1. New Address Standards for Commercial Flats
Sharon Daniel
USPS Mailing Standards

2. Proposed Rule
John Doe
123 Main St
Anywhere, USA 12345
2.5 "
3 "
John Doe
123 Main St
Anywhere, USA 12345
Anywhere, USA 12345
John Doe
123 Main St
Can be left or right justified, or centered
Front cover or back cover when the bound edge is aligned to the right.
For pieces in envelopes or polybags, and ECR saturation pieces, the top is either of the shorter edges (spine need not be on the right).
Can face left or right
Bound edge
on right
Anywhere, USA 12345
123 Main St
John Doe
Proposed rule published on October 10, 2007.
Cannot read
upside down
Bound edge
on right

3. Final Rule Top Half Top Half
John Doe
123 Main St
Anywhere, USA 12345
Top Half
John Doe
123 Main St
Anywhere, USA 12345
Anywhere, USA 12345
John Doe
123 Main St
Front cover or back cover when the bound edge is aligned to the right.
For pieces in envelopes or polybags, and ECR saturation pieces, the top is either of the shorter edges (spine need not be on the right).
Can be left or right justified, or centered
Can face left or right
Bound edge
on right
Anywhere, USA 12345
123 Main St
John Doe
The final standards provide more options for most mailpieces.
Cannot read
upside down
Bound edge
on right

4. New Placement Standards
The new address placement standards apply to all presorted, automation, and carrier route Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Package Services flats.
Address must be in top half of mailpiece.
Vertical address may cross midpoint if placed within 1 inch of top edge.
When the address is on an insert polywrapped with the host piece, the address must maintain placement throughout processing and delivery.
Final rule out later this month.
Implementation in March 2009.
We will use the DMM Advisory to keep everyone informed. (Subscribe by sending to or give us your business card after the meeting.

5. Address Format
A and D are the required clear spaces above and below the Intelligent Mail barcode (current requirements and not changing).
C is the required clear space to the left and right (current requirements and not changing).
B is the clear space needed from the address to the bottom of the label (allows for label trimming).
E is the preferred clear space of inch between the address lines.
One-inch label using 10-point type and all required/recommended clear spaces.

6. Address Format
Eight-point type.
Six-point type.

7. New Formatting Standards
All commercial flats must be addressed using at least 8-point type (each letter or figure must be at least inch high).
Flats using POSTNET or Intelligent Mail barcode with a delivery point routing code may use 6-point type (each letter or figure must be at least inch high) if the address is printed in all capital letters.
Address characters cannot overlap. Address lines cannot touch or overlap (0.028-inch clearance preferred).
Address elements may be separated by no more than five blank spaces.
Sans-serif font and all capital letters preferred.
A “blank” space can equal the width of the widest character used in the type.