Envelope Format – The Proper Address Layout | Envelope Camp - Guide for Envelope Sizes, Format, Templates and more!

When sending an important piece of mail, many people pay little attention to the envelope format. Unfortunately for them, the envelope is the first impression the recipient will have of the contents inside the package. Someone has said, you only get one chance to make a good first impression. An improperly formatted envelops can waste that opportunity.

General Envelope Format

The return address of the sender of a piece of mail should be placed in the upper left hand corner of the mail.

The first line should be the sender’s name, with the address on the second line.
The third line should include city, two letter state abbreviation and zip code.
If the letter is being sent to another country, the fourth line should include the nation of origin, spelled out with no abbreviations. While many organizations will have envelopes with the printed letterhead in the return address spot, senders will need to add the country of origin, if the letter is going to another country.

The upper left right hand corner is reserved for postage. If unsure of the amount of postage to include on the letter, be sure to speak with the post office. The employees will weigh the letter and tell the sender the exact postage to include.

The center of the envelope is reserved for the recipient’s name and address.

The first line is the name of the recipient or the company to which the correspondence is being sent. If there is an attention line in the address it should now be posted in line two of the address. It is no longer proper to place it in the lower left corner or under the address.
The next line should include the street address or post office box. If there is a suite or apartment number, it is placed at the end of this line if possible.
The following line will include the city, state and zip code if going to the USA.
The final line is for the country if the letter is going to another country. Once again spell everything out.

Other things to consider:

Mail sent in the USA should reserve a space along the bottom right corner that is 5/8″ x 4 ¾” for the barcode label. This label is used to direct the letter to the correct address.
Letters that are formatted improperly may be delayed in arriving at their intended destination or may never make it at all. If they do arrive at the correct destination, the improper formatting may reflect poorly on the sender.

You can also visit this post for a guide on proper envelope addressing.

Envelope Format – The Proper Address Layout

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