In 2020, the number of individual mailboxes, Post Office (P.O.) Boxes, and other delivery points in the United States numbered 159.9 million. Reports suggest that this number typically grows by one million or more yearly.
With these figures, there’s a good chance that many customers will want their own P.O. Box to help address their mailing needs.
How can you obtain a P.O. Box? Can you get one for free? What requirements must you submit to the United States Postal Service (USPS) to get a P.O. Box?
This article discusses P.O. Boxes in the United States and how you can get one for free. This article also explains how P.O. Boxes work and the benefits and disadvantages of having a P.O. Box.
If you’re interested in getting a P.O. Box for your mailing needs, FindPostOffice.org can help you locate the nearest post office in Arizona, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, and other states.
The U.S. Postal Service provides a no-fee Post Office (P.O.) Box service to customers not receiving carrier deliveries of any form.
If you want to apply for the no-fee P.O. Box service, fill out an application and provide the required identification to a Postal Service employee.
You can qualify for a free P.O. Box service if your physical or business address meets the following criteria:
If you meet these requirements, you don’t need to reserve a P.O. Box through an online application. Instead, you can contact your local post office facility.
To apply for a USPS P.O. Box, you must complete the required information on the application for Post Office Box service form (PS Form 1093). If you apply online at the USPS website, you can generate this form during the application process.
During application, you must present two forms of identification: an acceptable primary and secondary identification (I.D.).
Acceptable primary I.D.s include:
Meanwhile, acceptable secondary forms of I.D.s include:
The Postal Service offers free P.O. boxes for homeless people but is only available at select post office locations nationwide.
Homeless people can apply for a P.O. Box service at their local post office. The postmaster can approve the application under the following conditions:
Some reasons why your P.O. Box application gets rejected include the following:
General Delivery is free for homeless individuals to use as a temporary measure until a P.O. box becomes available or if they don’t meet the free P.O. Box requirements.
If you need a temporary mailing address while waiting for a USPS P.O. box to become available, consider getting General Delivery.
The USPS P.O. Box service is a premium service you can use for a fee if you require more than a general delivery or free home delivery.
P.O. Box service is provided in 3-month (with an automatic recurring payment by credit card), 6-month (semi-annual), or 12-month (annual) increments.
You can find P.O. boxes in the lobby area of the post office.
You can access your P.O. box by lock and key. In older post offices, you use combination locks.
Aside from security and privacy, other reasons you may want to get a P.O. Box are as follows:
You may apply for a P.O. Box in person at a post office or online at USPS.com. The application process for P.O. Box service isn’t fully approved until your identity and current physical address (personal or business) are verified.
The first step is deciding your mailbox size based on your expected monthly mail deliveries and where you want to place your P.O. box.
Selecting your P.O. box location is one of your primary considerations when renting a P.O. box. For convenience, consider picking a location close to your home or work.
Most post offices have five P.O. box sizes, depending on availability. Choose your box size based on the type of mail (letter-sized mail or package) and how many packages and mail you receive.
The size of the box and types of mail you can receive for each category are as follows:
After deciding on a location and size, you’re ready to get a P.O. Box. You can go online to reserve one or visit the post office and apply in person.
To get a USPS P.O. Box online, visit USPS.com and go to the P.O. Boxes online page and follow these steps:
To apply for a P.O. Box in person, visit a local post office and complete the P.S. Form 1093, Application for Post Office Box Service. Bring a copy of the completed form and two acceptable U.S. identification forms.
Your next step is redirecting your mail and packages to your new P.O. box. You can complete a change of address (COA) form online or pick one up at the post office.
Your USPS P.O. Box address appears in the following format:
City, state, and ZIP Code
P.O. Boxes provide three significant benefits: security, safety, and flexibility.
P.O. boxes help ensure that your mail and packages are safe at the post office and only you or other people you specify can pick up your items.
A P.O. box can help keep your home address and important documents confidential for peace of mind.
P.O. boxes allow you to receive mail on your preferred schedule, with various sizes and rental periods, such as 3, 6, or 12 months.
