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This article was co-authored by Tami Claytor and by wikiHow staff writer, Dan Hickey. Tami Claytor is an Etiquette Coach, Image Consultant, and the Owner of Always Appropriate Image and Etiquette Consulting in New York, New York. With over 20 years of experience, Tami specializes in teaching etiquette classes to individuals, students, companies, and community organizations. Tami has spent decades studying cultures through her extensive travels across five continents and has created cultural diversity workshops to promote social justice and cross-cultural awareness. She holds a BA in Economics with a concentration in International Relations from Clark University. Tami studied at the Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned her Image Consultant Certification.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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If you send a letter or package and the mail service is unable to deliver it, they can return the package or letter back to you so that it’s not lost in the mail forever. To do this, the return address must be written clearly and contain the proper information so the mail knows where to send it. Typically, the return address goes on the top left of the envelope. Including it can prevent you from losing packages and letters if you don’t have the proper postage or you sent the package or letter to the wrong address.
Things You Should Know
- Write your full name (1 line), business name (1 line, optional), street address (1–2 lines), city, state, and zip code (1 line), and country (1 line, for international mail).
- Place the return address in the top left corner of your envelope. Or, on a package label, place it in the top left corner of the label (where it says “From:”).
- Write neatly so postal workers can easily read your return address in case there is a delivery problem with your letter or package.
Steps
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Write your first and last name on the top line of the return address. Writing your name on the return address legibly will let the recipient know who sent the mail. This is especially important if you’re sending the mail from work or an apartment complex, where there could be a variety of senders.
- For example, the first line of the return address should look like:
Jerry Sullivan
- For example, the first line of the return address should look like:
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Put your business name on the next line if you’re sending business mail. This will help mail employees return the letter to the correct building.[1]
- Your envelope would look something like:
Jerry Sullivan
AWS Industries - If it’s a personal letter or package, you don’t need to include a business name.
Advertisement - Your envelope would look something like:
-
Include the street address on the next line. The second thing that the mail sorting machine reads is the street address. Include all of the numbers in the address and make sure the street name is spelled correctly. If needed, use 2 lines for the full address (for example, to include an apartment or suite number).[2]
- Your return address should look something like:
Jerry Sullivan
AWS Industries
123 Apple Street - Make sure to use the correct street designation (avenue, road, street, boulevard, etc.) when writing out the address.
- If you’re using a PO box, write “PO Box” followed by your box number on a single line in place of an address.
- Your return address should look something like:
-
Add the city, state, and zip code where you live on the bottom line. There’s no need for any punctuation in between any of the information. Abbreviate your state name with its official 2-letter abbreviation (for example, IL for Illinois). Reference USPS’s state abbreviations list if you’re unsure what yours is.
- The completed return address should look something like:
Jerry Sullivan
AWS Industries
123 Apple Street
Philadelphia PA 19147 - When you write an address, you usually add a comma between the city and state. However, the United States Postal Service advises you to leave out all punctuation on letters and packages because it could interfere with their letter reading hardware.
- The completed return address should look something like:
-
Write your country name if you're sending an international letter. Including the country will let the post service know whether the package or letter is international or domestic. If you're sending the letter or package to a different country but don't include this, they will look for an address within the country that you're currently in.
- The return address for an international letter or package looks like:
Jerry Sullivan
AWS Industries
123 Apple Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
USA
- The return address for an international letter or package looks like:
-
Place the return address on the top left corner of envelopes. Print your name in large legible letters on the first line in the top left corner of the envelope. Placing it in a different location on the envelope may confuse the post office.[3]
-
Write the return address in the top left of the label if you’re sending a package. The address label can usually be found on the front or back of the package. Some labels will have “From:” written on the top left of the label. This is where you write your return address.[4]
- You write the recipient's address information on the “To:” line of the label.
-
Write the return address on the back flap for formal invitations. Traditionally, letters or invitations for formal gatherings, like a wedding or graduation, are centered on the back flap of the envelope. This makes the front of the letter look less cluttered and more professional or formal.[5]
- This practice, although common, is now discouraged by the USPS because of the way that they typically scan letters.
- To ensure your mail is scanned properly, make the recipient’s address on the front of the envelope noticeably larger than the return address on the back.
-
Use large, capital letters if you’re writing the letter by hand. Write in print rather than cursive if you’re writing the return address by hand. Using all capital letters will prevent the mail service from misreading the address and returning the package or letter to the wrong place.
- Cursive may confuse or be unreadable to some postal workers and cause them to return the letter to the wrong place.
-
Use a simple, size 10 font if you’re typing the return address. If you’re using a label or printing the return address out, use at least size 10 font. If you can, make the address even larger if it fits on the label or envelope.
- Don't use a font that's hard to read when writing the return address. Sans serif fonts (like Arial or Helvetica) are generally easier to read than serif fonts.
-
Use a return address when sending something via priority mail. Priority mail requires that you include a return address. Priority mail also comes with its own benefits, like being able to track the package. Other types of mail that always require a return address include:[6]
- Package services (bound printed matter, media mail and library mail)
- Mail with extra services (such as insurance, tracking, or signature confirmation)
- Mail with a company permit imprint
- Mail with precanceled stamps
Community Q&A
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QuestionIs there any chat or email service for contact with CNN?
DonaganTop AnswererThey have a number of email addresses. One is "comments@cnn.com". -
QuestionIs a PO Box, City State and Zip sufficient for a return address? There is no company name.
DonaganTop AnswererYes, that's sufficient.
-
QuestionIs it okay to write the sender's title after his name on the return address?
DonaganTop AnswererYes, especially if the title is normally used in his mailing address.
Tips
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If you’re sending mail for business, consider using a branded return address label to increase company recognition.Thanks
Video
References
- ↑ https://ors.od.nih.gov/pes/dmms/guide/SamplesDirections/Pages/Address-Envelopes.aspx
- ↑ https://pe.usps.com/businessmail101?ViewName=ReturnAddress
- ↑ https://www.usps.com/ship/letters.htm
- ↑ https://youtu.be/byCXBvkqp_Q?t=74
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/weddings/return-address-on-wedding-invitations
- ↑ https://pe.usps.com/businessmail101?ViewName=ReturnAddress
About This Article
To write a return address on an envelope or package, start by writing your full name on a label or the back of your envelope. If you’re sending a business letter or package, write your company name underneath that. Underneath, write your street address. Then, add your city and zip code on the next line. If you’re sending a letter or package internationally, add your country at the bottom. Once you’ve written out your address, affix it to top left corner of your package or the back of your envelope. You should also write “From” above your address so it’s clear this is the return address. For more tips, including how to format a return address on a computer, read on!
