The delivery address specifies where the USPS is to deliver a mailpiece. The address must be legible and complete on the side of the mailpiece that bears the postage.
Quick Tips for Quality Addressing
The recommended address format is described in Publication 28, (Postal Addressing Standards) published by the Postal Service. A standardized address is one that is fully spelled out, abbreviated by using the Postal Service standard abbreviations as shown in the current Postal Service ZIP+4 File.
The placement of the address can determine mailability of the mail piece, rate of the mail piece, and eligibility. The intended address must include:
Name of recipient line. This line may be the third or fourth line from the bottom, depending on possible overflow from the delivery address line. It should contain the name of the recipient. For business mail, it would contain the firm or organization name. For personal mail, it would contain the individual name, agency name, or business name. If a PO Box number is placed on this line, the mail will not be delivered to the PO Box; it will be delivered to the designated address on the delivery address line.
Delivery address. Located on second line from bottom. Reading up, this line is designated as the intended delivery address line. This line can be a street address, a post office box number, or a rural or highway contract route and box number. It should also contain multiunit designators such as apartment or suite numbers. If space is not available to include all necessary information on one line, place the additional information on the line immediately above it.
City, State and Zip Code, (Zip + 4 as required). Contains only the CITY name, STATE, and ZIP CODE OR ZIP+4 for the delivery address. Spell CITY names in their entirety. Use approved two-letter STATE abbreviations. Leave at least one space between CITY name, STATE abbreviation and ZIP CODE. A hyphen in the ZIP+4 is the only punctuation that should be in the address.
Information/Attention line (optional). Above the recipient's name line is an optional line for information or attention. It should be used to direct mail to a specific individual or department within an organization and may include name, title, and mail stop or mail code. It may also provide other non-postal information. Note: Attention line never goes on the bottom of the envelope.
Use a typewriter or a printer. Print in dark ink on a light background. Use uppercase letters (preferred). Use a font where letters do not touch. Omit all punctuation (except the dash in ZIP + 4 code). Include street address, room/apt number, PO Box number, directionals (e.g. NW). Note: If a street address and PO Box are both on the address, only the address designated on this line will be delivered. For example if it reads 1800 F Street NW, PO Box 1221, the mail will be delivered to 1800 F Street. The PO Box will be ignored.
Basic rules for addressing
The USPS distributes mail manually and through automation by reading the bottom address line on a mailpiece first, then each successive line in sequence from bottom to top. Distribution efforts are aided if all delivery information is included in three lines or at a minimum the last three lines of an address. Details on preparing mail for automation are available in USPS Publication 25, Designing Letter Mail.
The USPS has established minimum standards for address quality categories of postage rates. These standards include move update requirements for presort& automation rate first-class mail, and requirements for updating various postal codes, including 5-digit zip codes, zip + 4 codes, bar-codes and carrier route codes. The address for more information is:
National Customer Support Center
United States Postal Service
6060 Primacy Parkway
Ste. 201
Memphis, TN 38188
