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In addition, it's essential to understand the cost of postage for both domestic and international shipments within Australia.
If you're mailing a letter to Australia from overseas, ensuring the correct format is used for the address is key to successful delivery. Thankfully, addressing in Australia follows a format similar to that of the United States. In this guide, we'll explain how to structure an Australian address (for residential, business, and PO Box addresses) and give you an overview of the postage costs for sending items both within Australia and internationally.
Example of an Australian Address Format
- Line 1: The recipient's full name (Linda Jones)
- Line 2: The recipient's street address (457 Maple Drive)
- Line 3: The recipient's city, state, and postal code in uppercase letters (SYDNEY NSW 2009)
- Line 4: The recipient's country code in uppercase letters (AUS)
Addressing Steps
How to Write an Australian Address on Letters & Parcels
Place the recipient's full name in the center of the envelope or parcel. Using dark ink, write their full name clearly on a single line. You may address the letter to multiple individuals residing at the same address. If they share a last name, write their first names followed by the surname, like: “John and Jane Rose.” If they have different family names, you can list up to two full names.
- If mailing to a business, add the business name on a new line underneath the recipient’s name.
- Pro Tip: Etiquette expert Tami Claytor suggests using the recipient’s title (e.g., “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” “Dr.,” etc.) when sending formal correspondence.
Write the street address on the line directly below the name. This should include the house or building number and the street name, like: “10 Eastern Road.”
- If the recipient resides in an apartment, include the apartment number before the street number, separated by a slash. For instance, “14/10 Eastern Road” indicates apartment 14 at 10 Eastern Road.
Write the town, state abbreviation, and postal code in uppercase letters. Below the street address, include the suburb or town, followed by the state abbreviation and the postal code (similar to a zip code in the US). All should be on one line and in all caps.
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Uncertain about the postal code?
Visit Australia Post’s “Find a postcode” page to confirm the recipient’s postal code.
- The abbreviations for Australian states are as follows:
- QLD: Queensland
- NSW: New South Wales
- ACT: Australian Capital Territory
- VIC: Victoria
- TAS: Tasmania
- NT: Northern Territory
- SA: South Australia
- WA: Western Australia
End with “AUSTRALIA” or the country code (AU or AUS) in capital letters. If sending mail to Australia from overseas, ensure you include the country name or its 2- or 3-letter code on a separate line below the town, state, and postal code. If sending domestically within Australia, the country or code is not required.
- Sending mail internationally from Australia? You'll need to know the country code for your destination. A list of country codes is available here.
Place your return address in the upper-left corner of the envelope. This ensures that your letter can be returned if it’s undeliverable. Format it the same way as you would the recipient’s address for domestic Australian mail. Start by writing your full name, followed by your street address on the next line. On the final line, include your suburb, state abbreviation, and postal code.
- If your return address is in the USA, you can format your return address in the American style, which is almost identical to the Australian format but without using all caps for the town and postal code. Be sure to add “US” or “USA” in capital letters as the country code.
How to Address Mail to an Australian PO Box
Instead of a street address, write the PO Box number under the recipient's name. Addressing mail to an Australian PO Box is straightforward—simply replace the street address with “PO Box” and the corresponding box number. The rest of the address follows the same format as a regular street address. Here’s an example:
- John and Jane Rose
PO Box 14610
ST LUCIA NSW 4079
AUS - If you’re addressing a business’s PO Box, include the business name on a separate line below the recipient’s name and above the PO Box number.
How to Post Your Letter or Parcel
Postage for International Mail (Sending from the USA) According to USPS, the maximum size for a letter (in an envelope) is 11.5x6.125 inches (29.2x15.6 cm), with a thickness of no more than ¼ inch (6.4 mm) and a weight limit of ounces (99.2 g). To mail a letter to any country from the US, you only need one First-Class Mail International Global Forever stamp ($.165 USD). Simply drop it off at any post office or mailbox.
- For most international parcels from the US, the combined length and girth must not exceed 108 inches (2.7 meters). This means that the longest side and the girth of the thickest part of the package should total less than 108 inches.
- The cost of shipping a parcel depends on the weight, destination, and shipping service chosen. You can calculate the postage by using the USPS Retail Postage Price Calculator.
Postage for Domestic Letters and Parcels (Within Australia) Australia Post recognizes two standard letter sizes: small letters up to 130x240mm (5.1x9.4 in) with a thickness of 5mm (0.2 in), and large letters up to 260x360mm (10.2x14.2 in) and 20mm (0.8 in) thick. Anything larger or containing rigid materials is classified as a parcel. Place your stamps in the top-right corner of the envelope or parcel. Below is the postage you’ll need:
- Small letters and postcards up to 250g (8.8 oz): 1 stamp ($1.50 AUD)
- Large letters up to 125g (4.4 oz): 2 stamps ($3 AUD)
- Large letters up to 250g (8.8 oz): 3 stamps ($4.50 AUD)
- Large letters up to 500g (17.6 oz): 5 stamps ($7.50 AUD)
- Parcels: Shipping rates for domestic parcels depend on size and weight. Check Australia Post’s standard Parcel Post rates here.
- Note: Priority or Express Post services come at a higher cost than standard rates.
- If you hold a concession card, discounted stamps are available.
Postage for International Letters and Parcels (Mailed from Australia) International mail can be sent using your own packaging and stamps (for non-urgent Economy options), or you can use prepaid envelopes or satchels from Australia Post for faster delivery. The cost varies depending on the size, weight, and destination of your mail. For an estimate of postage costs, use the Postage Calculator from Australia Post. Simply enter your location and the destination to get an estimate of cost and delivery time. Here are some basic guidelines:
- Air Economy letters cost from $4.30 AUD up to 50g (1.8 oz), and from $11.75 AUD up to 250g (8.8 oz), with delivery in 15+ business days.
- Parcels weighing less than 2kg (4.4 lbs) can be mailed by Economy Air, arriving in 15+ business days. Heavier parcels (up to 20kg or 44.1 lbs) will be sent via Sea Mail (for select destination zones) and arrive in 2–3 months.
- International shipments require a CN23 Customs Form. You can prepare this on the Australia Post website at this link.
- For faster delivery, Australia Post offers various expedited services, which are more expensive but ideal for important documents, trackable items, or time-sensitive shipments.
Where to Post Letters and Parcels in Australia For domestic letters, you can drop your mail at any post office or mailbox (you can also buy stamps at a post office if you don’t have any). Post collection typically happens around midday local time, so make sure to drop off your mail in the morning to ensure same-day collection. Keep in mind that post carriers do not operate on public holidays or weekends, so if you post your letter then, it will be delayed.
- International letters can also be dropped off in postal boxes. However, for the correct postage based on your letter’s size, weight, and destination, it’s best to go to a post office and pay for postage there.
- Parcels (both domestic and international) can be mailed from any post office. For international parcels, you may be able to prepay and print shipping labels for International Express and International Standard via a MyPost account.
Important Warnings
- If you fail to apply sufficient postage, the post office will return the letter to you and charge you for the remaining balance, plus an administration fee. If there’s no return address on the underpaid mail, they may ask the recipient to pay for the postage due.
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Ensure that the address text is left-aligned, avoiding any indentation or staggered lines.
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Use clear, block lettering instead of cursive for legibility.
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Write with dark ink, such as blue or black, to ensure the address stands out and is easily readable.
