What Is the Abbreviation for Pennsylvania?
The standard abbreviation for Pennsylvania is PA. This page explains why Pennsylvania uses PA, how the code fits into the modern USPS system, what older printed abbreviations looked like, and which nearby or similar state codes people commonly confuse with it.
What Is the Abbreviation for Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania's abbreviation is PA. You may also see Pa. in older writing, but PA is the form used in mailing addresses, forms, databases, and current style guides.
Use PA for Pennsylvania in mailing addresses, shipping labels, official forms, and database records.
Why Pennsylvania Uses PA
Pennsylvania's USPS abbreviation is PA.
PA has been Pennsylvania's standard postal abbreviation since 1963. Older forms such as Pa. and Penn. still appear in older material, but PA is the standard postal form today.
Old Abbreviation for Pennsylvania
Before the USPS two-letter system became the mailing standard in 1963, printed reference books and newspapers often used longer abbreviations with punctuation. For Pennsylvania, that older style was usually Pa..
That older form still appears in historical texts, archival material, and some legacy style guides, but the modern postal and database standard is PA. If someone searches for old abbreviation for Pennsylvania, the practical answer is to recognize Pa. and use PA in current writing and addresses.
How to Write Pennsylvania in an Address
In standard American addressing, the state line uses the city name followed by the two-letter code and ZIP Code. The abbreviation stays uppercase and does not take periods.
That same format applies in checkout forms, school worksheets, CRM exports, spreadsheets, shipping labels, and government databases — anywhere a two-letter state code is required.
PA Compared With Similar State Codes
PA is more often checked against older written forms like Pa. and Penn. than against another state's postal code.
Related Abbreviation Questions
These states share a first letter, region, or alphabetical position with Pennsylvania and are commonly checked alongside it.
Capital, Region, and Context
Pennsylvania belongs to the Northeast region. Its capital is Harrisburg, and its postal code PA is used in addresses, forms, and databases throughout the country.
Pennsylvania entered the Union on December 12, 1787.
FAQ
What is the abbreviation for Pennsylvania?
The standard USPS abbreviation for Pennsylvania is PA.
What is the postal abbreviation for Pennsylvania?
PA is the two-letter postal abbreviation for Pennsylvania. It is the form used in mailing addresses, shipping labels, forms, and databases.
How do you abbreviate Pennsylvania?
Abbreviate Pennsylvania as PA in current USPS, mailing, and database use.
Why is Pennsylvania abbreviated PA?
Pennsylvania's USPS abbreviation is PA.
What does PA stand for?
PA stands for Pennsylvania in the USPS state abbreviation system.
What is the old abbreviation for Pennsylvania?
Older editorial styles often wrote Pennsylvania as Pa.. For mailing and database use, the modern standard is PA.
How do you write a Pennsylvania mailing address?
Use the city name, then the two-letter postal code PA, then the ZIP Code. For example: Harrisburg, PA 00000.
What state is PA?
PA is the postal abbreviation for Pennsylvania, located in the Northeast region. The capital is Harrisburg.
Test All 50 State Abbreviations
Now that you know PA stands for Pennsylvania, see how many of the other 49 you can get right. The M-states and I-states trip up most people.