How to Use Care of to Address Letters or Packages

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

Co-authored by Tami Claytor and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: December 19, 2022 References Approved

Sample Envelope

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What does “℅” mean?

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Sending Mail with “℅”

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When to Use “℅”

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Q&A

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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.

Things You Should Know

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?

“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.^{[1]
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- “℅” 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.

Section 2 of 3:

Sending Mail with “℅”

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Write the intended final recipient near the center of the envelope. This is the person who will ultimately open and receive your letter.^{[2]
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Research source} Write in clear, legible handwriting so that it can be read by your local postal service.
- If you want to be sure the address is legible, type and print it onto a printable address label.
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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.^{[3]
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Research source} 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.
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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.^{[4]
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Research source} Your envelope now looks something like this:
- John Smith
- ℅ wikiHow
- 123 Technology Way
- Los Angeles, CA 90001
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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.^{[5]
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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.^{[6]
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- In the United States, thin envelopes of up to 8.5 by 11 inches (220 mm × 280 mm) can be mailed for $0.60, or with a single Forever Stamp.^{[7]
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Section 3 of 3:

When to Use “℅”

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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.^{[8]
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Research source} 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
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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.^{[9]
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- 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
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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.^{[10]
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Research source} 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
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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].”^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source
Internal Revenue Service
U.S. government agency in charge of managing the Federal Tax Code
Go to source} 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

Community Q&A

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?

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

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

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

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

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

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!
Question

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

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

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]