State Abbreviation Guide

What Is the Abbreviation for Kentucky?

The standard 2-letter abbreviation for Kentucky is KY.

State Abbreviation
KY
Traditional Form
Ky.
Capital
Frankfort
Region
South

Kentucky Abbreviation

The abbreviation for Kentucky is KY. In older writing you might see Ky., but today's mailing, form, and database standard is KY.

2-letter postal code
KY
Traditional / AP style
Ky.
Address format
Frankfort, KY
Takes periods?
No — write KY, not KY.

Kentucky Abbreviation for Mailing and Forms

KY is used for Kentucky in mailing addresses, shipping labels, government forms, and most databases.

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

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

AP Style and Traditional Kentucky Abbreviation

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

What Does KY Stand For?

Kentucky's USPS abbreviation is KY.

USPS adopted KY for Kentucky in 1963. The older abbreviation Ky. still appears in older sources, but KY is the standard postal form today.

How to Write a Kentucky Address

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

John Smith 123 Main St Frankfort, KY 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 Kentucky and are commonly looked up alongside it.

What is the abbreviation for Kansas? Kansas's abbreviation is KS. What is the abbreviation for Iowa? Iowa's abbreviation is IA. What is the abbreviation for Louisiana? Louisiana's abbreviation is LA. What is the abbreviation for Maine? Maine's abbreviation is ME. What is the abbreviation for Alabama? Alabama's abbreviation is AL. What is the abbreviation for Arkansas? Arkansas's abbreviation is AR.

FAQ

What is the abbreviation for Kentucky?

The standard USPS abbreviation for Kentucky is KY.

What is the postal abbreviation for Kentucky?

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

How do you abbreviate Kentucky?

Abbreviate Kentucky as KY in current USPS, mailing, and database use.

What is the two-letter abbreviation for Kentucky?

KY is the official two-letter abbreviation for Kentucky.

What is the Kentucky state code?

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

Why is Kentucky abbreviated KY?

Kentucky's USPS abbreviation is KY.

What does KY stand for?

KY stands for Kentucky in the USPS state abbreviation system.

What is the old abbreviation for Kentucky?

Older editorial styles often wrote Kentucky as Ky.. For mailing and database use, the modern standard is KY.

How do you write a Kentucky mailing address?

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

What state is KY?

KY is the postal abbreviation for Kentucky, located in the South region. The capital is Frankfort.