US State Abbreviations List
All 50 U.S. state abbreviations in alphabetical order — two-letter USPS postal codes, capitals, and regions. Search below or open any state for the full guide.
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All 50 State Abbreviations
Alphabetical. Each state name links to its full abbreviation guide.
| State | Abbreviation | Capital | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | AL | Montgomery | South |
| Alaska | AK | Juneau | West |
| Arizona | AZ | Phoenix | West |
| Arkansas | AR | Little Rock | South |
| California | CA | Sacramento | West |
| Colorado | CO | Denver | West |
| Connecticut | CT | Hartford | Northeast |
| Delaware | DE | Dover | South |
| Florida | FL | Tallahassee | South |
| Georgia | GA | Atlanta | South |
| Hawaii | HI | Honolulu | West |
| Idaho | ID | Boise | West |
| Illinois | IL | Springfield | Midwest |
| Indiana | IN | Indianapolis | Midwest |
| Iowa | IA | Des Moines | Midwest |
| Kansas | KS | Topeka | Midwest |
| Kentucky | KY | Frankfort | South |
| Louisiana | LA | Baton Rouge | South |
| Maine | ME | Augusta | Northeast |
| Maryland | MD | Annapolis | South |
| Massachusetts | MA | Boston | Northeast |
| Michigan | MI | Lansing | Midwest |
| Minnesota | MN | Saint Paul | Midwest |
| Mississippi | MS | Jackson | South |
| Missouri | MO | Jefferson City | Midwest |
| Montana | MT | Helena | West |
| Nebraska | NE | Lincoln | Midwest |
| Nevada | NV | Carson City | West |
| New Hampshire | NH | Concord | Northeast |
| New Jersey | NJ | Trenton | Northeast |
| New Mexico | NM | Santa Fe | West |
| New York | NY | Albany | Northeast |
| North Carolina | NC | Raleigh | South |
| North Dakota | ND | Bismarck | Midwest |
| Ohio | OH | Columbus | Midwest |
| Oklahoma | OK | Oklahoma City | South |
| Oregon | OR | Salem | West |
| Pennsylvania | PA | Harrisburg | Northeast |
| Rhode Island | RI | Providence | Northeast |
| South Carolina | SC | Columbia | South |
| South Dakota | SD | Pierre | Midwest |
| Tennessee | TN | Nashville | South |
| Texas | TX | Austin | South |
| Utah | UT | Salt Lake City | West |
| Vermont | VT | Montpelier | Northeast |
| Virginia | VA | Richmond | South |
| Washington | WA | Olympia | West |
| West Virginia | WV | Charleston | South |
| Wisconsin | WI | Madison | Midwest |
| Wyoming | WY | Cheyenne | West |
Commonly Confused State Abbreviations
A few groups trip people up again and again — especially the A-states and M-states.
AL vs AK vs AR vs AZ
Alabama is AL, Alaska is AK, Arkansas is AR, and Arizona is AZ. All begin with A, so they are worth double-checking on forms and school lists.
ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT
The M-states cause more mix-ups than any other group: Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), and Montana (MT).
PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX
Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), and Texas (TX) are all worth a second look — their postal codes are not obvious at first glance.
Think You Know All 50 Abbreviations?
Free quiz — match states to codes and codes to states. M-states and I-states trip up most people.
FAQ
What is the difference between state abbreviations and postal abbreviations?
In everyday use, most people mean the USPS two-letter postal codes such as CA, TX, and NY. Older traditional abbreviations were longer and often used periods, such as Calif., Tex., and N.Y.
When did the two-letter state abbreviations become standard?
The USPS standardized the modern two-letter state abbreviations in 1963, alongside the introduction of ZIP Codes.
Are state postal abbreviations always written in capital letters?
Yes. Standard postal abbreviations are written as two uppercase letters with no periods, such as AL, CA, and NY.
Can I use old-style abbreviations like Calif. or Penn.?
You can use them in historical or editorial contexts, but for addresses, forms, and most modern writing, the USPS two-letter code is the safer choice.
Which state abbreviations are mixed up most often?
The biggest trouble spots are usually the M-states, along with short codes such as AL, AK, AR, AZ, MD, ME, and PA.
Can I use state abbreviations without periods?
Yes. The standard postal forms use two uppercase letters with no periods: FL, GA, OH, and so on.