How to Address an Envelope

1. Be sure to always include a return address.

2. The attention line always goes above all others in the address.

3. The delivery address line includes either the street address, the post office box number, rural route or highway contract route and box number.

4. Print addresses in capital letters, in 10- or 12-point type (14 is OK) in sans serif with uniform thickness and free of punctuation.

5. If N (North), S (South), E (East), or W (West) is part of the address, be sure to include it.

6. Standard state abbreviations are very important.

7. During mail processing, a bar code is placed on letter-size mail by the post office in the lower-right corner. In some cases, customers apply their own bar code in the lower-right corner or in the address block.

8. Reserve the last line for the city, state and ZIP+4 code. If you know your ZIP+4 code, please use it. It helps move your mail along much faster.

9. Include the ST (Street), AVE (Avenue), DR (Drive), LN (Lane), PL (Place), RD (Road), or CIR (Circle) and the RM (Room), STE (Suite) or APT (Apartment).