How to address a letter in the UK

Start with a verified address

Royal Mail's clear addressing guidance is a useful starting point: make the destination easy to read, use a complete address and include the postcode. Get the details from the recipient, a recent official letter or the organisation's current contact information. Do not guess a postcode from a neighbouring building or rely on an old address saved in your contacts.

Check the recipient's name as well as the building. A correct street address can still cause confusion if a business has several departments or a block contains multiple flats. Use the address the recipient supplies, including a building name, flat number or department when relevant. The examples below are illustrative only, not delivery addresses.

Put each part on its own line

Write the recipient's name first, followed by the house number and street. Put the town on a separate line in CAPITALS, then the complete postcode on the last line, also in CAPITALS. Keep the lines left aligned rather than centred or staggered. Commas and full stops are not needed between the address lines.

Always include the postcode, with the space between its two parts. Preserve the postcode's letters and numbers carefully: a letter O is not the number zero. A county is not normally needed when the town and postcode are complete. For a letter staying within the UK, use the UK address rather than adding unnecessary international routing instructions.

Example: a house

A house address normally needs the recipient, house number and street, town and postcode. If the property has a name, include it on its own line when that is part of the supplied address. Do not replace a known house number with a description such as “the house opposite the shop”.

Here and in the following examples, replace every sample detail with the recipient's verified address. AB1 2CD is an illustrative postcode pattern, not a suggested destination.

Recipient name
12 Example Road
EXAMPLE TOWN
AB1 2CD

Example: a flat

Include the flat number clearly before the building's street address. A building name can help distinguish a development from nearby properties, but it does not replace the street or postcode. Keep the flat number separate from the building number so that “Flat 4” is not mistaken for house number 4.

If the recipient gives a particular flat or unit format, use it consistently. Check that an automatic address suggestion has not removed the flat number when filling in an online form.

Recipient name
Flat 4
12 Example Road
EXAMPLE TOWN
AB1 2CD

Examples: a business and FAO

For a business, include the organisation's name and any relevant department. A named employee can go above the company name. If you use “FAO”, meaning “for the attention of”, make clear which person or team should receive the letter after it arrives.

FAO helps internal handling; it does not replace the postal address. Confirm whether the organisation wants correspondence sent to its registered office, a customer-service office or another published address.

Business example:
Accounts Department
Example Company
12 Example Road
EXAMPLE TOWN
AB1 2CD

FAO example:
FAO Customer Services Manager
Example Company
12 Example Road
EXAMPLE TOWN
AB1 2CD

Include a useful return address

When preparing your own envelope, write a return address on the back or at the top left, clearly separate from the delivery address. You can also include your address at the top left of the letter. Make clear which address belongs to the sender and which belongs to the recipient.

For an online print-and-post order, include sender details in the document where appropriate, but do not assume you can customise the back of the envelope. Keep sender information outside the recipient window area and inspect the preview. A return address does not guarantee that an undeliverable letter will come back.

Check the printed layout, not just the form

With Send Letter Online, an uploaded PDF must already place the full recipient address in the left envelope window area on an A4 portrait page. Entering an address in the form does not move text inside your PDF or add an address cover sheet. Review the actual document, not only the separate recipient fields.

If you write online, check the rendered PDF and every page before checkout. Use readable text, avoid decorative backgrounds behind the address and check that long business names have not pushed the postcode out of view. Compare the document address with the recipient details and correct any difference before payment.

Ready to prepare your letter?

Use the online writing flow or upload your finished PDF, then review the complete preview, page count and total. UK letters cost £2.99 for the first page plus 35p per extra page, including printing, an envelope and UK second-class postage. Processing and dispatch updates are not delivery tracking; ordinary post has no guaranteed arrival date.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a county?

Not normally when the town and full postcode are present. Follow the recipient's supplied address and Royal Mail's clear addressing guidance.

Should I use commas?

No commas or full stops are needed between address lines. Put each element on its own left-aligned line.

Does entering an address fix my uploaded PDF?

No. Check that the complete recipient address is already correctly placed in the PDF's left envelope window area.