Free address verification

How to verify an address

1. 1

   Enter the address

   Type the street address and any apartment, suite or unit number. Add the ZIP code, or the city and state if you don’t know it.
2. 2

   Choose Verify address

   The address is checked against current postal delivery data. It takes a second or two.
3. 3

   Use the standardized address

   Copy the corrected address with its ZIP+4 onto your label or into your order system. If a unit is missing, add it and check again.

Address verification FAQ

How do I check if an address is valid?

Enter the street address, any apartment or suite number, and the ZIP code (or the city and state), then choose Verify address. The result says whether the address was confirmed as deliverable and shows the standardized version with its ZIP+4.

What does “needs apartment or suite” mean?

The building was found, but it has several delivery points and the unit number was missing or did not match. Add the apartment, suite or unit and check again; carriers often return packages addressed to a building without a unit.

How do I find the ZIP+4 for an address?

Verify the address. When it is confirmed, the standardized address ends with the five-digit ZIP and the four-digit add-on, for example 10001-1234.

Does it tell me if an address is residential?

Usually. The result shows Residential or Business when that information is available. Carriers such as UPS and FedEx charge more to deliver to residences, so it is worth checking before you quote shipping.

How many addresses can I check for free?

A few US addresses a day per visitor, with an overall daily limit across all visitors. To verify addresses at checkout, in bulk or in your own software, use the ShipWave Address API, which includes 100 free lookups a month.

Do you store the addresses I enter?

No. The address is sent to the address validation service, the result is shown to you, and nothing about the address is saved or logged by ShipWave. Only an anonymous daily counter is kept to enforce the free limit.

Is this the USPS address lookup?

No. ShipWave is not affiliated with the United States Postal Service. The check uses an address validation service that includes USPS delivery-point data for US addresses, and standardizes addresses to the format the Postal Service recommends.