Does It Cost Money To Have A Po Box

Wondering, "what is a Mail service Office (PO) Box?" Or, "how to get a PO Box?" Maybe y'all've already made up your mind, and you're only asking, "how much practise they cost?"

This post covers everything you need to know nearly USPS PO Boxes:

What is a PO Box?
How much is a PO Box?
Why become a PO Box?
How do I get a PO Box?
What are Premium PO Box Services?
What are the disadvantages of getting a PO Box?
Does the post part have a PO Box refund policy?

At that place's plenty to go over so let'due south get started!

TL;DR

Don't want all the details? These are USPS PO Box price ranges yous can wait.

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PO Box Size	3-Month Period	vi-Month Menstruation
Actress Modest (3" x 5.5")	$xiii-$44	$21-$75
Minor (5" 10 5.5")	$17-$87	$28-$150
Medium (5.5" x 11")	$26-$144	$42-$250
Large (11" x 11")	$37-$230	$62-$400
Actress Large (12" x 22.v")	$64-$360	$109-$625

Source: USPS.com

What is a PO Box?

If y'all're looking for a more secure option for your personal or business mail, or desire to keep your home accost to yourself, ane of your options is a post office or PO Box. They're the about convenient solution for freelancers, urban center-dwellers, and frequent travelers, just to proper name a few. A PO Box, also referred to every bit a Postal Box, is a locked mailbox that can be accessed by key or code, depending on the specific mail service office location. The box is generally situated in the post part anteroom and receives the mail that you don't want to be addressed to your home.

How much is a PO Box?

Why are there such broad price ranges? There are a number of factors that go into USPS PO Box toll, including:

Location
Size
Payment period
Boosted fees

Location

The location of your PO Box plays a large function in determining its toll. Different post offices accept dissimilar price codes depending on whether your area is considered "competitive" or "market ascendant."

"Competitive postal service offices" are allowed to charge higher fees, but they often provide additional services in substitution — such every bit electronic notification of the receipt of postal service, signature on file, and additional hours of access.

Size

The next thing to consider when determining the toll of a PO Box is the size you want. Depending on the post role, you tin can unremarkably find PO Boxes in five sizes, ranging from actress pocket-size to actress big. Most PO Boxes are fourteen.75" deep.

Actress Small PO Boxes (iii" ten five.5")
These piffling mailboxes tin can hold x-15 letters or two rolled-up magazines.
Modest PO Boxes (five" x 5.v")
Small PO Boxes hold up to fifteen letters and 5 rolled magazines.
Medium PO Boxes (5.5" x 11")
These mailboxes are perfect for large envelopes and magazines to be stacked flat.
Large PO Boxes (eleven" ten eleven")
Twice as tall, the large PO Box is so roomy that you tin can fit two shoe boxes inside and nonetheless have space for 10-15 letters.
Extra Big PO Boxes (12" x 22.five")
The largest PO Box bachelor holds multiple Flat Rate Boxes and parcels.

When deciding which size box is right for you, consider the book of mail yous will be receiving and the frequency you will stop by the post office to pick upward your postal service.

Wondering what happens when you have a mail overflow situation? Here is how the USPS answers that question: "When mail service for a customer'southward PO Box exceeds the capacity of the box on 12 of any 20 consecutive business days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays), the box is in an overflow condition. Customers whose box is in an overflow condition must use caller service, change to a larger box, or utilize one or more additional boxes to which mail will exist addressed."

Payment menstruation

The other important factor to call back when trying to calculate how much it costs is the rental fee payment flow. Depending on the post function, you can choose to rent and pay for your mailbox in iii-month or half dozen-month periods. Some likewise offering 12-month payment periods.

In general, you become the best bargain paying for 6-12 months at a time. Some locations even offer a "baker's dozen" promotion. Ever bought 12 bagels and gotten an actress ane for costless? Reserve your PO Box for 12 months and some locations will throw in the 13th month for no actress cost.