Despite the benefits P.O. boxes offer, these boxes have a few disadvantages, discussed in the following sections.
P.O. boxes are associated with a specific post office location. If you live or work far from that location, you must travel during most days to check your mail in that box.
Moving your home or business address can create further inconvenience because you must fill out another set of forms, pay new fees, and wait for another confirmation in the mail.
Also, you’re locked into a specific P.O. box rental period, meaning you may pay extra if you cancel early.
Private shipping companies usually don’t deliver to a USPS P.O. Box. So if you or your senders prefer any of these companies, you likely can’t use a P.O. Box to receive mail or packages from these shippers.
Also, some of your mail may not fit inside if you order an extremely small P.O. box. In this case, you can receive a note in your box to retrieve your mail at the service counter or get a key to a larger storage box.
Virtual addresses, sometimes called virtual P.O. boxes, allow you to receive mail like a physical P.O. box but without stepping into a post office.
One feature of virtual addresses is that instead of checking your box daily, an automated system scans your packages or mail and digitally delivers the image to your digital mailbox.
As of June 2023, the USPS P.O. Box costs to rent per month are as follows:
Customers can apply for the no-fee P.O. Box service by filling out an application form and providing identification to USPS.
Upon receiving your application, the Postal Service personnel will determine your eligibility and input your data into the company’s web box activity tracking system (WebBATS). This online application lets retail staff manage P.O. box inventory.
You can consider renting a USPS P.O. Box when you:
Your options for renewing your P.O. Box are the same as paying for a new one. You have three payment options for continuing your P.O. Box:
There are two ways you can request to close a P.O. Box:
USPS lets you transfer your P.O. Box service for no additional fees to any box of the same size and price category in the same post office.
To transfer your P.O. Box, submit a new application to the facility providing that service or where you desire that service.
Only USPS can deliver to a P.O. Box. Private shipping carriers like UPS, FedEx, and Amazon cannot place physical mail in a P.O. Box.
If a mailpiece addressed to your P.O. Box is too large to fit in the box or must be signed, the post office will do any of the following:
If your desired P.O. Box isn’t available, you have the following options:
Yes, but you must first visit the post office that houses your box and provide proper documentation to pick up your P.O. Box keys or combination lock.
After reserving your box, completing the PO Box application form, paying the rental fee, and verifying your I.D.s at the post office, the staff will give you two keys for your box. You can request more keys for an additional fee.
Most P.O. Box locations provide 24/7 access to your P.O. Box. Still, hours can vary by post office location. Check your local post office to determine its operating hours.
You can do the following when managing your P.O. Box account online:
Street Addressing allows you to use the post office location’s street address and your P.O. Box number as your mailing address.
This service lets you receive packages from private carriers, provided they comply with USPS mailing standards.
You can close your P.O. Box online by signing in to your USPS P.O. Box account and clicking the “Close/Request Refund” link next to the box.
You can also inform the retail associate at the post office where your box is and request your P.O. Box’s closure.
After USPS closes your box, submit a COA form so the Postal Service can forward your mail to your new address for up to one year.
Yes, USPS can leave a delivery notification inside your P.O. Box for mailpieces requiring a signature. Visit the post office and go to the counter to sign for and pick up your item.
Some alternative P.O. Box providers offer more diverse size options and relatively lower prices than USPS P.O. Boxes. Depending on the provider, location, and services offered, you can get an alternative P.O. Box for as low as $1.
A virtual P.O. Box or mailbox provides you with a virtual address. This address is a real, physical address that the service provider offers and isn’t connected to where you work or live.
Making your P.O. Box involves renting one from a USPS post office. To have your own P.O. Box, follow these steps:
Another way to have your own P.O. Box is by purchasing or renting one from alternative providers, such as those providing virtual P.O. Box services.
USPS P.O. Boxes may be worth considering if you regularly go to the post office to retrieve your mail.
However, if you change your address frequently, receive large packages that don’t fit in a P.O. Box, or have no time to visit the post office, consider picking a different option for receiving mail.
