Quick answer: A street number is just the digits that identify a building on a street, such as 221. A street address is the full location line, usually the number plus the street name, and sometimes a unit, such as 221 Baker Street, Apt 4. The street number is one part of the street address.
Quick Quiz: Street Number vs Street Address
The digits that identify a building along a street, like 221.
The number plus the street name, and often a unit, like 221 Baker Street, Apt 4.
The name of the road itself, like Baker Street.
The street address plus city, state or region and postal code.
People mix up street number vs street address because forms often ask for one when they mean the other. The simple version is that the number is a piece, and the address is the whole line.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Street number | The digits that identify a building on a street | Noun (address component) | The street number is painted above the door. |
| Street name | The name of the road | Noun (address component) | The street name is Maple Avenue. |
| Street address | The number and street name, often with a unit | Noun (address line) | Please enter your street address in the first box. |
| Mailing address | The full address including city, region and postal code | Noun (complete address) | Send the letter to my mailing address. |
What is a street number?
A street number is the numeric part of an address that tells you which building or property you mean. In 221 Baker Street, the street number is 221.
Numbers often follow a pattern, such as odd numbers on one side of the road and even numbers on the other, though this varies by place. Some numbers include letters, such as 14B, or fractions.
What is a street address?
A street address is the line that tells someone where a property sits on a street. In the US it usually combines the street number and street name, and may add a unit, suite or apartment.
For example, “500 Oak Avenue, Suite 12” is a street address. It does not yet include the city or postal code, so it is only part of a full mailing address.
Street number vs street address: what is the difference?
The street number is a single component, and the street address is the full line that contains it. The number answers “which building?” while the address answers “where is it?”
On a form, “street number” usually wants only the digits, such as 500. “Street address” usually wants the whole line, such as 500 Oak Avenue. If a form has separate boxes, follow the labels exactly.
Is a street address the same as a mailing address?
Not quite. A street address covers the number, street name and any unit. A mailing address adds the city, state or region and postal code, and in some countries a country name.
A PO Box is a mailing address, but it is not a street address, because it does not point to a building on a street. Some services, such as couriers, will not deliver to a PO Box, so they ask for a street address instead.
Do address formats differ by country?
Yes. In the US the number usually comes first, as in 221 Baker Street. In many European countries the number comes after the street name, as in Baker Straße 221. Some places use landmarks, plot numbers or district names instead.
When in doubt, follow the format the form, postal service or local convention requires.
How can you remember which one to use?
Ask whether you need one piece or the whole line. If you need only the digits, that is the street number. If you need the number and the street name together, that is the street address.
Common mistakes
✗ My street number is 500 Oak Avenue.
✓ My street number is 500, and my street address is 500 Oak Avenue.
✗ A street address is only the digits.
✓ A street address includes the number and the street name.
✗ A PO Box is a street address.
✓ A PO Box is a mailing address, not a street address.
✗ The street address includes the zip code.
✓ The zip code belongs to the full mailing address.
✗ Street name and street number mean the same thing.
✓ The street name is the road’s name, and the street number identifies the building.
Memory tricks
- Number is a piece: The street number is one piece, and the address is the whole puzzle.
- Digits vs line: If it is just digits, it is a number. If it reads like a line of text, it is an address.
- Street means building: A street address points to a building, so a PO Box does not count.
FAQ
What is the difference between a street number and a street address?
A street number is just the digits that identify a building, while a street address is the full line that usually includes the number, street name and any unit.
Is the street number part of the street address?
Yes. The street number is one component of the street address.
What do I enter for street address on a form?
Enter the number and street name, plus any unit or suite, unless the form has separate boxes for each part.
Is a PO Box a street address?
No. A PO Box is a mailing address, and it does not point to a building on a street.
Does a street address include the city and zip code?
Usually not. The city and postal code are added to form the full mailing address.
Conclusion
The street number vs street address question comes down to a part versus the whole: the number is one piece, and the address is the full line. Check each form’s labels and you will fill them in correctly. Share this with someone who mixes these up.