How to Format an Address
On the other hand, the more correctly formatted your address fields are, the faster and more reliable your mail and parcels will be delivered.
How to Format an Address (UK and International)
Correctly formatting an address is more than just a matter of style — it’s essential for ensuring mail and packages are delivered accurately on time, and to the right recipient. Whether you’re a business managing high volumes of deliveries or an individual sending a parcel abroad, getting the address format right helps prevent delays, lost shipments, and costly returns.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to format UK addresses for both residential and business use, how to handle PO Boxes and international addresses, and why proper address formatting plays a crucial role in customer experience, logistics and data quality.
Why Address Formatting Matters
Incorrectly formatted addresses can cause a range of issues:
- Mail may be delayed, misrouted or returned to sender.
- Parcels could be delivered to the wrong location.
- Business processes like identity checks or delivery routing may fail.
- Customer trust and satisfaction can decline due to missed deliveries.
On the flip side, properly formatted addresses:
- Enable faster and more accurate deliveries.
- Reduce the cost of redelivery or returned items.
- Improve data quality across your systems.
- Support compliance efforts in regulated industries.
TIP: One of the most common errors is an incorrect or missing postcode. Royal Mail recommends including the full, accurate postcode on the last line of the address for successful delivery.
General UK Address Formatting Guidelines
To ensure reliable delivery within the UK, follow the Royal Mail’s recommended formatting rules:
- Write the address in uppercase letters if printing on envelopes or labels.
- Avoid punctuation (no commas or full stops).
- Keep each component of the address on a separate line.
- The postcode must appear on the final line, clearly and accurately.
- For flats or apartments, include the flat number before the building name.
Standard UK Address Format Example
| Information | Example |
|---|---|
| Addressee / Contact Name | Ian McSheerman |
| House Number & Street (Thoroughfare) | 20 Prince Street |
| Post Town | London |
| Postcode | SW4 0SB |
Standard Residential Address for Apartment of Flat
| Information | Example |
|---|---|
| Addressee / Contact Name | Ian McSheerman |
| Apartment / Flat Number | Flat 16 |
| Building Name (Premise) | Hector House |
| Street (Thoroughfare) | Old Bethnal Green Road |
| Area | Bethnal Green |
| Post Town | London |
| Postcode | E2 0SB |
PO Box address
| Information | Example |
|---|---|
| Addressee / Contact Name | Ian McSheerman |
| Company / Organisation | Melissa Data |
| Department (Not Necessary) | IT Department |
| PO Box Number | PO Box 522 |
| Post Town | LONDON |
| Postcode | E1 5AA |
Standard Business Address (Example 1)
| Information | Example |
|---|---|
| Addressee / Contact Name | Ian McSheerman |
| Premise (If Applicable) | Victoria House |
| Floor / Level (If Applicable) | Level 2 |
| Street (Thoroughfare) | 1 Southampton Row |
| Area (If Applicable) | - |
| Post Town | LONDON |
| Postcode | WC1B 4JB |
Standard Business Address (Example 2)
| Information | Example |
|---|---|
| Addressee / Contact Name | Ian McSheerman |
| Premise (If Applicable | - |
| Floor / Level (If Applicable) | Floor 37 |
| Street (Thoroughfare) | 1 Canada Square |
| Area | Canary Wharf |
| Post Town | LONDON |
| Postcode | E14 5AA |
International Address Formatting
When sending mail internationally, it’s crucial to follow the local formatting rules of the destination country. There are over 120 address formats globally, and each has unique rules regarding the order of elements, required fields and placement of the postcode.
Key International Formatting Tips:
- Always include the destination country in English on the last line.
- Match the local address structure — don’t just translate a UK format.
- Avoid using abbreviations unless they’re standard in the target country.
Examples:
United States
John Smith
123 Main Street
Apartment 4B
New York, NY 10001
UNITED STATES
Germany
Anna Müller
Musterstraße 45
12345 Berlin
GERMANY
Japan
〒100-0005
Tokyo-to Chiyoda-ku Marunouchi 1-1-1
Yamada Taro
JAPAN
Tip: Always include the destination country name in English on the last line of the address and match the local format rather than using a UK-style layout. Every country has unique requirements — over 120 different formats are used worldwide.
Not sure if you’ve formatted it right? Use our Address Lookup Tool to follow international shipping best practices and avoid delays or failed deliveries.
Benefits of Properly Formatted Addresses
Standardised and validated address formats provide value far beyond just delivery:
- Optimised shipping rates with accurate destination data.
- Route planning and delivery sequencing for logistics.
- Cleaner customer databases that enable deduplication and better segmentation.
- Increased ROI from direct marketing campaigns.
- First-time delivery success, reducing failed drop-offs and customer support queries.
- Improved fraud prevention through address verification and cross-checking.
TIP: Want to reduce failed deliveries and increase first-time delivery rates? Proper address formatting plays a key role — especially when using postcode validation and formatting tools at checkout or in your CRM.
Use an Address Verification Tool
To ensure every address entered into your systems is valid and correctly formatted, use an automated Address Lookup and Verification Tool. These tools:
- Autocomplete addresses in real time.
- Format international addresses correctly.
- Validate postcodes and street names.
- Prevent user error at checkout or sign-up.
👉 Try our Address Lookup Tool to instantly generate verified postal addresses with just a few keystrokes.
TIP: Did you know? Address autocomplete tools do more than speed up data entry — they also validate street names and postcodes, reduce typos, and apply the correct format for each country.
Final Checklist for Perfect Address Formatting
Before you send that parcel or save a customer record, double-check:
✅ Does it follow the country’s official address format?
✅ Is the postcode present and accurate?
✅ Are there unnecessary abbreviations or punctuation?
✅ Is the address broken into clear, separate lines?
✅ Is the destination country included for international mail?
Melissa – The Address Experts
As the leader in address verification, Melissa combines decades of experience with unmatched technology and global support to offer solutions that quickly and accurately verify addresses in real-time, at the point of entry. Melissa is a single-source vendor for address management, data hygiene and pre-sorting solutions, empowering businesses all over the world to effectively manage their data quality.
250 +
Countries & Territories
1000555787 +
Addresses Verified
40 +
Years Of Experience
10000 +
Satisfied Customers Worldwide
