How to address an envelope

1. The recipient's address (center)

Write or print this in the middle of the envelope, slightly below center. Use three lines:

• Line 1: Full name (Ms. Jane Example)
• Line 2: Street address, including apartment or suite number (456 Recipient Avenue, Apt 7)
• Line 3: City, two-letter state code, and ZIP code (Their City, ST 67890)

Use capital letters and black or dark-blue ink if handwriting — sorting machines read it more reliably.

2. Your return address (top-left)

Same three-line format, in the upper-left corner. If the letter can't be delivered, this is where it comes back to. Skipping it means an undeliverable letter is simply destroyed.

3. The stamp (top-right)

One First-Class stamp covers a standard letter up to 1 ounce. Heavier letters need extra postage. The stamp always goes in the top-right corner.

Common mistakes

• Apartment number on its own line — keep it on the street line (Apt 7, Suite 200), or add it as "Line 2" only if the street line is very long.
• Writing the ZIP on a separate line — city, state and ZIP share the last line.
• Address too low or too close to the edge — keep it in the center half of the envelope so the sorting machine can read it.
• Decorative fonts or light ink — machines struggle with them; plain and dark wins.