Shipping Address Format: Everything You Need to Know

Cindy Ellis - April 16, 2025

It is critical to enter the address you’re sending a package accurately. Even minor errors, such as misspelling the street name or forgetting to add the building number, can cause delivery problems. 

Next to the address, the shipping address format is critically important. If you don’t follow the appropriate shipping address format, it can cause issues for any delivery company, whether the United States Postal Services or a private carrier.

Our article will go over everything you need to know about shipping address format. We’ll also cover how to write a shipping address appropriately and answer commonly asked questions.

Shipping Address Meaning – What Is It?

Before getting to the proper format for a shipping address, let’s cover what a shipping address is. 

Address is a general term that refers to the location. It typically indicates where someone lives or works. A shipping address, on the other hand, is the address where goods are sent and delivered. Since any address can serve as a shipping address, the primary address of an individual is often their shipping address.

However, the shipping address shouldn’t be mistaken for the billing address. Although it can be the same, the billing address is the address associated with the payment method, typically a credit or debit card. The credit company may require the billing address to verify identity when making online purchases.

What Is the Correct Shipping Address Format?

US shipping addresses follow a straightforward format. You can write everything in three lines, including the recipient’s name and their full address. The following is a step-by-step guide on how to write a shipping address.

1. First Line: Write the recipient’s name in the first line. If you’re shipping to an organization, write the company name. You can also include a department name or the recipient’s title within the organization.
2. Second Line: Write under the recipient’s name, and enter the street address and the building number if applicable. In this line, you can also add directional information, like NE, SE, etc., and delivery instructions.
3. Third Line: Lastly, write the town/city name with the two-letter state abbreviation and end it with the ZIP code.

Here’s an example of how a shipping address should look:

RECIPIENT’S NAME

123 Street Road

New York City, NY, 12345

International Shipping Address Formats

The above is the shipping address format for US addresses. If you’re sending a package to another country, note that there might be a completely different format for how you write a shipping address. For instance, shipping addresses in Mexico are written similarly to the US addresses but must include the colonia (the neighborhood) for local identification. Without it, the shipping address won’t be complete.

It is important to know minor differences like this in the shipping address format before shipping internationally. The post office can provide you with a correct example of the shipping address to help you verify if the address you’re sending is correct.

How to Verify a Shipping Address?

Verifying the recipient’s address before shipping is just as important as writing it correctly. There are several ways you can verify someone’s shipping address. The easiest and perhaps the most effective is asking the recipient for confirmation. Asking them directly for their shipping address will ensure your shipment will be delivered to the right place.

If you don’t have the recipient’s contact, you can use an address verification tool. However, the ability to verify a shipping address through these tools varies. For instance, the USPS has an address verification tool, but it only looks for the correct ZIP code and verifies the address this way. You can’t enter an address to see if it belongs to your recipient, for example.

While you can’t do it through the USPS website, other tools like our reverse address lookup tool can help you verify someone’s shipping address. By entering an address, you will discover who lives there, whether they are the homeowner or a renter. It is a straightforward reverse address lookup tool that will verify your shipping address.

Here’s how to use our reverse address lookup tool to verify shipping addresses.

1. Go to Information.com’s Address Search.
2. Enter the recipient’s street, city, and state.
3. Find the person you want to verify the shipping address from the list of people associated with the address.
4. Get your detailed report.

Your report will include the recipient’s name and current address, which you can use to verify their shipping address. If the shipping address you have is different from what appears on the report, note that it doesn’t always mean an inaccurate address. The recipient might have set up a forwarding address with the post office and provided this 

address to you rather than their actual address.

You’ll also get alternate and past addresses when verifying the recipient’s address using our reverse address lookup tool. These can help you verify their shipping address if the one you have for shipping is different from their residential or business address.

Other Information You Can Discover on Our Reverse Address Lookup Tool

The information you’ll discover on our reverse address lookup tool isn’t limited to someone’s past, current, and alternate addresses to verify their shipping address. You’ll also discover a wide range of information about individuals who live at the address you searched, including their identity, criminal records, PO boxes, business licenses, email addresses, and more.

With all this information you can discover about individuals simply by entering an address, our reverse address lookup tool is a powerful resource. It can help you beyond verifying a shipping address, enabling you to screen people you’ve just met or learn more about new neighbors.

While what you will discover on our tool can help you discover more about neighbors and keep your loved ones safe, its use must be within the guidelines set by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and our policies.

For instance, you can use our reverse address lookup tool to run a background check on people around your children but not for screening potential employees or reviewing tenants. Check our do’s and don’ts page for more information on how you can use our reverse address lookup tool.

FAQs About Shipping Address Format

Below, you’ll find answers to the commonly asked questions about shipping address format.

How do I write an address for international shipping?

Writing an address for international shipping is similar to writing a US shipping address. However, there might be subtle differences or details that don’t exist in the US. Knowing these differences will ensure you correctly write an address for international shipping. Ask the post office for guidance on international shipments. Additionally, you can contact the recipient about the correct shipping address format in their country.

What if I wrote the shipping address format incorrectly?

If you’ve written the shipping address in a mail or package incorrectly, you might need to contact the shipping company for corrections or to reroute the package. However, the shipping company might have already handled the changes if it was a minor mistake, like writing the ZIP code on a line other than the third. As long as the address details are correct, there shouldn’t be delays or other inconveniences.

Where do you write a shipping address on a mail or package?

The shipping address, along with the name of the recipient, should be on the bottom left corner. When writing the shipping address, make sure that your handwriting is easy to read. If printing the address, use a font and text size that’s easy to read. By following these rules and writing everything accurately, you’ll ensure the shipping company won’t have problems understanding where to deliver your mail or package.

How do you write a shipping address with delivery instructions?

If the recipient requests you to add specific delivery instructions, you can do so by informing the shipping company. Note that most shipping companies, including the USPS, allow recipients to add specific delivery instructions. Simply provide the tracking number to the recipient and let them know they can contact the shipping company to give delivery instructions. This is the best way to deal with recipients giving specific delivery instructions if you’re selling online or sending mail and packages regularly.

The Importance of Shipping Address Format

The shipping address format may not seem important at first. Many think that as long as the address details are accurate, their mail or package will be delivered. However, the shipping address format is crucial for shipping companies to understand the recipient’s address.

If you don’t follow the appropriate shipping address format we’ve explained above, your shipment might encounter issues. To prevent delays, follow the appropriate shipping address format when writing it on your mail or package.