KS is the Kansas abbreviation the US Postal Service uses, so it is the one for envelopes, shipping labels and every state box on a form. In news writing and older references the state is shortened to Kan., and a few older sources use Kans.
Notice that the postal code is not just the first two letters. KA is not a state code at all. The Postal Service picked K and S, the first and last letters, partly to keep it apart from Kentucky, which uses KY.
Quick facts
Postal code
KSTraditional
Kan., also Kans. in older sourcesAP style
Kan. in datelinesCapital
TopekaZIP codes start with
66 or 67Not to be confused with
KY (Kentucky)
Kansas abbreviation forms side by side
| Form | Who uses it | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| KS | The Postal Service, forms, databases | Wichita, KS 67202 |
| Kan. | AP style news datelines | HAYS, Kan. |
| Kans. | Some older government and library sources | Topeka, Kans. |
| Kansas | Running text | Wheat fields cover much of Kansas. |
If you only remember one, remember KS. It is right for anything with a ZIP code.
Using KS on mail
Put KS right behind the city, separated by a comma, and add one blank space, then the ZIP code. Both letters stay capital, with no dots.
Shipping form: "City: Lawrence. State: KS. ZIP: 66044." A shipper's system reads KS and checks that the ZIP code falls in the 66 or 67 range.
Online menus list KS between IA (Iowa) and KY (Kentucky). Because those two codes sit right next to each other in a list, it is easy to click the wrong one, so give your choice a second look.
Kan. and the traditional style
Kan. is the traditional abbreviation, written with a capital K and a period. AP style uses it in datelines, such as "SALINA, Kan.," and spells out Kansas inside the story. Kans. is an older variant you may find in older government papers, catalogs and library records.
For essays, emails and reports, write the whole word. It is only six letters, so there is little reason to shorten it in a sentence.
KS vs KY and the Kansas City puzzle
- KS is Kansas. KY is Kentucky. The two states are not neighbors, but their codes are often swapped.
- Kansas City is two cities on either side of a state line. The larger one is in Missouri, so its addresses end in MO, see Missouri abbreviation. Kansas City, KS, sits on the Kansas side.
- Neighbors of Kansas use NE (Nebraska), MO, OK (Oklahoma) and CO (Colorado).
Before sending something to Kansas City, check the ZIP code. A Missouri ZIP with KS on the label can slow delivery.
Quick tips for writing Kansas
- Check the box label. A field marked State wants KS, while the dateline of a news story wants Kan.
- Watch the drop-down. KS and KY sit next to each other, so a slip of the mouse sends a form to Kentucky.
- Match the ZIP code. Kansas ZIP codes begin with 66 or 67. If yours starts with 64, the address is probably in Missouri.
- Spell it out in prose. A six letter name reads better than a code in the middle of a sentence.
Kansas abbreviation in sample lines
- "Please mail the check to 1900 Prairie Ave, Manhattan, KS 66502."
- "DODGE CITY, Kan. Farmers began the harvest early this week."
- "The office is in Kansas City, MO, but our warehouse is in Kansas City, KS."
- "Region: Omaha, NE; Topeka, KS; Tulsa, OK."
Every state code, with its traditional form, is on the state abbreviations page.
Questions people ask
Is Kansas KS or KA?
Kansas is KS. KA is not a US state code.
What is the abbreviation for Kansas?
The postal abbreviation for Kansas is KS. Newsrooms that follow AP style write Kan. in datelines.
Is Kansas City in Kansas or Missouri?
Both. There is a Kansas City in Missouri, which uses MO, and a smaller Kansas City in Kansas, which uses KS.
How do you abbreviate Kansas in AP style?
AP style uses Kan. with a period in datelines. In the body of a story, Kansas is spelled out.
Does KS need a period?
No. KS is plain capital letters. The older forms Kan. and Kans. are the ones that end with a dot.