How to address an envelope
Quick insights
- Place your name and address in the upper left corner of the envelope and the recipient’s name and address in the lower center.
- The postage stamp is placed in the upper right corner, and the amount of postage depends on the envelope’s weight.
- Military and international addresses require special formatting.
Taking the time to properly address an envelope can help your mail arrive at its intended destination. While snail mail is increasingly being replaced by digital forms of communication, it can still be a useful way to communicate, especially for sending special items like handwritten cards or invitations.
Below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for addressing an envelope, along with answers to common questions about sending mail to international and military addresses, couples and families.
Addressing an envelope in 3 steps
You can fill out an envelope in just a few steps. The sender’s name and address go in the top left corner, the recipient’s name and address in the lower center and the stamp in the top right corner.
Write the sender’s return address
The sender’s address belongs in the top left corner of the envelope. Use your information if you’re the sender or the information of the person you’re helping.
The format is as follows:
Line 1: Sender’s full name
Line 2: Organization or business name (optional)
Line 3: Street address or P.O. Box number
Line 4: City, state (two-letter USPS abbreviation) and ZIP code
The United States Postal Service (USPS) recommends printing addresses in capital letters, writing neatly in pen or permanent marker, avoiding commas or periods and including the full nine-digit ZIP code. You can look up the ZIP code for any address on USPS’s website.
For example, here’s how you’d write the following return address:
BRANDON SANDERS
123 MAIN ST APT 101
ANYTOWN NY 12345-1234
Write the recipient’s mailing address
You’ll also need the mailing address of the recipient, which should be written in the lower center of the envelope.
Line 1: Recipient’s full name
Line 2: Organization’s name (optional)
Line 3: Street address or P.O. Box number
Line 4: City, state and ZIP code
You can include titles like “Dr.” or “Ms.” before the recipient’s name. This is more common for formal pieces of mail like a wedding invitation. The recipient may direct you to write “ATTN” or “C/O” before their name, especially when you’re sending mail to a business address. For bill payments, check the provider or vendor’s website for address formatting instructions.
Here’s an example of a correctly formatted address:
DR MARIA RODRIGUEZ
123 MAPLE ST
ANYTOWN IL 12345-1234
Add a stamp
USPS postage stamps are generally required to send letters. Place the stamp on the upper right corner of the envelope. Heavier envelopes may require more than one stamp. Weigh the envelope and consult the USPS website for guidance on the amount of postage you’ll need.
Envelope format for military addresses
To send mail to members of the military, format the address:
Line 1: Full name, including rank
Line 2: The unit number, postal service center (PSC) number or ship name
Line 3: City (APO, FPO or DPO), State (AA, AE or AP), ZIP code
- APO=Army Post Office (Army or Air Force)
- FPO=Fleet Post Office (Navy or Marine Corps)
- DPO=Diplomatic Post Office (U.S. embassies)
- AA=Armed Forces Americas
- AE=Armed Forces Europe, Middle East, Africa, Canada
- AP=Armed Forces Pacific
Here’s an example from USPS of how to properly format a military address:
SGT. JOHN SMITH
UNIT 2340 BOX 132
APO AE 09350
Envelope format for international mail
For international mail, you’ll generally use the same format as domestic mail but add the country on the last line for both the sender and recipient. In some countries, the postal code comes before the city or town.
USPS provides this example:
JOYCE L. BROWNING
2045 ROYAL ROAD
LONDON WIP 6HQ
ENGLAND
If sending mail to countries that don’t use Roman letters (such as Chinese, Arabic or Cyrillic), provide an interline translation of the recipient’s name and address.
Tips for addressing an envelope
Here are a few tips to help your mail arrive:
- If you’re sending a check, you may want to consider using a security envelope. If you’re unfamiliar with the process, you can learn more about how to write a check.
- USPS recommends placing the apartment number at the end of the street address line, but if it doesn’t fit, place it on the next line.
- For P.O Boxes, it’s recommended to write out “P.O. Box” and the number on the address line.
- When sending mail to a family, you can address the envelope to the entire family (e.g., “The Allen Family”).
- For postcards, the sender’s address is not required.
- Automatic bill pay through your checking account may be faster and less time-consuming than mailing checks.
- You may want to consider using certified mail if you need proof that the mail was received, especially for sensitive legal or financial documents.
- Mail can be sent from a post office or dropped in an official blue collection box.
- If your mailbox has a red flag, you can raise it to indicate outgoing mail. Apartment buildings usually have a slot for outgoing mail.
- When addressing a couple, include both names on the envelope.
In summary
Properly addressing an envelope might help your mail arrive at the intended destination. You’ll need the full address for both the sender and recipient, formatted and placed correctly, along with the correct postage.
