How to Address an Envelope in Care of Someone Else (2024)

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A simple guide to sending mail labeled as “care of”

Co-authored byTami Claytorand Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: April 19, 2024Fact Checked

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  • Sample Envelope
  • |
  • What does “℅” mean?
  • |
  • Sending Mail with “℅”
  • |
  • When to Use “℅”
  • |
  • |
  • Tips

You need that letter to get to the right person, but there’s one problem: you know their building or business place, but not their exact address. No worries, just address your letter in the care of (℅) the building, business, or someone else at the residence! What does that mean? How do you do it? Great questions, we’ve got the answers. This easy guide will walk you through how to address a letter or envelope so that it gets to where it needs to go, and we’ll also fill you in on all the handy ways you can use “℅” on your mail.

How to Write a C/O Address

  • Write the recipient’s full name in the center of the envelope in neat, legible handwriting.
  • Write “℅” and the name of the person, business, or building the letter will be sent to underneath the recipient’s name.
  • Add the street address of the location or person who will then care for and deliver the letter to the final recipient, along with your return address and postage.

Sample Envelope

Sample Envelope in Care of Someone Else

Section 1 of 3:

What does “℅” mean?

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  1. “Care of” means “via” or “by way of.” Also written as “℅” on mailed items, this addition means that the envelope, postcard, or package will be delivered to a caretaker, who will then deliver it to the intended recipient. This is opposed to the mail being delivered directly to the final recipient, as usual.

    • “℅” also lets the caretaker know that the mail isn’t for them, even if it has their address on it, and they shouldn’t open it themselves.
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Section 2 of 3:

Sending Mail with “℅”

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  1. 1

    Write the intended final recipient near the center of the envelope. This is the person who will ultimately open and receive your letter.[1] Write in clear, legible handwriting so that it can be read by your local postal service.

  2. 2

    Write “℅” and the person that will care for the letter under the recipient. This is the caretaker, or the person who will receive the mail first, but then will ensure it gets to its final recipient. It might be an individual person, a business place, a hotel, or any other organization. For example:

    • John Smith
    • ℅ wikiHow
    • In the above example, John Smith is the intended recipient, and wikiHow is the caretaker. This means the letter will come to the wikiHow office first, where John works, and someone at the office will then deliver the letter to John.
  3. 3

    Write the address of the caretaker under their name. Now, continue to address the mail like you would any other letter, with the street address and apartment or unit beneath the caretaker’s name. Then, write the city and state abbreviation beneath the street address followed by a comma. Finally, write the zip code after the comma. Your envelope now looks something like this:

    • John Smith
    • ℅ wikiHow
    • 123 Technology Way
    • Los Angeles, CA 90001
  4. 4

    Write your return address in the top left corner. The return address is the place the mail will be returned to if it cannot be delivered for any reason. This address follows the typical format, with your name on the top line, your street address beneath it, and finally your city, state, and zip code beneath that.[2]

  5. 5

    Add the appropriate postage to the top right corner and mail the letter. Visit a post office or go to the USPS website to purchase stamps. Affix the stamp to the envelope and place it in your mailbox or a post office box to mail it out.

    • In the United States, thin envelopes of up to 8.5 by 11 inches (220mm ×280mm) can be mailed for $0.60, or with a single Forever Stamp.[3]
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Section 3 of 3:

When to Use “℅”

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  1. 1

    Use “℅” when you don’t know the recipient’s exact address. In these cases, address the mail to the most specific address you can think of, like their business place, apartment complex, dormitory, or other general location, with the recipient’s name in the first line and “℅ [caretaker]” in the second line.[4] You can also use “℅” to send mail to someone through their nursing home or the hospital where they’re staying.

    • Maya Robinson
    • ℅ Rose Hospital
    • 495 Wellness Way
    • Frankfort, KY 40003
  2. 2

    Use “℅” to send mail to a friend by way of someone else. Say you have a wedding invite you need to send, but it’s been a while since you spoke to the recipient and you’re not sure where they live anymore. But you do know someone else who has that information. In this case, send the letter to the person you’d like to invite, but address it in care of the person who does know the recipient’s address.

