Guide: How to address an envelope
Most communication these days might be digital. But text messages, emails and video chats can’t always replace traditional mail.
Sending a handwritten thank-you note, birthday card, invitation or letter might mean more. Maybe you have to mail a check. Whatever the case, if you’re sending snail mail, you’ll want to make sure it gets to the right person at the correct address.
What you’ll learn:
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When sending an envelope, it’s important to include the sender’s full name and address, the recipient’s full name and address, and any postage.
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The sender’s name and address generally go in the top left corner of the envelope; the recipient’s name and address should be in the lower center of the envelope.
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Postage goes in the top right corner of the envelope.
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Formatting might change slightly when you’re sending mail to international addresses, P.O. Boxes and military recipients.
Addressing an envelope, step by step
There are just a few steps to addressing an envelope correctly. You’ll put the sender’s name and return address on the top left corner and the recipient’s name and mailing address in the lower center. And you’ll typically place a stamp on it in the top right corner. All these generally go on the same flat side of the envelope. The order of the steps doesn’t really matter—as long as you complete them.
Here’s a breakdown of the steps you’ll take to address an envelope:
1. Add the sender’s return address on the envelope
You can write, type or add a label with the sender’s return address in the top left corner of the envelope.
Here’s the order, from top to bottom, in which you’ll add the sender’s information:
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Full name
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Business’s or organization’s name, if applicable
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Street address, including apartment or condo number, or P.O. Box number
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City, state and ZIP code
2. Add the recipient’s mailing address
The recipient’s mailing address is formatted similarly to the sender’s address. But it’s placed toward the center of the envelope in this order.
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Full name, which might include a title (such as “Dr.” or “Mrs.”) for formal mail. You may also want to add “Attn:” or “c/o” to direct the mail to a specific person.
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Business’s or organization’s name, if applicable
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Street address, including apartment or condo number, or P.O. Box number (If all the information can’t fit, the U.S. Postal Service advises putting the apartment number on a line above the street address—not below.)
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City, state and ZIP code
3. Add a stamp
As of publication for this article, postage for a standard-sized rectangular envelope starts at 78 cents. Prices go up depending on the weight and shape of the envelope. The Postal Service (USPS) has information to help calculate the amount of postage you’ll need.
4. Drop it in the mail
Once you’ve addressed your envelope, you’re ready to mail it. To do so, you might:
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Leave it in your mailbox and indicate it’s ready to be picked up by raising the attached flag, if you have one.
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Take it to the post office.
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Drop it in an official blue collection box.
Addressing envelopes with other formatting
Addressing an envelope can be pretty standard, but there are some situations when the format can vary.
How to write a military address on an envelope
To address an envelope to a military address, include the recipient’s information in this order:
- Full name, including their rank
- Postal service center (PSC) number, unit number or ship name
- Military designation (instead of city and state), followed by a two-letter code and the ZIP code.
Military designations are:
- Army and Air Force Post Office (APO)
- U.S. Navy Fleet Post Office (FPO)
- Diplomatic Post Office (DPO)
The two-letter abbreviations that replace the state are:
- AA for Armed Forces of the Americas
- AE for Armed Forces of Europe or
- AP for Armed Forces of the Pacific
Here’s an example from the USPS of what that might look like:
Sgt. John Smith
Unit 2340, Box 132
APO AE 09350
How to address an international envelope
To address an envelope that you’re mailing internationally, the key difference is that you’ll add the sender’s and recipient’s countries in a separate line.
The USPS also requires the recipient’s address be written in English. If the address is in another language, the English translation should be after each line.
Here’s an example of addressing an envelope for international mail:
John Smith
123 England St.
London W10 2EP
United Kingdom
How to address a postcard
When addressing a postcard, there will typically be several lines for the recipient’s name and address on the right side. You may not find space for a return address in the left-hand corner, but it depends on the type of postcard. Postage still goes in the top right corner.
How to address an envelope to a P.O. Box
When sending mail to a P.O. Box, add “P.O. Box” and its number (instead of a street address) in the address line.
Here’s an example of addressing an envelope to a P.O. Box:
John Smith
P.O. Box 123
New York, NY 12345
Other tips to properly address an envelope
Besides how and where to address an envelope, the USPS recommends:
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Writing or typing addresses clearly in capital letters
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Writing with a pen or permanent marker
- Including the full nine-digit ZIP code, if possible
Key takeaways: How to address an envelope
Whether you’re sending a letter, invitation or bill, properly addressing your envelope can help ensure it reaches your intended destination. And if you’ll be sending out cards with your new home address, double-check that you’ve completed all the steps to change your address.
