United States Mailing Address Formats and Other International Mailing Information

When mailing an envelope or postcard, leave at least the bottom 16 millimeters (5/8 inch) blank on both front and back. (The postal service's reading and sorting machines might need this space to print bar codes on your mail.)

Address Format Examples

Many street addresses include a direction (e.g. E = EAST): CHRIS NISWANDEE SMALLSYS INC 795 E DRAGRAM TUCSON AZ 85705 USA	An example with the optional latter 4 digits of the zip code: JOHN "GULLIBLE" DOE CENTER FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO DEPOSED NIGERIAN ROYALTY 421 E DRACHMAN TUCSON AZ 85705-7598 USA
With an apartment/suite/etc. number (which many addresses don't have): MARY ROE MEGASYSTEMS INC 799 E DRAGRAM SUITE 5A TUCSON AZ 85705 USA	If you don't have room for the apartment/suite/etc. number on the street address line: MARY ROE MEGASYSTEMS INC SUITE 5A-1204 799 E DRAGRAM TUCSON AZ 85705 USA
Many different terms for street type, or abbreviations for them, might follow the street name. JANE ROE 200 E MAIN ST PHOENIX AZ 85123 USA	"PO Box" and "POB" are two valid ways of saying "Post Office Box." BITBOOST PYTHON CODE OBFUSCATOR SALES PYTHON CODE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION BITBOOST POB 65502 TUCSON AZ 85728 USA
Some variants exist. In certain regions, some addresses have a direction after the street name. JOHN SMITH 300 BOYLSTON AVE E SEATTLE WA 98102 USA	If an address has two conflicting lines, such as a post office box line and a street address line, the lower line will normally be used if mail can be delivered to that address. Most often conflicting lines are not used. JOHN SMITH 100 MAIN ST PO BOX 1022 SEATTLE WA 98104 USA

The examples in the table above are in capital letters only, and omit puctuation, because that is what the USPS officially prefers.

Address Format Information

For consumer-level summaries see the United States Postal Service's

"Addressing Tips" and "Addressing Tips for Packages"

If you're running a business or other organization that sends mail on a larger scale, the United States Postal Service has a more in-depth guide at

"Business Mail 101".

USPS Web Page for Official Abbreviations (use tabs inside page to see different kinds of abbreviations)

Addresses in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are often in Spanish.

Google ad(s) are sometimes shown above.

Postcode Search (find United States postcodes / postal codes = 'United States zip codes')

USPS Zip Code Lookup Form

Find the full zip code for any U.S. address.

Postal Rates to or from the United States

Postage calculators and tables showing how much postage you need to mail or ship to and/or from the United States are at the International Postal Rates Page.

Finding Out Addresses (such as addresses in United States / United States address search)

See Finding An International Address / Address Search.