Writing An Address With An Apartment Number

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Writing an apartment address correctly can take time and research if you've never formatted one before. But if you know what elements you need to include, you can write the address clearly. Double-check the address for any errors before you send it in the mail so it can get where it needs to go. With a little attention to detail, writing an apartment address can be as easy as writing any other address.

1

Put your address in the center of your mail. Centering your delivery address will help distinguish it from the return address, which is placed in the lefthand corner. Avoid placing it near your return address to avoid confusion as it goes through the postal service.
2
Write the full name of the recipient above the apartment address. In case your mail needs to be forwarded, writing the full and legal name of your recipient will allow the apartment to pass the mail along. Avoid writing a nickname unless you are positive that your recipient currently lives at the apartment.
- Never write a letter address without including a recipient name.
3
Begin the address with the building and street name. The apartment street address should be on the first line, directly below the recipient's first name. Start with the apartment building name, then include the street name directly afterward.^[1]
- You may write, for example, "Gaslight Square 506 Main Street."
4
Add the apartment or suite number on the same line as the street name. Include the apartment number on the same line as the street address with the abbreviation "#," "unit," or "apt." (Make sure there is a space between # and the apt. number.) If the street address is too long to format fully on one line, write the apartment number directly below, then continue the address on a third line.^[2]
- You might write, for example, "123 Main Street # 204."
5
Write the city, state/providence, and zip code below the street name. On the line directly below your street address, start by writing the city in clear, bold letters. Depending on your country, follow the city with the state or province. Then, look up the zip code for the recipient's city and include it at the end of the line.^[3]
- Do not guess when writing the zip code. When in doubt, look up the number to make sure you've got it right.
6
Include the recipient's country if you're sending the letter internationally. The country name should go on the separate, final line of the letter. If the country name is included next to the city and zip code, the mail might be mistaken for a domestic address. Writing it on the last line lets postal workers know that they are handling international mail.^[4]
- Write the country name in all capital letters (e.g. IRELAND) to minimize the chance of confusion with domestic letters.

1
Include an "in care of" label when sending mail to the apartment staff. If you want to send mail to a specific employee at the apartment, write the apartment name followed by "c/o [recipient's name]" above the street address.^[5]
- You might also write "c/o [recipient's name]" if you are addressing a letter to someone who is not the head of the household.
2
Remember to write your return address on the envelope or package. If, for whatever reason, your mail cannot be sent, it will be returned to the sender. Writing your address on the envelope or package is important so that, if you get the address wrong, you can resend it. Never send out a piece of mail without a return address.^[6]
- The return address should be in the upper left hand corner of your envelope, postcard, or package.
3
Add postage to your mail based on the rate. Mail is not properly addressed until postage is added. This pays for the mail's delivery. In most cases, you will place the postage in the upper right hand corner, directly across from the return address.^[7]
- Usually, envelopes and postcards will only need a postage stamp. Packages may need pricier postage. Ask your local postage center for specifics.

1
Do not use any commas or periods in your address. Punctuation is not used in mailing addresses. Proofread your address to catch and remove any commas or periods. Pay special attention to the space between your city and state, where it is common to place punctuation by accident.^[8]
- You would write, for example, "Salt Lake City Utah 84044."
- You would not write, "Salt Lake City, Utah, 84044."
2
Avoid street or city abbreviations. Using abbreviations increases the likelihood of the postal service sending your letter to the wrong place. Do not abbreviate common road names (like Lane or Avenue), cities (like New York City or Amsterdam), or states and provinces (like Quebec or California). Countries (like USA for the United States or ENG for England) can be abbreviated.
- The exception to this rule is the word "apartment number," which can be abbreviated as "apt." or "#."^[9]
3
Use clean, neat handwriting when writing your address. Write your address with a permanent pen or marker instead of a pencil to avoid smudges. Your address should be legible from an arm's length away. If you make a mistake, cover the address with a white label and start over.^[10]
- Write with a pen ink in a contrasting color to your envelope or package color. If you are sending mail in a white envelope, for example, use a black pen.
- When in doubt about an address mistake, cover it with a label and start again.
4
Double-check the zip code before you send your package or envelope. It is almost better to include no zip code than the wrong one. Writing down the wrong zip code can send your mail to the wrong city, and you may even lose it in the postal system. Compare the zip code you wrote down with the city's official zip code to spot any mistakes.^[11]
- Even simple mistakes, like adding the wrong number or swapping two numbers, can get your package sent to the wrong place.

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If the place where I live doesn't actually have the street name, what should I do?

If you have a landlord or manager, ask for the full mailing address.

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Proofread your address at least twice before sending it in the mail.
Phone numbers, email addresses, and other personal information beyond the recipient's full name are not included in the mailing address.

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Do not write any part of your address in cursive. Cursive can be hard-to-read, and using it to write your address increases the likelihood of it getting lost.

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To write an apartment address, start by writing the recipient's full name on the center of the envelope or label you're using. Then, write their apartment street address on the line underneath, beginning with the building's name, then the street name and apartment number. For example, you would write something like "Gaslight Square 506 Main Street Unit 204." For the third line, write the city, state, and zip code. To learn how to include an "in care of" label when sending mail to the apartment staff, keep reading!

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