    • It’s polite to also invite the caretaker of the letter, so that they don’t feel left out or overlooked.
    • [Friend’s Name]
    • ℅ [Person who knows friend’s address]
    • 7703 Acquaintance Road
    • Augusta, ME 04538
  3. 3

    Use “℅” to send mail to someone’s hotel. If your intended recipient is traveling and you don’t know their room number, write “℅ [Hotel Name]” on the envelope beneath the recipient’s name. The letter will be delivered to the hotel, and the hotel staff will deliver the mail to the appropriate room.[5] If the recipient is no longer at the hotel, the letter will be returned to the return address.

    • Finn O'Lear
    • ℅ Sunnyside Inn
    • 8056 Magnolia St.
    • Helena, MT 45678
  4. 4

    Use “℅” to receive sensitive documents. These might be things like paperwork that concerns only yourself and your attorney or your doctor; or just anything that should only be read by its intended recipient. In these cases, when prompted to provide your own address, you can instead provide your name and “℅ [Your Attorney].”[6] Then, your attorney will receive your mail and deliver it to you the next time you meet.

    • [Your Name]
    • ℅ [Your Attorney’s Name]
    • 901 Evergreen Lane
    • Salt Lake City, UT 84044
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  • Question

    If I need to address a letter to a celebrity in c/o their manager, would I put recipient first, then c/o person, followed by corporate headquarters address?

    How to Address an Envelope in Care of Someone Else (17)

    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer

    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

    How to Address an Envelope in Care of Someone Else (18)

    wikiHow Staff Editor

    Staff Answer

    Exactly! It'd look something like this:Lady Gagac/o [Lady Gaga's Manager][Street address of manager's office]

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question

    Do I address someone with their title when addressing an envelope?

    How to Address an Envelope in Care of Someone Else (19)

    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer

    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

    How to Address an Envelope in Care of Someone Else (20)

    wikiHow Staff Editor

    Staff Answer

    It's not strictly necessary, but it may help the letter get delivered to the most accurate residence, and it can't hurt!

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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  • Question

    How do I address a letter to a friend's employer if she works there?

    How to Address an Envelope in Care of Someone Else (21)

    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer

    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

    How to Address an Envelope in Care of Someone Else (22)

    wikiHow Staff Editor

    Staff Answer

    In that case, address the letter like this:[Friend's Name]c/o [Friend's Employer][Address of friend's employer]

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

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      Tips

      • You can also address it To the Attention of someone who works at a large company. In the example above, you might write "ATTN: John Smith," then "wikiHow" on the next line and the rest of the address as normal.

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      About This Article

      How to Address an Envelope in Care of Someone Else (38)

      Co-authored by:

      Tami Claytor

      Etiquette Coach

      This article was co-authored by Tami Claytor and by wikiHow staff writer, Luke Smith, MFA. Tami Claytor is an Etiquette Coach, Image Consultant, and the Owner of Always Appropriate Image and Etiquette Consulting in New York, New York. With over 20 years of experience, Tami specializes in teaching etiquette classes to individuals, students, companies, and community organizations. Tami has spent decades studying cultures through her extensive travels across five continents and has created cultural diversity workshops to promote social justice and cross-cultural awareness. She holds a BA in Economics with a concentration in International Relations from Clark University. Tami studied at the Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned her Image Consultant Certification. This article has been viewed 2,554,979 times.

      7 votes - 83%

      Co-authors: 41

      Updated: April 19, 2024

      Views:2,554,979

      Categories: Addressing Envelopes

      Article SummaryX

      To address an envelope in care of someone else, write the name of the intended recipient on the front of the envelope. Below that, write C/O, which stands for "Care Of," a colon, and then the name and mailing address of the person or company responsible for passing the letter on. Next, put proper postage on the upper right hand corner of the envelope. Include your return address, then put your envelope in a post box to be delivered. For where to include your return address, read on!

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      How to Address an Envelope in Care of Someone Else (2024)

      FAQs

      How to Address an Envelope in Care of Someone Else? ›

      Include "c/o" on the second line: Following the recipient's name, write "c/o" (or "in care of") and the name of the entity or person responsible for delivering the mail to the recipient. This could be a company, a family member, or the primary resident at the address.

