Where does the sender address go on an envelope?

Recipient bottom right — clear. But where does the sender go? The answer is simpler than you think, and it decides whether an undeliverable letter finds its way back to you.

The short answer

The sender address goes on the front, top left — or on the back of the envelope, usually along the top edge of the flap. Both are accepted by Deutsche Post. The only rule: the sender must not sit in the recipient address area, so the sorting machines don't mix up the addresses.

Back of an envelope with a sender line along the flap, front of the same envelope beside it — The back is the elegant option: the sender doesn't clutter the front, and the letter still finds its way back.

Why the sender address matters

Returns: If the recipient is unknown or has moved, the letter only comes back to you if a sender address is on it. Without one it ends up in the post's investigation office.
Credibility: Authorities and companies open letters with a recognisable sender more readily — anonymous letters look suspicious.
Traceability: For deadline letters the sender address helps with assignment if the envelope serves as evidence.

How to write the sender address

First and last name (or company name),
Street and house number,
Postcode and city.

Small, one line per item — on the front clearly smaller than the recipient address. With window envelopes the sender usually appears as a small line above the recipient address in the letter itself, visible through the window.

The complete labelling at a glance

All zones of the envelope — including the stamp and markings like "Einschreiben" — are shown in the illustrated guide Addressing an envelope correctly. If you send the letter online via the letter editor, placement takes care of itself: sender and recipient are set to the standard automatically.