The Utah abbreviation for addresses is UT, a pair of capitals with no period, assigned for mail sorting. Unlike most states, Utah has no widely used traditional abbreviation, because the name is only four letters long.
That makes the rule simple. Use UT on mail, forms and databases. Everywhere else, including news writing in AP style, write the word Utah. An older form, Ut., turns up now and then in old lists, but modern guides do not use it.
Quick facts
Postal code
UTTraditional
Usually none; Utah is spelled outAP style
Always Utah, never shortenedPeriod
None on UTCapital
Salt Lake CityNot to be confused with
VT, the code for Vermont
Utah abbreviation forms in one table
| Form | Where it goes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| UT | Mail, shipping labels, forms, records | Provo, UT 84601 |
| Utah | Sentences, datelines, captions, citations | OGDEN, Utah |
Most states have three forms: a postal code, a traditional abbreviation and the full name. Utah has only two in common use, which makes it one of the easiest states to get right.
UT on letters, packages and forms
The postal codes were introduced in the 1960s along with ZIP codes. Utah was given UT, and the Postal Service asks for it in capitals, without periods, right before the ZIP code.
Online checkout: the state menu lists "UT" between Texas and Vermont. Choosing it fills in Utah for the shipping address, and the label prints as Logan, UT 84321.
Driver records, school transcripts and voter forms use the same two letters. When a box asks for a state code, UT is the answer.
What is the abbreviation for Utah in AP style?
There is none. AP style keeps eight state names whole in all uses: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah. Short names like these save almost no space when shortened, so the guide simply writes them out.
That is why a news dateline reads "ST. GEORGE, Utah" rather than using UT. Many traditional style guides follow the same habit. If you see Ut. in an old record or map, read it as Utah, but do not copy it into new writing.
UT, VT and other look-alike codes
UT and VT differ by one stroke, and handwriting can make them hard to tell apart. Vermont is VT, a small New England state, about as far from Utah as you can get in the lower 48.
- UT is Utah.
- VT is Vermont.
- TX is Texas. People sometimes reach for TX when they mean the UT in a university name.
- UT is also short for some university names and for Universal Time, so context matters outside an address.
Find every code on the state abbreviations hub, or compare with the Vermont abbreviation page.
About the Beehive State
Utah became the 45th state in 1896. Its capital and largest city is Salt Lake City. The state's nickname, the Beehive State, comes from the beehive symbol that stands for hard work, and you will find it on the state flag and seal.
The name Utah comes from the Ute people, who have lived in the region for a very long time. Knowing that the name is short and has no common shortened form makes it easy to remember the rule.
Simple rules for the abbreviation for Utah
- On any address, UT follows the city name, then the ZIP.
- Never write U.T. with periods for the state.
- In a sentence, write Utah: "They hiked in southern Utah all week."
- With a city in running text, use commas on both sides: "Moab, Utah, is a desert town."
- Skip Ut. unless you are quoting an old document exactly.
For the bigger picture on codes, abbreviations and acronyms, try acronym vs abbreviation.
Questions people ask
Which two letters mean Utah on an envelope?
It is UT. The Postal Service uses it for mail, and most forms and databases use it too.
Does Utah have a traditional abbreviation?
Not one that modern guides use. Utah is usually written out in full, though Ut. appears in some old records.
Is Utah abbreviated in AP style?
No. Utah is one of eight states AP never shortens, so news datelines write Utah in full.
Is UT Utah or Vermont?
UT is Utah. Vermont is VT, so check the first letter carefully when you read handwritten addresses.