Royal Mail has issued a reminder to anyone who writes addresses by hand on letters and parcels, warning that clear and correctly positioned writing can help make sure mail is processed and delivered properly. For people still reaching for a pen to address a birthday card, letter or parcel, the postal company says handwriting should be "clear and easy to read".
Royal Mail also advises customers to make sure the ink stands out clearly against the envelope or parcel. It stated: "It's important that the address shows up against the colour of your envelope."
Ink contrast and envelope choice
While there is no requirement to use a particular colour of pen, pale or faint writing can be harder to read. Black ink can provide a strong contrast, particularly when used on a white envelope or address label.
Customers using dark, brightly coloured or patterned envelopes can therefore use a plain white label to make the address easier to see.
Address placement and layout
The postal company's guidance also covers where the address should be placed. The address should be positioned towards the bottom left-hand side of the front of an envelope or parcel, while the postage should go in the top right corner.
Royal Mail recommends keeping the address left aligned rather than centring it or writing it in a stepped pattern. Customers should also leave a reasonable amount of space around the address.
Formatting details
The company advises that punctuation such as commas and full stops should not be used within the address. The recipient's name should come first, followed by the property number and street name. Where a property has a name rather than a number, the property name can be included instead.
The local area or village can then be written, followed by the town. Royal Mail recommends writing the town in capital letters.
A county does not need to be included on UK mail. The postcode should be written on the final line in capital letters, with Royal Mail advising customers to include one whenever possible. The company says: "Write the address clearly on the front, following our guidelines, and always include a postcode if possible."
International mail and postcode checks
For international mail, the destination country should be written on the final line in capital letters. Customers who are unsure about a postcode can use Royal Mail's Postcode Finder to check the details before sending their item.
The guidance does not mean customers need to stop handwriting addresses. Instead, Royal Mail's advice is designed to help ensure addresses remain readable throughout the sorting and delivery process. Taking a few extra seconds to use clear handwriting, strong contrasting ink and the recommended layout could help make letters and parcels easier to process.
