Where to write sender and receiver address on envelope

Q: How do you write a receiver address?

The recipients address Place the recipients name on the first line. On the second line, write the building number and street name. Include the city, state and ZIP code on the final line.

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Table of Contents Show

Recipient’s address
Use this structure
Especially for letters abroad (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands)
Sender’s address
Transverse address
Things You Should Know
References
About This Article
Reader Success Stories
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Where do you put the sender and receiver address on a letter?
Where does the sender's name go on an envelope?
How do you write a sender and receiver?
How do you write a receiver address?

Read all about how to write the recipient’s and sender’s addresses correctly on your consignments, so you can be sure they arrive.

Recipient’s address

The recipient’s address should be written as follows:

The recipient’s address should be written in dark ink on a white or light background
Use clear fonts such Courier, Arial, Univers, or Times New Roman, with a size of 10-12
All the characters should have the same font and size
Write the address left justified and without underlines

Use this structure

Customer number, if applicable	AB123
Recipient’s name/company name	Peter Hansen
Possible att. or c/o	c/o Carl Christensen
Street, No., Floor, Apartment, Town	Byvej 2A, 1. tv 0012, Tune
PO Box, if applicable*	Postboks 10
Postcode and town	4000 Roskilde

* when you write a PO box address, you can omit the street name and number.

Especially for letters abroad (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands)

Write the country code with capital letters and a hyphen in front of the postal code and town. Write the country name on its own, on the last address line.

Example:

LT – 85259 Akmenes Raj
Lithuania

Are you using window envelopes? Then please click and read more about Window envelopes.

Sender’s address

We recommend placing the sender’s name and address on the back of the envelope.

If you place the sender’s name and address on the front of the envelope, please be aware of the following, so that the sender’s address is not confused with the recipient’s address:

Write the address on one line and place it in the top left or bottom left corner
Write the sender’s address with smaller letters than the recipient’s address
If you use the block in the franking machine and cannot have the address on one line, we recommend writing the address on two lines with an offset. If the sender’s address is in the block, avoid writing it by hand.
If the sender’s address is placed in the window, it must be written on one line, in a smaller font than the recipient’s address. A logo is permitted – but a logo on its own is not sufficient. The sender and receiver must also be separated by a horizontal line.

Transverse address

You are welcome to use a transverse address if that fits your format and design. Please note the following:

You can use transverse addresses on all types of letters that have C5 format or larger
The letters must be franked with PP or a franking machine
You should place the recipient’s address no more than 10 cm from the top edge of the letter

You are always welcome to contact Customer Service.

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Whether you’re sending a letter to a friend, loved one, or future employer, making sure it gets to the right person is crucial. If you’re not sure how to label an envelope or letter, worry not because we’ve put together a helpful step-by-step guide just for you! Keep reading to learn how to write a return and mailing address and use stamps.

Things You Should Know

Put your name, street address, and ZIP code in the upper left-hand corner of the envelope so the letter can be mailed back to you if it gets lost.
Label the center of the envelope with the recipient’s name, title, and address to ensure it gets to the right person.
Make sure to put a stamp in the upper left-hand corner of the envelope—if your letter weighs more than 1 oz (28 g), use two!

1
Put your name in the upper left-hand corner. Place the envelope on a flat surface with the flat side facing up. Write your first and last name in your neatest handwriting. If you have a special title, like Mr., Mrs., Dr., or General, make sure to include that too.[1]
- For example, you might write “General John Doe” or “John Doe.”
- A return address is your home address or the place where you’re sending the letter from. It ensures that if something happens to your letter, it can be sent back to you.[2]
2
Print your street address under your name. Write your street address on the second line in the upper left-hand corner. If you live in an apartment complex, make sure to include your apartment or suite number.[3]
- For instance, you might write “123 Long Street” or “123 Long Street Apt. 45.”
- If you’re mailing your envelope from a PO box, list the PO box instead of the street address.[4]
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3
Place your city, state, and ZIP code under the street address. If this information takes up more than one line, that’s okay! Simply write the ZIP code on a fourth line.[5]
- The third line of your return address may look like “Radstock, FL 32178.”

