How to write an address for speed post and letters

Knowing how to write address on speed post, letters and parcels saves days of delay. A clear address with the right pincode lets India Post sort your item fast and send it straight to the correct delivery office. This guide gives you the post office address format line by line, with examples.

Post office address format

Write the address from the smallest detail to the biggest, one item per line. The pincode goes on the last line.

1. Name of the person or company.
2. House, flat or shop number and the building name.
3. Street or road name.
4. Locality or area, and a well known landmark if the address is hard to find.
5. Village or post office name, if it is different from the town.
6. Town or city, and district.
7. State and the 6-digit PIN code.

Add the receiver's mobile number on a separate line below the address. It helps the postman call if the house is hard to find.

Address format examples

City address

Ramesh Kumar
Flat 204, Shanti Apartments
12th Main Road
Indiranagar
Bengaluru, Karnataka
PIN 560038
Mobile: 98XXXXXXXX

Village address

Sunita Devi
House 15, Near Shiv Mandir
Village and Post: (name of the branch post office)
Tehsil and District: (name)
State
PIN (6 digits of the post office)

For villages, the post office name matters a lot. Many villages do not have their own post office. Write the name of the branch office that serves the village, and use that office's pincode. You can find it on the home page by searching the village or post office name.

How to write address on envelope for speed post

• Receiver's address on the front. India Post's addressing tips ask you to write the receiver's address on the front of the envelope.
• Sender's address on the back. The same tips ask for the sender's address on the back. If you print envelopes for a business, your name or logo can go in the top left corner of the front.
• Leave the top right corner free for stamps or the postage label.
• Leave blank space along the left, right and bottom edges. India Post suggests at least 15 mm, so machines and barcode labels have room.
• Write clearly. Use capital letters or print the address. India Post also suggests leaving out full stops and commas, as they can confuse sorting machines.

When you book speed post at the counter, the clerk puts a barcode label with the tracking number on the article and gives you a receipt. Keep the receipt. You need the number for speed post tracking. Give a mobile number at booking too. India Post can send SMS updates on delivery to the registered mobile number.

How to write address in speed post for a parcel

• Pack the item well and seal it. Write or stick the address on the largest flat side.
• If you use a sticker or printed sheet, cover it with clear tape so rain does not wash it off.
• Remove or cross out old labels and barcodes from a reused box. An old barcode can send the parcel to the wrong place.
• Put a second copy of both addresses inside the box. If the outer label is damaged, the post office can still find the owner.

Writing the PIN code correctly

• Always write all six digits. Never shorten 110001 to 11001 or leave out the zeros.
• Many postcards and inland letter cards have six small boxes for the PIN. Write one digit in each box.
• Write the digits clearly. A 1 that looks like a 7, or a 0 that looks like a 6, can send mail to the wrong state.
• Do not guess. If you only know the city, search the locality on this site and open its pincode page to confirm.

Writing the address in Hindi or a regional language

You can write the address in Hindi or your state's language, and the post office will deliver it. But if the item is going to another state, write it in English or in both languages. Staff in another state may not read your script. In every case, write the pincode in plain digits, because every sorter can read numbers.

Common mistakes that delay mail

• Wrong or missing pincode. This is the biggest cause of delay. Check it with a pincode of my location lookup or a search on this site.
• Using the main city pincode. A city has many pincodes. Delhi alone has more than a hundred. Use the pincode of the exact locality.
• Same area name, wrong city. Names like Shastri Nagar or Gandhi Nagar exist in many cities. Always add the city, district and state.
• No house number or landmark. The postman may not find the home and may return the item.
• Old place names only. If a town or district was renamed, use the current name. You can add the old name in brackets.
• Writing over folds or tape. Write on a flat, clean area.

Sender's address on the back

Write "From:" and then your own full address in the same order: name, house number, street, locality, city, state and pincode. If the item cannot be delivered, this is how it comes back to you. Add your mobile number too.

Writing a company or office address

Add the department or person's name above the company name, for example "Attn: Accounts Department". Then add the floor, building, street, area, city, state and pincode as usual. For government offices, write the post held, like "The District Collector", above the office address.

Sending to an Army or field post office

Pincodes starting with 9 belong to the Army Postal Service. Use the exact unit details and the APO or FPO address given by the person you are writing to. Do not guess these details.

Before you post it

1. Check the pincode once more on its pincode page.
2. Make sure the name and phone number are correct.
3. Make sure your own address is on the item.
4. For important papers, use speed post or registered post so you get a tracking number.

To learn what the six digits of a pincode mean, read what is a pin code. For official rules, postage and services, visit indiapost.gov.in.