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Also known as: USPS Two-Letter State Abbreviations
Official two-letter abbreviations for U.S. states and territories used by the Postal Service.
DESCRIPTION
USPS State Codes are standardized two-letter abbreviations for U.S. states and territories used in postal addressing. They are essential for address normalization, geocoding, and data matching. The codes support reliable mail delivery, deduplication, and reference data quality across systems handling U.S. addresses. They differ from ISO 3166-2 subdivision codes but can be crosswalked. USPS maintains addressing standards in Publication 28.
ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS
United States Postal Service (USPS)
Use the two-letter State abbreviations when addressing mail to U.S. States and possessions.
Directly instructs official usage in addressing.
USPS
The Postal Service uses two-letter state and possession abbreviations.
Highlights official abbreviation format.
RELATED TERMS
ISO 3166 FIPS ZIP Codes Address Standardization
COMPETING TERMS
RELATIONS
- Broader: State Codes
KNOWLEDGE AREAS
Reference & Master Data Data Management Data Integration & Interoperability Data Quality
TARGET AUDIENCE
Data Steward Information Analyst Data Engineer Data Architect Data Governance Manager
EXTERNAL SOURCES
- Wikipedia - List of U.S. state and territory abbreviations
- USPS Publication 28 - Official state abbreviations list
- U.S. Census Bureau - State codes and ANSI references
TOP QUESTIONS
Why use USPS State Codes in data systems?
They standardize U.S. addresses, improving deliverability, deduplication, and matching accuracy across datasets.
Category: Relevancy
How do USPS codes differ from ISO 3166-2?
USPS codes are two-letter mailing abbreviations; ISO 3166-2 includes country prefix and formal subdivision codes.
Category: Comparison
What is a common mistake with USPS State Codes?
Using outdated or nonstandard abbreviations; always validate against the current USPS list.
Category: Mistakes
How to manage crosswalks between USPS and ISO codes?
Maintain a reference mapping table with versioning and audit changes as standards evolve.
Category: Management
Are USPS codes sufficient for international addresses?
No. Use ISO 3166 for international country and subdivision standards.
Category: Misunderstanding
What risks come from inconsistent state abbreviations?
Failed deliveries, poor matching, and erroneous regional analytics.
Category: Risks
Where can I verify official USPS State Codes?
USPS Publication 28 lists the official two-letter state and possession abbreviations.
Category: Getting Started
How often do USPS State Codes change?
Rarely, but standards and territory names can update; monitor USPS publications.
Category: Topic
Can USPS State Codes be used as database keys?
Yes, but include referential integrity and version metadata to manage edge cases.
Category: Best Practices