Precise Mail Addressing

Enhance your business by adhering to address guidelines when sending out your mailings. This will prevent any delays or additional processing fees.

Within this piece, you will discover:

• Tips on where to place the address.
• Guidelines for placing graphics.
• The correct formats for Canadian, U.S., and international mail addresses.

Tips on where to place the address

Follow these addressing tips for envelopes of different sizes, including standard, large, and image-printed ones, to ensure our processing equipment can scan your mail easily.

Standard envelope

Guidelines for placing graphics

On a large envelope

Correct address formats

To avoid unnecessary delays or fees, adhere to these addressing guidelines (visual examples will be provided later):

• Write the STREET ADDRESS using uppercase letters.
• Write the POSTAL CODES using uppercase letters, and separate the first 3 characters from the last 3 characters with 1 space. (Please avoid hyphens, as they can cause delays)
• Place the municipality, province or territory, and postal code on the same line.
• Separate the municipality from the province (or territory) with 1 space, and the province (or territory) from the postal code with 2 spaces.
• Except for proper names, avoid using punctuation, e.g., ST. JOHN'S.
• Format the return address in the same manner as the destination address and position it in the top-left corner of the envelope or package (or at the top on the back of the item).

Visual examples

Examples of Canadian civic addresses

Examples of United States addresses

Examples of international addresses

*Ensure correct spelling of the country name to enable our processing equipment to read it.

Place the name of the country as the final entry within the address block, following the city name and postal code/zip code. Write the country name in full and using capital letters (e.g., write UNITED KINGDOM instead of UK).

Additional examples

These illustrated examples offer in-depth explanations and useful tools to correctly format various address types.

Symbols and abbreviations

To ensure compliance with machineable guidelines, it is advisable to abbreviate your addresses. Locate the officially accepted abbreviated versions sanctioned by Canada Post.

Precise address details not only contribute to cost reduction by eliminating the need for redelivery and additional handling but also contribute to the reduction of your delivery's carbon footprint.