German Address Format — How to Write Addresses in Germany

German addresses follow a specific format that differs from English-speaking countries in several important ways. The house number comes after the street name, the postal code goes before the city, and apartment details are written using German conventions. This guide covers everything you need to correctly format a German address.

Standard German Address Format

A basic German address has three lines:

The structure is:

1. Line 1: Recipient's full name (Vorname Nachname)
2. Line 2: Street name + house number (note: number comes after the street)
3. Line 3: 5-digit PLZ postal code + city name

This is the opposite of the American convention where the house number comes first (e.g., "42 Main Street"). In Germany, you always write Straße 42, never "42 Straße".

Street Naming Conventions

German street names often include a suffix that indicates the type of road. Here are the most common:

The word "Straße" can be written as a compound with the street name (Friedrichstraße) or as two words (Berliner Straße). The abbreviation "Str." is commonly used in informal contexts but should be spelled out on official mail.

The 5-Digit PLZ System

German postal codes are called Postleitzahlen (PLZ) and are always exactly 5 digits. The system was reorganized in 1993 after reunification to create a unified numbering scheme for all of Germany.

The first digit indicates one of ten postal zones:

German State Abbreviations

Germany has 16 federal states (Bundesländer). Unlike US addresses, the state is not included in a German mailing address — the PLZ already identifies the location. However, state abbreviations are useful for reference:

Apartment Addresses

When sending mail to an apartment, the German convention uses several terms:

• c/o — "care of" (used when the recipient lives at someone else's address)
• OG or Etage — floor number (e.g., "3. OG" = 3rd floor above ground)
• EG — Erdgeschoss (ground floor)
• Whg. or Wohnung — apartment number
• Hinterhaus (HH) — rear building (common in Berlin)
• Vorderhaus (VH) — front building

Addressing Mail from Abroad

When sending international mail to Germany, add GERMANY (or ALLEMAGNE in French postal convention) as the last line, and include the country code D- before the PLZ:

The "D-" prefix is the international vehicle registration code for Deutschland. While Deutsche Post no longer requires it, many international postal services still use it for routing.

Example Addresses for Major Cities

Frequently Asked Questions