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# Mailbox Installation

## How to Set Up & Mount a Mailbox

Follow U.S. Postal Service® guidelines for installing and placing a new mailbox at your home. Get tips on the best materials to use to set up a curbside mailbox and how to keep it in good condition. Make sure that your mail carrier always has a clear path to your mailbox whether it's by the street or mounted on your house.

## Curbside Mailboxes

### Mailbox Size & Construction Standards

A mailbox with the Postmaster General's (PMG) seal of approval meets USPS size and construction standards. If you build your own mailbox or buy a custom-made one, it must meet the PMG standards. Show your local postmaster your mailbox plans or your custom-made box for approval.

To get drawings and measurements for building your own mailbox, write to US Postal Service Engineering.

Want to buy a mailbox big enough for packages? See Next Generation Mailboxes.

### Where to Place the Mailbox

Here are some helpful guidelines to follow when placing your mailbox:

- Position your mailbox 41″ to 45″ from the road surface to the bottom of the mailbox or point of mail entry.
- Place your mailbox 6″ to 8″ back from the curb. If you do not have a raised curb, contact your local postmaster for guidance.
- Put your house or apartment number on the mailbox.
- If your mailbox is on a different street from your house or apartment, put your full street address on the box.

#### Where to Place the Mailbox

### Installing the Mailbox Post

The best mailbox supports are stable but bend or fall away if a car hits them. The Federal Highway Administration recommends:

- A 4″ x 4″ wooden support or a 2″-diameter standard steel or aluminum pipe.
- Avoid unyielding and potentially dangerous supports, like heavy metal pipes, concrete posts, and farm equipment (e.g., milk cans filled with concrete).
- Bury your post no more than 24″ deep.

## Door Slots & Wall Mailboxes

### Approved Door Slots

Some homes and apartments have a slot in the door for receiving mail instead of a mailbox. The standards for an approved door slot are:

- The opening must be at least 1 1/2″ x 7″.
- The bottom of the slot must be at least 30″ above floor.
- Horizontal slots must have a flap hinged at the top.
- Vertical slots must be hinged on the opposite side from the door's hinges.

For greater privacy, you can also install a mail slot hood on the inside of your door to prevent someone from seeing into your home. The standards for door slot hoods are:

- The hood should not project more than 2 1/16″ beyond the inside of the door.
- On a horizontal slot, the hood should not extend below the bottom of the outside plate.
- On a vertical slot, the hood should not extend beyond the side of the outside plate on same side as the door's hinges.

### Wall-Mounted Mailboxes

- To replace your curbside mailbox with a wall-mounted mailbox, you must get your local postmaster's permission.
- Choose from a variety of mailbox sizes and styles; mounted mailboxes are not required to have a PMG seal of approval.
- Get a wall mailbox that can hold a normal day's mail volume, including letter-sized envelopes, postcards, and catalogs.*
- Place the mailbox near the main entrance so your mail carrier can easily see it.

*Note: Wall-mounted mailboxes may only be used for items with postage. Newspapers may not be placed in the mailbox.

## Maintenance

Mailboxes take a beating from the weather, so we recommend an annual mailbox checkup to avoid damage to your mail or difficulty identifying your address.

- Tighten loose hinges on the door
- Take care of rusty or loose parts
- Replace missing or faded house numbers
- Keep the path to your mailbox clear