How to Address a Postcard

Addressing a postcard is simple once you know the layout: the back of a postcard is split in two. The left half is for your message. The right half is for the recipient's address, written just as you would on an envelope. The stamp goes in the top-right corner.

The correct format

On the right half of the postcard, write:

Recipient's full name
Street address (including apartment or unit number)
City, State ZIP code

That's it. Keep the address in the right half only — postal sorting machines read that zone, and writing that drifts into the message side can delay delivery.

Do you need a return address?

A return address is optional on a postcard, but it's a good idea. If the card can't be delivered, USPS can send it back to you instead of discarding it. Write it small in the upper-left corner of the back, above your message — or on the front if the design has room. Keep it clearly separated from the recipient's address so sorting machines don't confuse the two.

Where the stamp goes

Top-right corner of the back. As of July 2026, a standard 4×6 postcard needs one $0.65 postcard stamp. Larger postcards (like 6×9) exceed USPS postcard dimensions and require letter-rate postage instead — one $0.82 Forever stamp covers it. For the full breakdown, see our guide to what it costs to mail a postcard.

Common mistakes to avoid

Writing the address too low or too far left — the bottom of the card is where USPS prints its own barcode, so leave the bottom 5/8 inch of the back clear. Using pencil or light-colored ink — use a pen dark enough for machines and mail carriers to read. Forgetting the ZIP code — cards without one still usually arrive, but slower.

The no-handwriting option

If you're sending a postcard online, addressing is handled for you. With Ink Dove, you design the card on your phone, type the recipient's address once, and we print it cleanly in the correct position with postage already applied — nothing to hand-letter and no stamp to find. Here's how sending a postcard online works.