Envelope: Arrangement of elements

On this page

• Receiver’s name and address
• Return address (sender’s address)
• Addressee and delivery notations
• Additional information

Receiver’s name and address

The mailing address on the envelope contains the name and address of the receiver. For details on how to format the address, see the article Addresses: Addresses on envelopes and parcels.

Begin the mailing address slightly above and to the left of the midpoint of the envelope, being sure to leave at least 10 mm of blank space on the sides and bottom of the envelope. Do not indent any lines in the address. (See Envelope: Model showing recommended format.)

If you want to use an attention line, you may put it in either of two places on the envelope. The notation ATTENTION may be placed on the first line of the address block, followed by the name of the person you wish to receive the mailing. Or it may be placed to the left of the first line of the address block:

If you need to send a letter in care of someone other than the receiver, on the line below the name of the receiver, place the notation C/O, followed by the name of the person or organization that will take responsibility for the receiver’s mail:

Return address (sender’s address)

The sender’s complete mailing address is known as the return address (that is, the address to which the envelope or parcel will be returned if it can’t be delivered). This address is placed in the upper left corner of the envelope. (It may also be placed on the back of the envelope, in the middle of the flap.)

The format is the same as for the receiver’s address, except that the sender’s name is usually omitted from the return address.

For details on how to format the return address, see the articles Business letters: Return address and Addresses: Addresses on envelopes and parcels.

Addressee and delivery notations

Notations such as PERSONAL and CONFIDENTIAL may be placed on the first line of the address block, above the name of the receiver. Alternatively, any of the above notations may appear to the left of the first line of the address block:

Delivery notations such as BY AIR MAIL or BY REGISTERED MAIL are placed to the left of the address block, on the third line below the return address:

For more information on the use of these notations, see the article Business letters: Addressee or delivery notation.

Additional information

• Correspondence and addresses – Guidelines and resources
• Envelope: Model showing recommended format
• Addresses: Addresses on envelopes and parcels
• Business letters: Attention line
• Business letters: Return address
• Business letters: Addressee or delivery notation

Terminology records

• TERMIUM Plus^® record “return address” (opens in new tab)

Other resources

• Web page “How to address mail accurately“ (opens in new tab) (Canada Post)