How to Get a P.O. Box (and other P.O. Box Basics)

Need to figure out how to get a P.O. box? You’re in the right place. P.O. (or postal office) boxes serve a lot of purposes beyond just providing you with a way to receive mail if you live somewhere without a mailbox. They’re a useful solution if you’re traveling for work for a while or are otherwise in short term housing while waiting for a more permanent address, or if you’re running a business out of your home but don’t want to share your personal address with clients. You can also use a P.O. box if you are generally concerned about the privacy of your home. Regardless of the reason or reasons that you decide you need one though, you’ll have to follow the right steps of how to get a P.O. box in order to get set up and running.

Luckily, it’s actually quite simple to get a P.O. box. Below, we’ll go over the P.O. box basics that you’ll want to know, plus the two quick and easy steps you’ll want to follow to get one.

What is a P.O. Box?

A P.O. box is a lockable mail box that you rent at your local post office. Each P.O. box has its own unique address. Rent prices vary depending on a couple of factors (more on those in the next section).

A defining factor of P.O. boxes is that they’re self service. While your postal carrier will sort your mail into the box, it will be up to you to go and pick it all up—there is no door-to-door delivery available for mail that is shipped to a P.O. box.

How Much Does a P.O. Box Cost?

The cost of a P.O. box depends on the location, size, and the length of the rental period that you choose. Rental periods are available in three month, six month, and 12 month options. There is also a nominal cost for keys ($3 for the first two keys and a $6 fee for additional keys).

You can find a complete breakdown of pricing online. Prices range anywhere from $16 to $625 per rental period. Keep in mind that it is usually more cost-effective to rent for a longer period of time than to rent for multiple short periods. While it’s more money up front, if you’re going to be using your P.O. box for at least a year go with the long-term option instead of renewing your rental every three months.

How to Get a P.O. Box

Getting a P.O. box doesn’t take a lot of effort, but it does help to do a bit of research first. Follow these two steps to get set up with a box that’s the right fit for your needs.

Step One: Figure Out Exactly What You’re Looking For

There are two key factors to consider when choosing a P.O. box: the size of your box and the location of your box.

When it comes to size, you’ll have to think about what you’re using your P.O. box for. You’ll still be able to go to the front desk for packages, so primarily consider the volume of mail that you receive when choosing how much space you need. If your P.O. box is simply an alternative to a traditional mailbox, then you’ll probably be fine with a smaller option. If you’re using it for business however, or if you intend on regularly receiving flat rate boxes, then you might want to go with a bigger size.

Also relevant when it comes to choosing a size is frequency of pick-ups. You’ll want a larger box if you only intend on visiting the post office every couple of weeks or once a month, while a smaller box will likely suffice for the same amount of mail with more frequent pick-ups.

The U.S. Post Office offers five different sizes that you can choose between. Here’s the breakdown that they provide:

Size 1 – X-Small (3″ x 5 1/2″ x 14 3/4″)
Can accommodate 10-15 letter-sized envelopes or up to 2 rolled magazines.

Size 2 – Small (5″ x 5 1/2″ x 14 3/4″)
Can accommodate 10-15 letters or up to 5 rolled magazines.

Size 3 – Medium (11″ x 5 1/2” x 14 3/4″)
Wide enough that large envelopes and magazines can be stacked flat.

Size 4 – Large (11″ x 11″ x 14 3/4″)
Can easily stack two shoeboxes and still have room for 10-15 letters.

Size 5 – X-Large (22 1/2″ x 12″ x 14 3/4″)
Big enough to accommodate Flat Rate Boxes and parcels.

As for location, you’re probably going to be better off choosing wherever is most convenient for you. Though while most people opt for P.O. boxes in post office locations that are close to their home or work, there is no rule that you have to rent a box in your own ZIP code—and some people do choose to rent P.O. boxes in other cities or states. Remember, though, that picking up mail from your P.O. box is your responsibility, so if you’re going to be using it for regular mail deliveries then choose somewhere you know you can get to with ease.

Step Two: Rent Your Box

When it comes to how to get a P.O. box, there are two routes you can go:

Rent your box online.

Rent your box in person.

And there you go! Once you follow the steps above you will receive your keys and your new P.O. box will be set up and ready for action.

Forwarding Mail to Your P.O. Box

Just as you would with any other change of address, you’ll need to forward mail from your existing delivery address to your P.O. box. You can do this online, over the phone, or in person at your local post office. If you only want some mail to direct to your P.O. box—for example, mail related to your business—then you won’t be able to do a standard change of address, since that applies to all incoming mail. Instead, you’ll just have to notify senders of your new address manually.