How to Use "ATTN" to Address Mail

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Learn what "ATTN" means and when to use it
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If you're mailing a letter to someone's place of business, addressing it with "ATTN," which is short for "attention," will help ensure it falls into the right hands. We’ll tell you how and when to use it, what it means, and how to fill out the rest of your mail’s address, so that it gets to where it needs to go safely and securely.

ATTN Meaning

When you see “ATTN” on an envelope, package, or at the top of a letter, it means “attention,” and tells you who the mail is for. It’s often used when mailing something to a place other than the person’s home address, like their place of work, so that other people don’t open it.

Sample Envelope

Section 1 of 3:

Using ATTN On an Envelope

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  1. Write the recipient’s information in the center of the letter or package. The "ATTN" line always appears at the very top of your package or letter’s address line when you address it , just before the name of the person you're sending it to. This line tells the mail carrier exactly who the letter is intended for. Use a colon after "ATTN" to make it clearly readable. [1]
    • For example, write "ATTN: John Smith," where "John Smith" is replaced with your recipient's name. Or, write out the full word "Attention” or “Attention to”.
    • If you don’t know who the letter needs to reach, exactly, write the most specific recipient you can, like the office, department, or job title of the person after “ATTN:”.
  2. The name of the company where the person works goes underneath the "ATTN" line. If the company is large and the person to whom you're writing works for a particular department, include the department name on a line of it's own before you write the company name. [2] If there is no business to add, skip this step.
    • Not including the company name on the envelope will not usually prevent your letter from being delivered. However, your letter will look less professional , and may not get delivered promptly if you don't include the company name.
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  3. Write the full address on a single line beneath the company name, if there is one, or beneath the recipient’s name, if there isn’t. [3] Make sure to include any directional signs (such as "east" or "west"), suite number, or unit number. Suite and unit numbers should not be placed on a separate line unless absolutely necessary.
    • Make sure you know the exact street address where your recipient works. Many businesses that are located in multi-story or other large buildings will include a suite number in their address. Including this number is crucial.
  4. Format this section as “CITY, STATE POSTAL CODE,” with a comma after the city, but nowhere else. [4] If you know the "ZIP+4" postal code, include it to further ensure that your letter reaches the correct address.
  5. Finally, write the country that the recipient lives in under everything else. [5] Usually, the post office can deliver the letter without this if you’re mailing to someone within your own country, but it’s good practice, and ensures that the postal workers have an easy time delivering your letter quickly and safely.
  6. The return address is where the letter will get sent back to if the postal worker can’t deliver it for whatever reason. Every piece of mail you send should have this, but it’s especially important when addressing mail with “ATTN,” since there’s a chance the person you’re writing to may not be available. [6]
    • Format the return address the same way, with your name on the first line, your business name on the next, the street address below that, and finally the city, state, and zip code below that.
    • Don’t include “ATTN” in the return address.
  7. Place your stamp in the top right of the envelope or package. How many stamps you need depends on what type of envelope or package it is, and how much it weighs. A simple, standard envelope with a few sheets of paper inside usually requires only a single stamp. For anything larger, consult the USPS’s postage calculator to get more exact postage.
    • Or, go to your local post office to mail the letter. The postal worker at the counter will help you calculate and print the exact postage.
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Section 2 of 3:

What does “ATTN” mean?

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  1. When you add “ATTN” to the address of a letter, it tells the people handling the letter where the letter needs to go and to whom. It’s most often used when mailing something to an organization, like a business, where many people work, rather than mailing to a personal address. That way, once it reaches its final destination, the people there, like receptionists, can carry it that last little bit and deliver it to the right person or group. [7]
    • You usually don’t use “ATTN” when mailing to a personal address, or when you’re certain that a mail carrier alone can get it into the right hands, without the help of someone like an office administrator.
Section 3 of 3:

When to Use ATTN

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  1. If you’re mailing private information that only 1 specific person should see, or just want to make sure that 1 person in particular gets the package, instead of someone else, “ATTN” is a great choice. It tells everyone who handles your mail at that address that it needs to reach that person, and shouldn’t be opened until it does. [8]
    • For example, if you’re mailing something to an employee within a certain department, using “ATTN” and then their name can help make sure it doesn’t just get opened by the front desk at that business.
    • “ATTN” is also common when someone is already expecting your letter, so that they’re notified when it arrives.
  2. ATTN is also useful when you know generally where the letter needs to go, like a certain department of a business, or to someone with a certain title, but you’re not sure of the person’s name or identity. This way, once it reaches its destination, the people there who are more familiar with how things are organized can hand it to the right person. [9]
    • For example, if you’re mailing something to the leader of a department at a college, but aren’t sure of their name, you might write “ATTN: Head of Forestry Department”.
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  • Question
    Where is the "from" section located on an envelope?
    Community Answer
    The "from" section is located in the top left corner of the envelope. It goes on the same side as the address and stamp.
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  • Question
    Where do I write the room number and floor number in an address?
    Community Answer
    When you go to USPS.COM (Look Up a ZIP Code) to verify delivery zip+, the correct way to address the address portion of the envelope will be displayed. USPS loves when you use that format.
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  • Question
    Where do you put the "attention" line?
    Community Answer
    The attention line, abbreviated ATTN, should be the first line at the top of the mailing address. The second line is the company or organization where the piece of mail is being sent, if applicable. The delivery/mailing address goes on the next line, followed by the city, state and zip code on the last line.
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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To address an envelope with “Attn,” write “Attn:” at the top center of the envelope, followed by the name of the recipient. Write the name of the person’s company on the next line. Then, on the next line, write the company's address like you normally would on an envelope. For tips on what to do if the recipient works at a big company and you’re worried about them getting the letter, scroll down!

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