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Step 1
The United States Post Office guidelines suggest writing addresses in all caps, with no more than 40 characters on a line. They also suggest writing out the names of cities and countries rather than using abbreviations.
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Step 2
Using a bold pen or permanent marker, write your name and address in the upper left hand corner of the envelope, on the side that does not have the opening. All lines should be aligned left, near the edge of the envelope. The format should be like this:
John Doe
123 Main Street
Mytown, MD 12345
Be sure to use the correct two letter state abbreviation for your home state and the correct zip code on the bottom line.
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Step 3
Imagine a line approximately one-third of the way from the left edge and one-third of the way from the top. Line up the receiver's address with this line. Write out the full name of the company if there is one. On the next line, write the person's name. After the name, write out the street address, city, state, and zip code.
Company ABC
Sally Smith
123 Downtown Road
City, MD 12345
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Step 4
Seal the envelope and have it weighed, so that you can put the correct amount of postage on it. The weight and size of your letter determines the cost of the postage. The post office may meter stamp the postage. If it does not, affix the stamp or stamps at the upper right corner of the envelope.