1
Print the name of the person you're sending the mail to. Write out the first and last name of the person receiving the envelope in the center of the envelope. If they have a legal or professional title, like Mr., Mrs., Dr., or General, make sure to include that too.[6]
- The mailing address is where you want the envelope to go, indicating the letter’s destination.
- For example, you may write “Bob Smith” or “Mr. Bob Smith.”
2
Add an attention line if the letter is for an individual at a company. Say you’re sending an envelope to a business’s head office. There are multiple people in an office, so you need to specify who the letter is for. Use the abbreviation “ATTN:” along with the person’s name under the business or company's name.
- For instance, if the envelope is being sent to a company named Big Corporation X but is for a Bob Smith, you’d write “ATTN: Bob Smith” under the first line of the mailing address or company name.
- This helps ensure that your letter winds up in the correct person’s hands instead of getting lost in a company’s mail room.
3
Use the abbreviation "c/o" if the letter will be handed to someone else.[7] Write “c/o” (which stands for “in care of”) on the second line if you're sending the envelope to someone who doesn't live at the address.[8]
- For instance, say you want to send a letter to your aunt, who is staying with your grandma for a few months. Write your aunt's name on the first line and your grandma's name on the second line after “c/o.”
- If you’re applying for a job, address the envelope to the head of the hiring committee, but include the name of the administrative assistant handling applications after “c/o”: “c/o John Smith.”
4
Write the recipient's street address under their name. The street address can be on the second or third line of the mailing address, depending on if you’ve included an “ATTN:” or “c/o” label. Make sure to include the entire address and any apartment or suite numbers.
- You may write something like, “456 West Street” or “456 West Street Apt. 78.”
5
Print the recipient’s city, state, and ZIP code under the street address. Place a comma between the city and state, and write down the state using its abbreviation.
- For example, the final line in the mailing address may be, “McEwen, TN 37101.”
- Some people prefer using a ZIP+4 code when sending letters to avoid possible errors in delivery, as the extra 4 numbers identify specific geographic regions like city blocks. To find a ZIP+4 code, use the USPS’s ZIP code finder.[9]
- If you’re sending mail internationally, include the recipient’s city, province/state/county, and postal code under the street address, and then the country on the following line.[10]
6
Detail military addresses with department information. If you’re sending an envelope to a military address, put the recipient's full name on the first line of the mailing address, along with their PSC number, unit number, or ship name. Use “APO” (Air/Army Post Office), “FPO” (Fleet Post Office), or “DPO” (Diplomatic Post Office) instead of a city in the second or third line.[11] Replace the state with “AA” (Armed Forces of the Americas), “AE” (Armed Forces of Europe), or “AP” (Armed Forces of the Pacific), and use a ZIP+4 code.[12]
- For instance, the first line may read, “PFC Harry Dobson,” with the second line being, “45th ENG 2nd PLT - B CO,” and the third, “APO AE 34566-2367.”
- Use USPS’s APO/FPO/DPO Restrictions tool to search for military ZIP codes.

1
Get a First Class Mail Stamp to mail a regular letter. Every letter or envelope needs some sort of postage. Basically, it’s how you pay for your letter to be delivered![13]
- As of July 2022, stamps cost $0.60 each.[14]
- How many stamps you’ll need on an envelope depends on its weight. As a general rule, you need 1 stamp for every 1 oz (28 g).[15]
- If you’re unsure how many stamps you should put on your envelope, head to or call your local post office.
2
Place the stamp in the upper right-hand corner of your envelope. Simply stick a stamp (or more, if necessary) on your envelope before you place it in a mailbox or give it to a mail carrier. Make sure the stamp doesn’t go over any parts of your addresses.
3
Use the appropriate postage if your envelope is oddly-shaped or heavy. There are multiple types of USPS postage, and their rates change quite frequently. Head to USPS’s official website to see how much stamps cost and how heavy your envelope can be.
- Large envelopes or small packages currently cost $1.20 to mail.[16]
- First-Class Mail letters can’t weigh more than 3.5 oz (99 g), and First-Class envelopes can’t weigh more than 13 oz (369 g).
- Old stamps may not fully cover mailing costs. A good way to handle surprise rate increases is to purchase Forever Stamps. These are non-denominational stamps used to mail First-Class letters forever, regardless of subsequent price increases.[17]

Add New Question

Question
Where do I place stickers on an envelope I am going to mail?

It depends on the sticker. If the sticker is a post stamp, it will go in the upper right corner. If the sticker contains your address (return label), it will go in the upper left corner. If the sticker is a seal, or just a kid's sticker, you can place it on the back of the envelop, right over the center of the flap.
Question
Should I use pen or pencil?

Though it is not strictly required, it is recommended that one use a permanent pen or marker. A pencil may be used, but is not recommended as it can become erased, therefore hindering proper delivery of the parcel. When writing with a marker or felt tip pen, prepare the envelope before inserting the letter so the ink does not bleed onto the letter.
Question
Is a zip code the same thing as a postal code?

Yes. The term "zip code" is mainly used in the USA, while the term "postal code" is commonly used in other countries.

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Write on your envelope with a permanent pen or marker. If you don't use a permanent pen, the mailing or return address could smudge before or during shipping.[18]
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!

Always use legible handwriting and avoid cursive when writing on an envelope, so the mail carrier can make sure it gets to the right place.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!
Never use commas or periods outside of the city and state information when addressing your envelope, as it may lead to delivery confusion.[19]
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!

References

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To address or label an envelope, first write the return address on the front top left corner by including your name, your street address, and your city, state, and zip code. To write the mailing address, print the name of the person you’re sending the letter to in the center of the front of the envelope. Write the recipient’s street address on the line below their name. Finally, write their city, state, and zip code on the third line. When you’re done addressing the envelope, place a stamp in the upper right corner before sending it to the recipient. To learn about adding the correct postage to your envelope, read on!

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Where do you put the sender and receiver address on a letter?

The address, return address and postage should all be on the same side of the package. (If it's improperly addressed, it might get returned to you). Print or type your address in the upper-left corner on the front of the envelope. Print or type clearly the delivery address parallel to the longest side of the envelope.

Where does the sender's name go on an envelope?

Here are the simple steps for addressing an envelope:.

Your name and address: Your name and address go in the upper left-hand corner. ... .

Recipient's name and address: The recipient's name and address are placed in the center of the envelope..

How do you write a sender and receiver?

How to write an envelope.

Add the sender address at the top left of the envelope. Write the sender address clearly at the top left of the envelope. ... .

Write the address of the receiver in the middle of the envelope. Start with writing the receiver's full name at the centre of the envelope..

How do you write a receiver address?

The recipient's address Place the recipient's name on the first line. On the second line, write the building number and street name. Include the city, state and ZIP code on the final line.