Canadian postal & US ZIP+4 lookup.

Autocomplete

As-you-type suggestions. Demo →

Geoparse

Pull locations out of free text. Try it →

Batch & polygons

batchpostal, showaddrs, postal-in-polygon, getpolygon.

Places (POIs)

Nearest points of interest with reverse lookups.

Census data

Enrich results with StatsCan census attributes.

Run it your way

Hosted, on AWS, or fully in-house

The same geocoder, wherever your data needs to live.

☁️

Hosted API

Call geocoder.ca directly. Nothing to run, scales with you.
API docs →

🟧

AWS Marketplace

Launch your own Geocoder.ca server as an AMI in your AWS account.
Get the AMI →

🗄️

Local database

License the dataset and run it entirely on your own infrastructure.
Data products →