Addresses around the world
European Address Format Conventions
European addresses share a small-to-large logic but vary in number placement and postal code position. Learn the common patterns and differences.
Updated 14 October 2026 · 3 min read
European addresses broadly follow a small-to-large order: recipient, street and number, then postal code and town, then country. Within that framework there are many local variations, and the details matter for correct sorting.
The common skeleton
Most European addresses contain these lines:
- Recipient name, with optional organisation or department
- Street name and building number
- Postal code and town
- Country, on its own line for international mail
Where the number goes
Number placement is the most visible difference. Some countries write the street name first and the number after it. Others place the number first. Some add letters or fractions to separate entrances in the same building. When in doubt, follow the format used by the destination country, not your own.
Where the postal code goes
In much of continental Europe the postal code sits on the same line as the town, before its name. Elsewhere the code comes at the end of a line or on its own line. Code length and character types also vary; some are purely numeric, some mix letters and digits. This is the difference between a code's format and an address's layout, covered in postal code format vs address format.
Country prefixes
In the past, a country prefix was often written in front of the postal code on mail from abroad, and some senders still do so. Today the country name on its own last line is what matters. The country name should still appear on the last line, as explained in country name in international addresses.
Diacritics and multiple languages
Europe has many languages, accented letters and bilingual areas. A place name may have different official forms depending on language. Keep the accents as they are supplied, and see multilingual addresses for how to choose.
Floors and units
Building-level detail can appear before or after the street line, and floor numbering conventions differ. For more, see apartment, unit and floor notation.
Summary
Treat the European format as a shared pattern with local rules. Keep street, number and code in separate fields in your data, and format each address according to the destination.
Frequently asked questions
Is the house number before or after the street name in Europe?
It varies. In many European countries the number follows the street name, while in others it comes first. Check the convention for the destination country.
Does the postal code come before the town name?
In much of continental Europe the postal code is written before the town name. In some other places it appears after the town or on a separate line.