How to address a letter or parcel to the USA

How to write an American address

If you’re sending a parcel to the US, it’s important to address the package correctly to avoid confusion and reduce the risk of your package not reaching its destination.

There are a couple of subtle differences between the format of a UK address and a US address format. The main differences are the two-letter state abbreviation and the ZIP code. We’ve highlighted these in the US address example below:

How do you write an American address internationally?

Step 1

There are 50 states in the US, so when you write a US address you need to ensure you include the two-letter abbreviation for the state where the town or village is located. Our example shows NY, which is the abbreviation for New York.  

If you’re not sure what the state abbreviation is, you can refer to this list of the 50 US states with their corresponding abbreviations.

Step 2

Similar to the UK postcode system, a US address includes a five-digit ZIP code, which must be clearly printed on your parcel.

A ZIP code is a postal code used by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to indicate the destination post office or delivery area where a letter will be sent for final sorting for delivery. There may be an extended code (ZIP+4), where a hyphen and a further four digits are added to the five-digit code. If you have the full 9-digit ZIP code you can include this, however, the first five digits are usually adequate.  

Step 3

When you write an American address, the town, state and ZIP code should appear on the same line, as shown in the US address example above. 

What is the US PO Box address format?

The US address format for sending to a PO Box is similar to a standard US address, but the PO Box number must be included, as per the US address example below:

Mr Smith  

Parcel Monkey

(Street address if applicable)

PO Box 105

San Francisco CA 12345

USA

Sending a parcel to a US PO Box address 

1. When writing an American address for a PO Box, the PO Box number needs to be clearly printed under the addressee and company name (if applicable).
2. A street address isn’t necessary with a PO Box, but if you have one, this could be included on the line after the addressee or company name.
3. Include the city, state and ZIP code as before.
    

When sending a parcel to a PO Box in the USA, please note that many carriers have PO Box restrictions, so please check before trying to send a parcel or letter to a PO Box in the US.

Sending a parcel to the US?

If you’re sending a parcel to the US, Parcel Monkey can help you find a courier service that will ship your package to the US at an affordable price. 

Simply enter the weight, dimensions and destination of your parcel into the Parcel Monkey courier quote tool and you’ll receive a list of discounted prices from reputable couriers, such as  DHL Air Express, Parcelforce, DPD and TrakPak. Select the service that’s best for you, print out your shipping label and you’re good to go!

Learn more about sending parcels to North and Central America