Where to Put Mailing Address on a Letter? 

Whether you’re sending a business letter or a personal letter, the correct address can help your mail get to its destination quickly and easily. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has set standards for envelope addressing that are the same whether you’re using a pen, pencil, or computer. You don’t have to follow them exactly, but you do need to make sure that you include all of the proper information. 

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The first line of a mailing address should contain the name of the person or business receiving the package. It’s also a good idea to add the person’s title to this line, which will show him or her that you know him or her. However, you don’t have to include the title if you’re writing to a person who you don’t know. 

The second line of an address should contain the person’s street address. If you’re mailing to a business, you should also include the company’s name and ZIP code on this line. You’ll need to add another line for a military base address. This line will not include the city, but you’ll need to provide the unit or squadron number. 

The third line of an address should list the country, postal code, and full ZIP code. You can also use abbreviations to write the county and state names. For instance, the county name is superfluous in a large city, but it’s important in rural areas. Likewise, you can use a two-letter abbreviation for the state, such as AK or FL. 

The final line of an address should list the person’s city and state. You’ll also need to indicate what type of post office is used if any. For example, an Air/Army post office is a military address that uses the FPO system. You can also write a diplomatic post office, such as a US Embassy or a DPO. 

You’ll also want to include the date of the letter. You can use the date as a way to let the recipient know when you’re completing the letter. You can also use the date to place the letter in a specific time frame. 

In addition to the address, you’ll need to include the person’s name and job title. You’ll also need to include the person’s degree. This is important to help the recipient get to know you better. 

You’ll also need to list the person’s rank and the unit or squadron number. If you’re mailing to a military base, you’ll need to include the APO, or Armed Forces Pacific, prefix. If you’re mailing to a base outside of the United States, you’ll need to include the AA, or Armed Forces America, prefix. 

If you’re unsure about the proper format of an address, you can check out the USPS’s ZIP code lookup tool. It’s a good idea to double-check the address before you send it to ensure that all of the information is correct. When writing an address, you can use a few different abbreviations to save space, but you’ll need to make sure that you’re using the right ones.