
Having a USPS post office box street address can be a game-changer for your mail and package delivery experience.
You can rent a post office box for as little as $1.50 per month, depending on the location and size of the box.
Renting a post office box can provide a secure and private way to receive mail and packages, especially if you live in a busy or noisy area.
Some post office boxes are available for 24/7 access, while others may require you to visit the post office during business hours to pick up your mail.
What is a PO Box?
A PO Box, or Post Office Box, is a unique address assigned to a mailbox at a post office.
You can rent a PO Box from the USPS to receive mail and packages.
PO Boxes are usually located inside a post office or a separate facility, and you'll need to visit in person to access your mail.
Some customers may choose to have a PO Box, but it's essential to note that courier services like UPS and FedEx may not deliver to these locations.
This can cause problems for shipping guarantees and delivery, which is why it's crucial to consider this when shipping products.
How to Rent
To rent a PO Box, you'll need to consider the location and which organization to rent from. You'll want to think about your budget and what type of mail you'll be receiving.
First, you'll need to choose a location for your PO Box. A customer-dense locality can be beneficial for showcasing your availability and building trust with your brand. You'll also want to consider which organization is best to rent from, as some companies may offer more choices than the Post Office.
You'll need to fill out a PS Form 1093, which helps the USPS verify your identity and note your preferences for allocating an appropriate PO box to your firm. You'll need to carry two government-issued IDs, one of which must have your photograph.
Before renting a PO Box, ask yourself these questions:
- What type of mail will arrive at my business?
- What budget have I set aside for my new business mailbox?
- How easy will it be to pick up my physical mail?
- Will the mailbox offer a 24/7 mail pickup service?
- Are there additional services the mailbox provider provides that I can take advantage of?
To sign up for a PO Box from the USPS, you'll need to choose a six- or twelve-month lease term and complete Form 1583, a one-page form to confirm your identity. You'll need two forms of ID, and one of them must be a photo ID.
PO Box Costs and Pricing
PO Box costs can vary depending on the location, with rural areas being significantly cheaper than larger cities and urban areas.
In rural areas, you might pay as little as $35 per month for a small PO Box.
The fee structure for PO mailboxes also comes in two forms: competitive and market-dominant.
Renting a PO Box for longer periods of time can lead to significant savings, with discounts offered for extended rentals.
You can save money by committing to rent your PO Box for an extended period, but the exact amount of savings depends on the specific rental terms.
Using a PO Box
Using a PO Box can be a convenient option for some customers.
You can use a PO Box if you want to keep your home address private, but it may cause problems for shipping guarantees and delivery with courier services like UPS or FedEx.
Some customers may choose to have a PO Box, but it's essential to consider the potential issues that come with it.
You won't be able to receive mail or packages at a PO Box if you're using a courier service that doesn't deliver to Post Office Boxes.
You may want to consider using a street address if you're relying on courier services for shipping.
Benefits and Advantages
Having a PO Box address offers numerous benefits and advantages. You can keep your mail secure and prevent theft by accessing your PO Box using a code or key, as mentioned in the article.
One of the main benefits of a PO Box address is that you can have a stable and permanent mailing address, even if you move frequently or spend time traveling overseas. This allows your loved ones and companies to send you mail and packages without worrying about your changing address.
A PO Box address also provides a safe and secure way to receive mail, which is especially important for businesses that need to keep documents confidential. This is one of the reasons why businesses choose to reserve a PO Box over a street address, as listed in the article.
Here are some key benefits of using a PO Box address:
- Increased mail security and reduced risk of theft
- Permanent and stable mailing address for loved ones and companies to send mail and packages
- Safe and secure way to receive mail, ideal for businesses that need to keep documents confidential
Benefits of Using
Using a PO Box address offers several benefits, especially when it comes to mail security. You won't have to worry about mail piling up at your doorstep, as it will be safely stowed within the post office.

Having a permanent mailing address is a huge advantage, especially if you're always on the move. With a PO Box address, you can have a stable place for loved ones and companies to send you letters and parcels.
A PO Box address can be accessed using a code or key, increasing your mail security and lowering the chances of mail theft.
Here are some reasons why a PO Box address is a better option than a street address:
- Mail is kept confidential
- You can collect mail at your convenience
- Mail is received in a safe and secure way
Having a PO Box address ensures that all your mail will be sent to your new address within one week, making it a convenient option for businesses.
