State Abbreviation Guide

What Is the Abbreviation for Alabama?

The standard 2-letter abbreviation for Alabama is AL.

State Abbreviation
AL
Traditional Form
Ala.
Capital
Montgomery
Region
South

Alabama Abbreviation

AL is the standard abbreviation for Alabama. Ala. still appears in older print sources, but AL is the standard code used in addresses, forms, databases, and current style guides.

2-letter postal code
AL
Traditional / AP style
Ala.
Address format
Montgomery, AL
Takes periods?
No — write AL, not AL.

Alabama Abbreviation for Mailing and Forms

Use AL for mailing addresses, shipping labels, government forms, and school or business records.

Mailing addresses
Shipping labels
Online checkout forms
Tax documents
Spreadsheets & databases
Government & school records

In all of these contexts write AL in uppercase. The form AL. with a period is incorrect for postal use.

AP Style and Traditional Alabama Abbreviation

Postal & forms AL Mailing addresses, shipping labels, online forms, and all data entry.
AP Style & editorial Ala. Newspapers, news releases, and most editorial style guides when a city name comes first.

What Does AL Stand For?

Alabama's USPS abbreviation is AL.

USPS has used AL for Alabama since 1963. The older form Ala. still appears in books, archives, and some style-driven writing, but AL is the standard for addresses and forms.

How to Write an Alabama Address

In a U.S. mailing address, write the city name, then AL in uppercase, then the five-digit ZIP Code. Never put a period after the abbreviation.

John Smith 123 Main St Montgomery, AL ZIP

The same format applies in checkout forms, school worksheets, CRM systems, spreadsheets, shipping labels, and government databases — anywhere a two-letter state code is required.

Related Abbreviation Questions

These states share a first letter, region, or alphabetical position with Alabama and are commonly looked up alongside it.

What is the abbreviation for Alaska? Alaska's abbreviation is AK. What is the abbreviation for Arizona? Arizona's abbreviation is AZ. What is the abbreviation for Arkansas? Arkansas's abbreviation is AR. What is the abbreviation for Delaware? Delaware's abbreviation is DE. What is the abbreviation for Florida? Florida's abbreviation is FL. What is the abbreviation for Georgia? Georgia's abbreviation is GA.

FAQ

What is the abbreviation for Alabama?

The standard USPS abbreviation for Alabama is AL.

What is the postal abbreviation for Alabama?

AL is the two-letter postal abbreviation for Alabama. It is the form used in mailing addresses, shipping labels, forms, and databases.

How do you abbreviate Alabama?

Abbreviate Alabama as AL in current USPS, mailing, and database use.

What is the two-letter abbreviation for Alabama?

AL is the official two-letter abbreviation for Alabama.

What is the Alabama state code?

AL is the two-letter state code used for Alabama in mailing addresses, forms, spreadsheets, and databases.

Why is Alabama abbreviated AL?

Alabama's USPS abbreviation is AL.

What does AL stand for?

AL stands for Alabama in the USPS state abbreviation system.

What is the old abbreviation for Alabama?

Older editorial styles often wrote Alabama as Ala.. For mailing and database use, the modern standard is AL.

How do you write an Alabama mailing address?

Use the city name, then the two-letter postal code AL, then the ZIP Code. For example: Montgomery, AL 00000.

What state is AL?

AL is the postal abbreviation for Alabama, located in the South region. The capital is Montgomery.