Postal Approved Mailboxes

Curbside

• Curbside mailboxes, also called post mount mailboxes, are most common in the rural and suburban areas of the U.S. They are placed adjacent to the road so postal workers can access them from their trucks. General guidelines regarding these boxes state that the owner's name must be written in letters, a minimum of 1-inch high. The box itself should always be placed on the right side of the road, and must be between 41 and 45 inches off the ground.

Wall Mount Mailboxes

• Wall mount mailboxes are the mailbox of choice in urban areas. Property owners install a metal box near the door of the building, usually alongside other boxes for different apartments in a building. The slot on the box must be of sufficient size to accommodate delivery of standard mail. Mailboxes that use locks must use a lock approved for use by the Postmaster. Postal employees are prohibited from unlocking a private mailbox or accepting a key for that purpose.

Mail Slots

• Mail slots are openings on the front door of a home or apartment that allow a postal employee to slip the mail through to the inside of the residence. Postal guidelines require that the opening be a minimum of 1 1/2-inches wide and 7 inches long. The slot must have a flap attached to a hinge on the top or side of the slot. It must also be placed 30 inches from the floor.

Post Office Boxes

• A post office box, or PO box, is a designated box at a post office, leased to a person or business on an annual basis. Favored by businesses because they receive mail more quickly than residential boxes, the PO box is also useful for controlling the types of mail the business receives. PO boxes are available at every post office location, and some feature 24-hour access. The start-up cost for a PO box is $12 for six months, at the time of publication.