Why Do Organizations Offer?
Organizations offer multiple address options to ensure mail delivery, even if a street address can't receive it.
They may provide both a street address and a PO Box address, which is a backup in case the street address can't receive delivery.
The USPS automatically chooses to deliver mail to the PO Box if no preference is indicated, because it's less expensive for them to do so.
This is because delivering to a PO Box on their premises is more cost-effective than attempting to deliver to a street address.
Organizations want to ensure their mail is delivered, so they offer multiple options to cover all bases.
PO Box and Mail Delivery
The USPS prefers to deliver letters directly to PO Boxes rather than physical addresses. This is because it's less expensive for them.
If you need to send mail to someone with a PO Box, you can include the PO Box and street address on the envelope, but it's best to write the primary address on the first line and the backup one on the second line. This way, there's no confusion about where to deliver the mail.
If you write both the PO Box and street address on the first line, the USPS will usually choose to deliver to the PO Box. However, you can ensure that the mail is delivered to the physical address by writing the primary address on the first line and the backup one on the second line.
Here's a summary of the address formats:
Mail Delivery to Physical Location
If you want your postal mail delivered to your physical location, you need to make sure the address is listed first on the envelope. The USPS prefers delivering to PO Boxes, but if you put your physical address on the first line, it will be treated as the primary address.
You can even write "backup" on the second line to clarify that the PO Box address is secondary. This way, your mail will be delivered to your home or street address, not your PO Box.
The USPS Pub. 28 guidelines state that if the address has validated data in both the first and second lines, and the physical address is listed first, your mail will be delivered to the physical location. This is a straightforward way to ensure your mail gets to you at home.
If you're concerned about security and privacy, you might wonder why anyone would list their PO Box address first. However, if you only intend to use your PO Box as a backup address, this is a good way to do it.
By following the proper formatting and listing your physical address first, you can be confident that your mail will be delivered to your home or street address, not your PO Box. This is a simple but effective way to ensure your mail gets to you where you want it to go.
Delivering Mails to an Address
If you're sending mail to an address with both a PO Box and a physical address, the USPS will deliver it to the PO Box if it's listed first.
To avoid this, list the physical address first, then the PO Box address on the second line. You can even write "backup" to clarify the secondary address.
The USPS Pub. 28 specifies that validated data in both address lines should be used to determine delivery priority.
If you want mail delivered to a PO Box address instead of a physical address, simply swap the address lines and list the PO Box address first.
Many businesses use mailing platforms that can verify and deliver to both PO Box and street addresses, making it easier to reach customers with automated direct mail campaigns.
To ensure mail is delivered to the correct address, use the proper formatting and list the preferred address first, followed by the secondary or backup address on the second line.
Addressing and Validation
Addressing and validation are crucial steps in sending mail through the USPS. A PO box address is delivered to a postal location, while a street address is delivered to a physical location.
To ensure mail is delivered correctly, it's essential to write the primary address on the first line and the backup address on the second line. This helps avoid confusion and ensures the mail is delivered to the intended recipient.
The USPS prefers to deliver mail to PO box addresses over physical addresses. However, if you need the mail to reach the physical address, you must write the primary address on the first line.
If you write both the PO box and street address on the first line, the USPS will standardize the address and deliver it to the PO box address. This is because the default process is to send mail to the PO box address.
Here are the two formats for writing both the PO box and street address on the first line:
The USPS will consider the second address line as "extra information" if the primary address is a valid PO box address. However, if the primary address is invalid, the mail will be classified as undeliverable.
To avoid invalid addresses, you can use an advanced address verification tool like PostGrid. This tool can filter out invalid addresses from your database using a simple CSV file and is CASS-certified, meaning it uses the USPS's official address database.
Identifying whether an address is a PO box or not is essential when using courier services like UPS or FedEx. PO boxes can cause problems for shipping guarantees and delivery.
For direct marketers sending business mail or promotional material, verifying both addresses on their mailing list is crucial before mailing them. An accurate method like address verification offered by Postalytics can detect minor typos and correct the address to provide an accurate and complete deliverable address.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my PO Box street address?
To find your PO Box street address, check your PO box rental agreement or contact the post office where you rented the box. Your PO box address typically consists of the PO box number, city, state, and zip code.
Should I use street addressing for PO Box?
Use street addressing for PO Box only when delivery to a physical address is required, not possible with a PO Box. This ensures timely delivery of your package.
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