Find your soil type by ZIP code in 3 steps: enter your ZIP at websoilsurvey.usda.gov, select your property area, and read the soil series map. Your USDA hardiness zone (check at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov) tells you which plants survive your winters — your soil type tells you which plants thrive in your specific ground conditions.
How to Find Your Soil Type by ZIP Code
- Go to USDA Web Soil Survey (websoilsurvey.usda.gov) — free, official government tool with data for every county in the continental US
- Enter your address or ZIP code in the Area of Interest panel and navigate to your property
- Draw your area using the polygon or rectangle tool
- Click Soil Map tab — the colored regions show different soil map units
- Click Soil Data Explorer > Soil Properties for texture, drainage class, pH, and depth to restrictive layer
USDA Soil Texture Classification
| Soil Type | Feel Test | Drainage | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand | Gritty, doesn't stick | Excellent (too fast) | Cacti, succulents, lavender, root vegetables |
| Sandy loam | Slightly gritty, barely sticks | Good | Most vegetables, herbs, fruiting plants |
| Loam | Smooth, slightly sticky, ribbons weakly | Ideal | Almost everything — the gardener's ideal |
| Clay loam | Sticky, ribbons 1-2 inches | Moderate-slow | Roses, shrubs, fruit trees with amendment |
| Clay | Very sticky, ribbons 2+ inches | Poor | Native plants, ornamental grasses (adapted) |
| Silt | Flour-like, smooth | Moderate | Wide variety with pH adjustment |
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: What They Tell You
The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (updated November 2023) divides the US into 13 zones based on average annual minimum winter temperatures. Zones shift by 10°F per zone. The 2023 update moved approximately 9.6% of the country to a warmer zone compared to the 2012 map.
| Zone | Avg Minimum Temp | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 5 | -20°F to -10°F | Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis |
| Zone 6 | -10°F to 0°F | St. Louis, Philadelphia, Washington DC |
| Zone 7 | 0°F to 10°F | Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle |
| Zone 8 | 10°F to 20°F | Houston, San Francisco, Charlotte |
| Zone 9 | 20°F to 30°F | Los Angeles, Phoenix, Jacksonville |
| Zone 10 | 30°F to 40°F | Miami, Key West, parts of Hawaii |
How Soil Type and Hardiness Zone Work Together
A plant that "thrives in Zone 7" may still fail in Zone 7 clay soil because of drainage. The hardiness zone tells you about cold survival. Your soil type tells you about root health, water availability, and nutrient access. For complete plant selection guidance, you need both pieces of information.
Example: Blueberries are rated for Zones 4-7. But they require acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5) with excellent drainage. Plant them in Zone 6 clay soil at pH 6.5 and they'll survive the winters but decline from root rot and nutrient deficiency.
Quick Soil pH by ZIP Code
USDA Web Soil Survey provides measured pH ranges for each soil series. As a general guide by region:
- Pacific Northwest: 5.5-6.5 (acidic, heavy rainfall leaches nutrients)
- Northeast: 5.0-6.5 (acidic forests, historically glaciated)
- Southeast: 5.5-6.5 (acidic, sandy or clay soils)
- Midwest: 6.0-7.5 (near neutral, high-productivity cropland)
- Southwest: 7.0-8.5 (alkaline, low rainfall, calcareous)
- Great Plains: 6.5-7.5 (near neutral to slightly alkaline)
Read our vegetable garden soil guide and soil amendments guide for improving any soil type.
FAQ
How do I find my soil type by ZIP code?
Use USDA Web Soil Survey (websoilsurvey.usda.gov). Enter your address, draw your area, and read the Soil Map + Data Explorer for texture, drainage, and pH.
What is the most common soil type in the US?
Loam and clay loam are the most common agricultural soils in the continental US. Sandy soils dominate the Southeast coastal plains. Clay soils are prevalent in the Pacific Coast and Eastern Midwest.
How does soil type affect plant selection?
Soil drainage determines root oxygen availability. pH affects nutrient solubility. Texture determines water retention. Together they determine which plants thrive vs survive vs die in your specific conditions.