Additional fees

You also need to factor in a few additional fees to your price. In market place dominant areas, y'all'll have to pay a $4 deposit each of your first 2 keys (they're gratuitous in competitive areas). Any additional keys beyond that will cost you lot another $8. Lose your keys or forget your code? That'll set yous back $23 for lock replacement.

This table should assist you compare all of the factors that go into the PO box toll.

PO Box Size	3-Month "Competitive" Location	vi-Month "Competitive" Location	3-Month "Market Dominant" Location	6-Month "Market Dominant" Location
Actress Small (3" x 5.5")	$xiii-$44	$21-$75	$13-$34	$21-$57
Pocket-size (5" x 5.5")	$17-$87	$28-$150	$17-$50	$28-$84
Medium (5.five" x eleven")	$26-$144	$42-$250	$26-$87	$42-$145
Large (11" x xi")	$37-$230	$62-$400	$37-$159	$62-265
Extra Large (12" x 22.5")	$64-$360	$109-$625	$64-$249	$109-$416

Why become a PO Box?

Security

Are you worried most the safe of your postal service? Or want to keep your home business mail service separate from your personal post? A PO Box is the perfect solution. Whether information technology's the Amazon packages that never made it or your neighbor's dog'south affinity for envelopes, renting a box from the mail service function gives y'all a secure option for protecting your mail.

Privacy

Depending on your profession, you may desire to refrain from sharing your abode accost. If you're a professional person blogger, for case, receiving samples is a must, simply you don't desire just anyone knowing your address. With a PO Box, you'll protect both the privacy of your postal service and your home address.

Accessibility

Since your PO Box will generally reside in the lobby of the post office, you'll take access to your mail when the post office lobby is open up. Many locations offering 24/7 access to the foyer or extended hours, making checking your mail actress convenient.

Commitment Speeds

One of the biggest advantages of getting a PO Box is that you'll oft receive your postal service faster than you lot would at your home address. Since your mailbox volition be right inside the post office antechamber, yous'll save your mail a trip in the USPS mail service van.

How do I get a PO Box?

Thankfully, signing up is like shooting fish in a barrel and y'all tin cull to utilize at your local post office or online. The process is adequately straightforward for both, just the steps are slightly different. Either style, be sure to note that at that place tin only exist one primary central holder — but you can requite admission to others if necessary.

Online

On the USPS PO Boxes page, enter your accost or zip code to search for a PO Box near yous. Then, select the most user-friendly post office from the map. When you select it, yous'll be able to see the sizes they accept available, along with hours and directions.

Select the size of the box you're looking for, and yous'll be prompted to either reserve the box or join the waitlist. If the box you desire is available, you tin choose your 3-month, 6-calendar month, or 12-month payment preference. If the size yous want isn't bachelor for your preferred location, you can add your name to the waitlist. (Note: if you lot request to exist placed on a waiting list for the size box you want, the post office will either send an electronic mail or call you when information technology becomes available at your designated location. You will have 2 days to reserve the box before information technology gets offered to the next person.)

The balance is simple! Just fill out the online application (PS Form 1093), type in your contact and billing data, and hit submit.

You'll have 30 days to confirm your identity and selection upwards your keys at the post office, so recall to print your form, grab two forms of acceptable U.S. identification and hop on down to the mail service office where you lot reserved your PO Box before you forget.

In-person

The in-person application is as well a breeze. You still demand to complete the online awarding (PS Class 1093), which you tin can pick up at your local mail service office or print out. When you become to the post office, be sure to take two forms of ID (including a photo ID) with you then they know you are who you say you are.

The mail role that you paw your application into doesn't demand to be the one property your PO Box, just information technology does need to provide window service, and then double check before heading out.

What are Premium PO Box Services?

Want to make life even easier? The Usa Postal Service offers free premium services at some of their locations (in competitive areas), and they're definitely worth asking nigh. From taking care of large packages, to receiving smartphone alerts when you have mail, to offering expanded antechamber hours, these premium services are extremely helpful.

