How to Write 'From' and 'To' Addresses on Envelopes: the Definitive Step-by-Step Guide
By Elena Rostova
Postage stamp placement sits permanently in the upper-right corner of the envelope. This corner aligns with the mechanical canceler, which applies the cancellation watermark and date stamp.
Standard letters must remain flat, flexible, and rectangular. If an envelope contains rigid enclosures such as USB drives, keys, or thick wax seals, it cannot flex across sorting rollers. Rigid letters incur non-machinable surcharges and require specialized manual handling.
Maintain adequate clear space below the recipient block. The bottom 5/8-inch of the envelope must remain entirely clear of writing, logos, or stickers. Postal barcode systems print fluorescent orange or black delivery point routing barcodes across this bottom strip.
Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.
