Overview
1.0 All Mailpieces
2.0 Address Placement for Letters
3.0 Placement and Content of Mail Markings
4.0 Endorsement Placement
A clear space must be available on all mail for the address, postage (postmarks), endorsements, and other mail markings (i.e., extra service label or form).
The delivery address specifies the location to which the USPS is to deliver a mailpiece. The piece must have a legible delivery address, only on the side of the piece bearing postage. A return address is required in specific circumstances under 4.2 and 602.1.5. See 602 for additional information regarding addressing.
The mailer is responsible for proper payment of postage. Standards for postage payment are specified for each shape and class of mail.
On a letter-size piece, the recommended address placement is within the optical character reader (OCR) read area, which is a space on the address side of the mailpiece defined by these boundaries (see Exhibit 202.2.1):
- Left: 1/2 inch from the left edge of the piece.
- Right: 1/2 inch from the right edge of the piece.
- Top: 2-3/4 inches from the bottom edge of the piece.
- Bottom: 5/8 inch from the bottom edge of the piece.
The location of the delivery address on a letter-size mailpiece determines which dimensions are the length and height of the piece. Consequently, the placement of the address may render a piece nonmailable or nonmachinable, see 601.1.1.3.
Priority Mail Express pieces must be marked “Priority Mail Express,” by using a mailing label. See 115.2.0 for mailing label standards.
[4-1-24] Priority Mail pieces must have the basic price marking of “Priority Mail” printed in a prominent location on the address side. When a shipping address label is used, the basic required price marking must be printed as provided under 202.3.9.
[4-1-24] Each single-piece price First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage — Retail piece must have a delivery address but is not required to bear a price marking. When a shipping address label is used, the basic required price marking must be printed as provided under 202.3.9.
[4-1-24] Mailers must print the basic required Package Services subclass marking—“Media Mail,” or “Library Mail” on each piece claimed at the respective price. The basic required marking must be placed in the postage area (i.e., printed or produced as part of, or directly below or to the left of, the permit imprint indicia or meter stamp or impression). When a shipping address label is used, the basic required price marking must be printed as provided under 202.3.9.
Mailpieces bearing references to expedited handling or delivery (e.g., “Urgent,” “Rush Delivery,” “Time Sensitive”) meet the requirements under 604.5.3.5.
The mailer must place the correct endorsement on each mailpiece to provide delivery instructions (retention period under 507.4.3.4, or carrier release under 508.1.1.8) or to request an ancillary service (forwarding, return, or address correction under 507.1.0 and 507.1.8), subject to the corresponding standards for use and availability. See 202.4.0 for information regarding the placement and printing of endorsements.
When an ancillary service endorsement is used, a domestic return address must be placed in the upper left corner of the address side of the mailpiece or the upper left corner of the addressing area. If the return address is a multiple delivery address, it must show a unit designator (e.g., an apartment number).