Real street address for your PO Box

If yous're an online shopper or receive a lot of big packages, you can utilise the street address of the mail service function containing your PO Box for your mailing address. For example, if your post office is on 700 Smith Artery and your PO Box is number 27, your PO Box address would be 700 Smith Avenue #27.

This way, you'll be able to receive mail and packages from most carriers including FedEx and UPS. There are some rules and limitations to this, and so be sure to thoroughly read through the customer agreement when filling in your data.

Keep a signature on file

Post office lines are the worst. Usually, if you receive specific types of mail such equally insured items that need your signature, you'll have to become to the counter and sign for them. With USPS PO Box premium services, you go along a signature on file and avert all of the hassle (and the lines).

Waived key eolith

The USPS usually charges a eolith for the get-go ii keys to your box. Want to save a few dollars? Set upward your box at a post office that offers premium services (they waive this fee). Proceed in heed you'll still accept to cover the $8 fee for any additional keys.

Extended hours

Have to work tardily and tin't make information technology to the post office during regular vestibule hours? Not to worry. With their premium services, select locations offer extended hours to access the post office antechamber and take hold of your mail.

What are the disadvantages of getting a PO Box?

Even with all of its advantages, getting a PO Box does have some drawbacks.

Non all mail is accepted

If your local post office doesn't offer premium services, you won't be able to receive packages or mail from any carriers other than the USPS. Information technology's the merely visitor permitted to put mail into your PO Box. So, those Amazon packages or the gift basket from your great aunt will take to exist delivered to your home address.

You have to pay to a rental fee

As you lot're aware, PO boxes aren't gratis. They must exist paid for and renewed at specified intervals. Depending on your location, size, and rental menstruation, you lot could spend more you desire to on your mail service.

Limited availability

If there isn't a location near y'all with an available PO Box, you might have to travel to selection up your mail. Not exactly platonic. Y'all could also find that the size box y'all demand isn't available at your nearest post office — again meaning you to go out of your mode to collect your mail.

Does the postal service office have a PO Box refund policy?

Yous figured out how to procure a PO Box nearly you and reserved the best size for six months — merely to be relocated for work a few months later on. What do you exercise with your PO Box?

Good news! You may be eligible for a refund. To get a refund, the USPS has two policies — i for active PO boxes and another for inactive PO boxes. Wondering which one yours is? If you picked up your keys, your box is agile.

How to request a refund

If y'all want a refund for your fees, y'all tin can make the request either online or in-person at the post office where your box is located. Both options are adequately straight frontwards.

To make your request online, simply log into your USPS account and visit the "Manage Your Business relationship" page. From there, you lot tin can close and request a refund.

When making your request in-person, all you accept to do is visit the mail service part containing your PO Box and request a refund at a service window. Recollect to bring your key(s) with you!

How to request a refund — inactive PO boxes

Thankfully, getting a refund for a PO Box you didn't pick up the keys for is fairly simple. After 30 days of inactivity, y'all should meet a full refund from the post office. If you abolish inside the 30 days, y'all still get a full refund just y'all'll have to make your request start.

How to asking a refund — agile PO boxes

Refunds for agile PO boxes are slightly more complicated:

three-calendar month rental: You lot aren't eligible for a refund, but you tin can nonetheless shut your PO Box online.

half-dozen-month rental: You can receive a 50% refund if you shut your PO Box within the first three months. After the beginning of the fourth calendar month, y'all won't be able to go a refund.
12-month rental: You become a 75% refund when you close your PO Box in the start three months, a l% refund in the first vi months, and a 25% refund in the first ix months after opening it. After the kickoff of the tenth month, you'll no longer be eligible for whatsoever refund.

Now that y'all know how much a PO Box costs and how easy it is to go a i, you can go ahead and secure your mail service at your local post office. Recall to ask about their premium services!

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Source: https://updater.com/moving-tips/how-much-is-a-po-box

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