      How do I address an envelope in care of someone else? ›

      Write the recipient's full name in the center of the envelope in neat, legible handwriting. Write “℅” and the name of the person, business, or building the letter will be sent to underneath the recipient's name.

      What is an example of in care of? ›

      Sending mail to someone's hotel: If you need to send correspondence to someone at a hotel, but you don't know their room number, use "in care of" before the name of the hotel so they can deliver the letter or package to them.

      How does care of work on a letter? ›

      The 'care of' or c/o address is used whenever sending mail to a person who does not actually live or work at the address. The 'c/o' person is the person who will receive the mail for the individual.

      How do I write care off? ›

      You write c/ o before an address on an envelope when you are sending it to someone who is staying or working at that address, often for only a short time. c/o is an abbreviation for 'care of'.

      What do they mean by care of? ›

      idiom. (US in care of); (written c/o) used to give someone the address where you can be contacted when you are staying away from home: You can write to me care of my grandmother.

      How to address an envelope without a name? ›

      Q: What should I do if I don't know the recipient's name? A: If the recipient's name eludes you, no worries. You can use a general term like "Resident" or "Occupant." It's like addressing the letter to the keeper of the mailbox.

      How to properly address an envelope? ›

      When sending an envelope, it's important to include the sender's full name and address, the recipient's full name and address and any postage. The sender's name and address generally go in the top left corner of the envelope. The recipient's name and address should be in the lower center of the envelope.

      How do you address an envelope attention to? ›

      The "Attn" line should always appear at the very top of your delivery address, just before the name of the person you're sending it to. Use a colon after "Attn" to make it clearly readable. This line signifies to the mail carrier exactly for whom the letter is intended.

      How do you start a caring letter? ›

      Start with “Dear Friend.” Even if you don't know your reader by name, starting with “Dear Friend” will make them feel special and cared for. Introduce yourself. Let your reader know who you are and why you're writing. Send positive thoughts.

      How to write an address example? ›

      Example of a Standard Address
      1. Recipient's Name: John Doe.
      2. Street Number and Name: 123 Maple Street.
      3. City, State, Postal Code: Springfield, IL, 62704.
      4. Country (if international): United States.
      Jan 19, 2024

      What is an example of a mailing address? ›

      For example: PO Box 123456. It is important to make sure you have the correct Zip Code when sending to a PO Box. Other than the PO Box number, the only identifier for where this letter should go is the city, state, and ZIP.

      How do I address a letter in care of another person? ›

      Address the outside of your letter's envelope with the name of your main recipient in the middle address block. On the second line, underneath their name, add "c/o" and the name of the person connected with the address you're sending the letter to.

      Where to write to and from on an envelope? ›

      How to address an envelop. Address of the addressee shall be written on front side and sender's address on back side on an envelope. Minimum 15mm blank space shall be kept from left, bottom and right side of envelope.

      How to write care of in short form? ›

      C/O is short for 'care of' and means you're sending the correspondence 'in the care of' another party. You're sending it through someone else or 'by way of' someone. When you use C/O to send correspondence to someone not widely known at the address, you're sending it via another person who is better known there.

      How do you address an envelope to someone you don't know the name of? ›

      Q: What should I do if I don't know the recipient's name? A: If the recipient's name eludes you, no worries. You can use a general term like "Resident" or "Occupant." It's like addressing the letter to the keeper of the mailbox.

      How do you address an envelope to a patient? ›

      When addressing your envelope, include the patient's name, unit and room number as well as the main hospital address (call the hospital main number if you don't know the unit and room number). Call the hospital main number and give the patient's name (and unit and room number if you know it).

      How do you abbreviate care of? ›

      C/O is short for 'care of' and means you're sending the correspondence 'in the care of' another party. You're sending it through someone else or 'by way of' someone. When you use C/O to send correspondence to someone not widely known at the address, you're sending it via another person who is better known there.

      How do you address an envelope to someone not married? ›

      An invitation to an unmarried couple residing at the same address is addressed with both names connected by “and.” Use one or two lines, depending on length. No abbreviations or middle initials are used when addressing formal invitations.

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