The United States Postal Service(R) Presents:

How to Mail a Letter or Postcard Anywhere in the U.S.

Step 1: Choose your envelope or postcard

After showing simplified examples of an envelope and postcard, we see a written message being placed and sealed in an envelope.

Step 2: Address the envelope: On the bottom center of the envelope, write the address you want your letter delivered to. Start by writing the recipient's name; on the next line, write their street address; then on the last line, put the city, state, and ZIP Code.

Example delivery address:
Jane Smith
123 Main Street
Anytown, NY 10010

Using the same format, write the return address in the top left corner.

Example return address:
John Doe
456 North Street
Anycity, VA 20020

For information on special U.S. addresses, visit https://www.usps.com/ship/letters.htm and read Step 2: Address Your Mail

Step 3: Apply your postage: For standard envelopes weighing 1 oz or less, you can use a Forever(R) stamp. Put the stamp in the top right corner of the front of the envelope (the side where you wrote the address).

For standard-sized postcards, you can use a less expensive postcard stamp. Put the stamp in the provided spot of the postcard--usually the top right corner of the side you're writing your message on.

(Standard-sized postcards are between 5 inches long by 3-1/2 inches high and 6 inches long by 4-1/4 inches high.)

For other sizes, weights, and services (like insurance or certified mail), visit https://postcalc.usps.com and use our Retail Postage Price Calculator tool to determine the cost.

Stamps can be purchased at a variety of locations, including your local Post Office(TM) branch, or online at https://www.usps.com/stamps

Step 4: Send your letter or postcard: You can leave your outgoing mail in your mailbox (raising the flag if you have one), or drop it in a blue collection box (opening the door on the top front of the box and placing your letter inside), or take it to your local Post Office branch.

End of video content.

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