Stamp out mailing errors: The ultimate guide to USPS address validation

For businesses, USPS address validation is the process of ensuring you have accurate addresses for customers within the US. This reduces failed deliveries and costs associated with returned mail. It also enhances customer satisfaction by ensuring deliveries are made on time - and to the right place. 

But is it the right option for every business? In this article, we discuss the pros and cons of USPS address validation, and whether it's right for you. There are some other options out there, after all - but we'll get to that.  

What is USPS address validation?

USPS address validation is a service provided by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to ensure that mailing addresses are accurate, standardized, and deliverable. 

The process involves comparing a given address against the USPS database of valid addresses to verify its authenticity. The service can correct minor errors, standardize formatting to meet USPS guidelines, and identify potential issues that might prevent successful mail delivery. 

Why Does USPS Address Validation Matter?

The USPS maintains one of the most comprehensive and expedient mail delivery networks in the world. 

The Agency has an annual operating revenue of more than $71B and delivers 48 percent of the world’s mail. It is self-funded through revenues from stamps and other service fees rather than tax dollars.

The USPS is a role model for the rest of the world and ranks #7 on a global list of the world’s highest performing postal services based on four factors: reliability, reach, relevance, and resilience. The country is one of the top funders of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), which is a United Nations specialized agency for global collaboration in the postal sector.

The USPS provides a gateway for the global commercial sector to reach American customers. 

The backbone of the USPS is its integrated supply chain, which partners with private companies to deliver mail to 160M+ delivery addresses, which includes 46M rural addresses. Throughout rural America, the USPS is often the only delivery option available. The United States is one of only 12 percent of countries that have delivery point verification (DVP) data, which corresponds to a house or apartment.

How USPS Addresses Work

According to the USPS official website, “the delivery address is the most important information on your mail piece.” Well said, in our book! The United States Postal Service relies on automated mail processing machines to read addresses from the bottom up. These systems first look for a city, state, and ZIP code that corresponds to a specific region within a geography. Extra information below the delivery address line can sometimes confuse the machine.

There are six components that comprise a USPS address:

• Name
• Company
• Delivery Address
• City
• State
• ZIP Code

The ZIP code is, of course, the US version of a postal code internationally. The role of the ZIP code is to process data with expediency and efficiency. 

United States ZIP codes are five numerical digits long. ZIP+4 codes, also known as add-on or plus-four codes, include four additional digits that identify a geographic segment within a ZIP code delivery area.

To send mail, only the first five digits of the ZIP code are required. Including the full ZIP+4 code; however, can expedite delivery times due to the specific geographic detail communicated.

ZIP codes are basically like a kind of address barcode, enabling the automatic sorting of mail, which then of course reduces the amount of human oversight needed.

A comprehensive list of guidelines for addressing is available on the USPS website. You may be surprised to hear that more than 25% of mail pieces have an error such as a missing apartment number or incorrect ZIP code. In some cases, the USPS is able to deliver mail with errors. But it costs the agency time and money — resources that are scarce, and there's always the potential for human mistakes.

One of the benefits of address verification is that it allows you to claim USPS Marketing Mail and First-Class mail prices. For global eCommerce businesses, these cost-savings can amount to substantial benefits.

Address verification is critical to mitigate the potential for delivery errors that strain the USPS. It’s estimated that:

• 17% of Americans change addresses annually
• 45 million people move each year
• Approximately one out of every six families moves each year
• The USPS adds more than 4,000 addresses to its delivery network every day
• The USPS processes more than 118, 000 address changes daily

For businesses and individuals, USPS address validation is thus an essential tool to minimize the risk of undelivered mail, reduce wasted postage costs, and streamline delivery efficiency.

To check address validity with USPS, the process typically involves checking for elements like street names, house or apartment numbers, city names, ZIP Codes, and other critical components of an address. If the input address has discrepancies with the stored version of the address—such as missing or incorrect information—the system may suggest corrections or flag the address as undeliverable. 

USPS address validation can be accessed through various platforms, including online tools, APIs, and third-party services that integrate the USPS database for seamless validation during e-commerce checkouts, customer onboarding, or bulk mail processing

Pros of USPS address validation

Hopefully, we've given you a good deep dive into how USPS validation works. But is it right for your business? To assess USPS address services, let’s first discuss the pros. 

• Accuracy - USPS address validation directly leverages the official USPS database, meaning you'll know the addresses it verifies and standardises will be accurate.
• Free - USPS has free options available for basic validation needs. 
• Can be integrated - USPS offers APIs that integrate into websites, e-commerce platforms, and CRM systems, with some input needed from your in house developers. 
• Trusted - As the official postal service, USPS provides a trusted, government-backed validation system.

Cons of USPS address validation

Now, let's take a look at some of the key drawbacks to using USPS' address validation solution.

• US addresses only.. - There is no such thing as 'USPS international address validation'. That's right, USPS address validation is sadly limited to supporting US addresses. So, if you want your business to grow beyond the US, you will need a better solution. 
• Limited features - Features also tend to be a tad less comprehensive with USPS' own service, even if it will make your addresses more accurate. There are no advanced tools included, such as geocoding, email verification, and predictive address suggestions during user input.
• Cumbersome for users - USPS address validation tools, particularly APIs, can be quite tricky set up and use compared to modern third-party platforms. The documentation and support tends to require at least some technical expertise, meaning valuable business resource is necessary.
• Limited customization - USPS validation may not be as flexible for businesses requiring tailored solutions, such as custom formatting for addresses or integration with non-standard workflows.
• No enrichment - and no additional data - USPS doesn’t go a step beyond and provide enriched data - such as demographic information, business identifiers, or property details - which could make each customer profile a tad more valuable.
• Potential latency for high volume usage - Speed and performance can be slower during  bulk address validation for USPS's servers, especially as it has a free functionality.

How to know if USPS address validation is right for your business

USPS address validation is a powerful and reliable tool for ensuring accurate delivery to US addresses, but whether it’s the right fit for your business depends on your specific needs. If your operations are primarily domestic, require compliance with USPS mailing standards, or would benefit from a free solution without a need to scale, USPS validation is an excellent choice. It’s particularly suited for small to medium-sized businesses or those primarily using USPS for shipping and marketing campaigns.

However, if your business operates internationally, requires advanced features like geocoding, enriched data, or highly customized workflows, a third-party service may better meet your needs. Also make sure to consider your technical resources—if you need a user-friendly platform with robust integration options, Loqate’s Address Verify offers a smoother implementation process, fast look-ups, enriched data, international address verification and much more.

USPS Address Validation FAQs

Is USPS address validation free?

Yes, USPS offers free address validation tools, such as the USPS ZIP Code Lookup and Address Information APIs, for basic validation needs. However, advanced features or high-volume usage may better suit paid solutions like Loqate’s Address Verify.

Does USPS have an API for address validation?

Yes, there is a USPS API for address validation called the USPS Address Validation API (part of the Web Tools API suite). It allows businesses to verify, standardize, and correct US addresses programmatically, making it ideal for integration into e-commerce platforms or CRM systems. However, it is only useful if you only want to ship to the US. 

How much does USPS address validation cost?

USPS address validation is free for basic use, such as through their online tools or USPS API for address validation. However, if you need high-volume processing or advanced features, you may incur costs from third-party providers that integrate USPS data.

How to validate address with USPS?

To validate an address with USPS, you can use their free online tools like the USPS ZIP Code Lookup or integrate their USPS Address Validation API into your system. Simply enter the address, and USPS will verify it, correct errors, and standardize the format for deliverability.