Return Address

The return address tells the USPS where the sender of a mailpiece wants it returned when it cannot be delivered. A return address is only required in the instances mentioned previously. On letter-size mail, the USPS recommends that the return address be on the front, and read in the same direction as the delivery address and be:

• No further than half the length of the mailpiece
• No lower than one-third of the height
• Not in the OCR read area

OCR Read Area

For optical scanning of the address on USPS Optical Character Reader (OCR) or Multi-Line Optical Character Reader (MLOCR) it is required that the entire address be located within an imaginary rectangle on the front of the mailpiece. This area is formed by the following boundaries:

• 1/2" (0.5") from the left edge of the mailpiece.
• 1/2" (0.5") from the right edge of the mailpiece.
• 2-3/4" (2.75") from the bottom edge of the mailpiece.

Barcode Clear Zone

The barcode clear zone is the area on the lower right corner of the mailpiece where the mailer or the USPS can print the barcode. Other than the barcode, it must be free of all other printing.

Location of the barcode clear zone:

• 5/8" (0.625") from the bottom edge and
• 4-3/4" (4.75") from the right edge of the mailpiece
• Presort bureaus may require up to 6-3/4" (6.75") from the right edge of the mailpiece