Mango Postal
How to Address a Postcard (With Canada and US Examples)
You wrote the perfect message. Now it has to actually get there.
Addressing a postcard is simple once you know where everything goes. Here's the layout, copy-ready examples for Canada and the US, and the small mistakes that send postcards into the void.
Where everything goes on a postcard
Flip the card to the back. Draw (or imagine) a line down the middle.
- Left side: your message, plus your return address in the top left corner
- Top right: the stamp
- Bottom right: the recipient's address
How to address a postcard in Canada
Canada Post wants three lines, in this order:
- Name
- Unit and street address
- City, province and postal code
JANE DOE 304-456 MAPLE AVE TORONTO ON M5V 2T6
A few Canada Post rules that trip people up:
- Write in capital letters and skip the punctuation (no commas or periods)
- Use the two-letter province code, like ON, BC or QC
- Put two spaces between the province and the postal code
- One space in the middle of the postal code (M5V 2T6), never a hyphen
- Include the unit number. You can write it before the street number with a hyphen (304-456 MAPLE AVE) or after the street (456 MAPLE AVE APT 304)
How to address a postcard to the US
Same idea, but a US address ends with the state and ZIP code:
JOHN SMITH 123 OAK ST APT 5 BROOKLYN NY 11201
Sending it from Canada? Add USA on its own line at the bottom:
JOHN SMITH 123 OAK ST APT 5 BROOKLYN NY 11201 USA
Addressing a postcard to another country
Write the address the way that country formats it, then put the country name in capital letters on the last line. That last line is what the sorters in your country read first.
Do you need a return address?
It's optional, but it's a good idea. If the address is wrong, a return address is the only way the card comes back to you. Put it in the top left corner of the back, in smaller writing.
The common mistakes
- Writing the address across the whole card. Keep it to the bottom right quarter.
- Leaving out the unit or apartment number. In a building, this is the #1 reason mail goes missing.
- Tiny, loopy handwriting. Print clearly. Sorting machines aren't fans of cursive.
- Putting the stamp somewhere cute. It goes top right, every time.
Or let the address check itself
If you'd rather not think about any of this, send the postcard online with Mango Postal. You type the address into a form and we check the postal or ZIP code as you go. Then we print it in the right format, add postage and mail it anywhere in Canada or the US.
Each card is $4.99 CAD + $0.99 shipping, and it ships in a free protective envelope.
FAQ
Which side of the postcard does the address go on?
The back, on the right half. The front is all yours for the photo or artwork.
Where does the stamp go on a postcard?
Top right corner of the back. See how much a postcard stamp costs for 2026 prices.
Do I write "Canada" on a postcard mailed within Canada?
No. Only add the country line when you mail to a different country.
Can I put a postcard in an envelope?
Yes. The address then goes on the envelope, and it's charged as a letter (in Canada, the rate is the same for a standard-size letter). Mango Postal ships every card in a free envelope so it arrives without scuffs.
Do you need a return address on a postcard?
It's optional, but a good idea. If the address is wrong, a return address is the only way the card comes back to you. Put it in the top left corner of the back, in smaller writing.
How do you address a postcard from Canada to the US?
Write the name, the street address with any apartment number, then the city, two-letter state code and ZIP code. Add USA on its own line at the bottom, for example JOHN SMITH / 123 OAK ST APT 5 / BROOKLYN NY 11201 / USA. It needs $1.75 CAD in postage. See how much is a postcard stamp.
Make one now
Design a postcard on your phone. We print it and mail it anywhere in Canada or the US.
Build Postcard