How to Address a Postcard: Where the Stamp and Address Go

The quick answer

Write the recipient's address in the blank area on the right, put your stamp in the upper right-hand corner, and write your message on the left-hand side.

Most postcards have a divider down the middle. Write your note on the left and the delivery address on the right. If there is no divider, keep the right half clear for the address and stamp.

Use the back, not the picture side

Check out this awesome postcard we got from a family member in Bulgaria. They frequently send postcards to our daughter so she can read about the awesome adventures they're on. Notice that the postcard has a beautiful picture. Make sure you don't write on the picture side. Always use the back side.

Write the address on the right side

Use the same basic address format you would use on an envelope. Print clearly and keep it in the card's address area.

The person's name goes first, then the street address, then the city, state, and ZIP Code. If the card has a printed divider, stay to the right of it. Keep the upper-right corner open for the stamp.

Need to verify a ZIP Code before you send it? Use the ZIP+4 lookup.

Put the stamp in the upper-right corner

Put a postcard stamp in the upper-right corner of the back. Some cards print a small box that says where it belongs. Use that box if there is one.

As long as you're not covering the address, just tuck the stamp into the upper right-hand corner. You can use a postcard stamp or a Forever stamp for a standard postcard mailed within the U.S. Postcard stamps are generally cheaper.

Download a blank postcard back template

We created this PDF download of a postcard template to show the general layout you should follow. A lot of postcards use this standard layout, with a center line, an area for the address and stamp on the right, and room for your message on the left.

Download the 4 x 6 postcard back template (PDF)

Does a postcard need a return address?

Imagine you're in Bulgaria and want to send an awesome postcard to a friend or family member. You might not have a local address, but Bulgarian Posts still requires your full name and address. Ask at the counter which address to use while you're visiting.

Back in the U.S., a regular domestic postcard usually doesn't need a return address.

How much postage does a postcard need?

For a standard rectangular postcard mailed within the United States, current USPS postcard postage is $0.65. A postcard stamp covers that amount.

If all you have is a Forever stamp, that is fine too. It pays $0.82, which is more than the postcard rate, so it still covers a standard domestic postcard. USPS does not give change for the difference.

The retail postcard stamp price applies to rectangular cards between 5 and 6 inches long, 3½ and 4¼ inches high, and between 0.007 and 0.016 inch thick, weighing no more than 3.5 ounces. A square, oversized, or thick handmade card needs a separate postage check.

Commercial First-Class postcards have different size and preparation rules. A 5 x 7 or 6 x 9 card is outside the retail postcard stamp limits but may fit commercial postcard standards. Compare the retail and commercial postcard dimensions rather than choosing postage from the word postcard alone.

For anything outside those limits, check the postage calculator or take one finished card to the Post Office. For a card going abroad from the United States, see our international letter and postcard guide.

Quick check before you send it

• The picture side has no delivery address.
• The recipient's name and address are clear on the back.
• The stamp is in the upper-right corner.
• The card is rectangular and within postcard size limits, or you checked the correct postage.
• Your message does not run into the address area.