How to Write a North Dakota Address (With Examples)

Address basics  |  May 8, 2026  |  2 min read

Here is how to write a mailing address in North Dakota, with examples from Bismarck and Bismarck and the most common mistakes to avoid.

The standard format

The state is always written as ND, two capital letters with no periods. USPS prefers the city, state and ZIP on the same final line.

Example: Bismarck

Example with an apartment in Bismarck

Example with a PO Box

PO Boxes often have their own ZIP code, separate from street addresses in the same town. Check the ZIP with the post office that holds the box.

Common mistakes

• Mixing up ND with SD (South Dakota). These codes look similar and cause misrouted mail.
• Writing the full state name or an old abbreviation instead of ND.
• Putting the apartment number on a line below the street address.
• Using a ZIP code from a neighboring city. One city can have many codes, but each street belongs to a specific one.

Counties and local details

North Dakota is divided into 54 counties. The county does not appear in a mailing address, but it matters for sales tax, elections and some shipping rules, so many business systems store it separately.