Address Line 1 vs Line 2: How to Format Addresses Correctly (With Examples)

Understanding Address Line 1 and Line 2

There isn’t a single global law defining address lines, but most postal systems follow a widely accepted structure that works across platforms like
UPS, FedEx, and USPS. Knowing how to structure your addresses helps ensure accurate deliveries and prevents form rejections.

Address Line 1

This is the primary street address. It should always be filled in and typically includes:

• House or building number
• Street name and street type
• Apartment, suite, or unit number (if not placed on Line 2)

Examples:

123 Main Street
42B Elm Avenue
100 Market Road Apt 3A

Address Line 2

This line is optional and used for secondary information such as:

• Apartment, suite, unit, or floor number (if not in Line 1)
• Building or complex name
• Care of (c/o) or attention (Attn) information
• Department or company subdivision

Examples:

Apt 3A
Suite 500
c/o John Smith
Tech Tower, 7th Floor

Many forms and shipping systems will concatenate Line 1 and Line 2 automatically. Make sure Line 1 can stand on its own, and only use Line 2 for optional extra details.

Universal Address Format Template

To meet international standards set by the Universal Postal Union, you can follow this universal structure for addresses:

Address Line 1: [Street Number] [Street Name] [Street Type] [Building Name (if any)]
Address Line 2: [Apartment/Suite/Unit/Floor] [c/o or Attn info] [Department/Company Subdivision]
City/Town: [City or Locality Name]
State/Province/Region: [State/Province/Region Name]
Postal/ZIP Code: [ZIP or Postal Code]
Country: [Full Country Name]
      

Example Address

Address Line 1: 123 Main Street
Address Line 2: Apt 5B, c/o John Smith
City: Los Angeles
State/Province: CA
Postal Code: 90012
Country: United States
      

Practical Tips

• Always keep Address Line 1 non-empty — shipping APIs will reject it otherwise.
• If you have no secondary info, leave Address Line 2 blank.
• Use only standard letters and numbers (ASCII) for shipping labels or government forms.
• When sending international mail, place the postal code before the city if that’s the local convention (like in most of Europe).