ShowIP.net Public IP and request tools

Guide

Public vs Private IP Addresses

A public IP can be reached on the internet. A private IP is used inside a local network and is not routed directly across the public internet.

Last reviewed: June 12, 2026

Check the public IP

Quick reference

Common local and special ranges

10.0.0.0/8
Private IPv4 space often used by organizations, VPNs, and larger home networks.
172.16.0.0/12
Private IPv4 space from 172.16.0.0 through 172.31.255.255.
192.168.0.0/16
Private IPv4 space commonly used by home routers.
100.64.0.0/10
Shared carrier-grade NAT space used by service providers; not the same as RFC1918 private space.
169.254.0.0/16
IPv4 link-local addresses used on a local link when normal configuration is unavailable.
fc00::/7
IPv6 unique local address space for local networks.

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Guide

Private ranges

Private addresses are common on home, office, and container networks. They let many devices share one public address through NAT.

If your laptop says it has 192.168.1.20, a website will usually see the public address of your router, VPN, or upstream gateway instead.

Guide

Why this matters

Public/private differences explain why a local device address rarely matches the address shown by a public IP checker.

They also explain why geolocation, ASN, and network owner information normally describe the internet-facing network rather than a private device.

Reference

Key terms

NAT
Network Address Translation
RFC1918
Common IPv4 private address ranges
ULA
Unique Local Address range for IPv6

Examples

Examples

Next steps

Related guides and tools

What is an IP address? Review the difference between the request address and local device addresses. Find your local IP address Check the private IP on common desktop and mobile systems. CIDR notation explained Understand the private ranges as network prefixes. Your IP address Check the public address visible to internet services.

Questions

FAQ

Why is my local IP different from ShowIP?

ShowIP sees the address that reaches the website. Your computer may have a private local address that is translated by a router or VPN before traffic reaches the internet.

Can a private IP be looked up globally?

No. Private ranges are reused by many networks, so they do not identify one public internet location.

Sources

References

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