PO Boxes

A PO Box is a secure, numbered box located at the Post Office where your mail is kept until you collect it.

To open your PO Box online:

Step 1: Search for Post Office locations near you by using the search bar under "Find a PO Box Near You."

Step 2: Choose a Post Office location and select your desired PO Box size and payment period.

Step 3: Complete the online application form, accept the Terms & Conditions, enter your billing and payment information, and review and submit your application to reserve your PO Box.

Step 4: Print your completed form and bring it to the Post Office counter where your box is located, along with 2 forms of acceptable U.S. identification (within 30 days of submitting your online application). After the retail associate verifies your identity, you’ll get your PO Box keys.

To apply for a PO Box in person at a Post Office:

Step 1: Optional Time-Saving Tip: If you have a printer, download "PS Form 1093, Application for Post Office Box Service," Application for Post Office Box Service, fill it out, then print it out (note: if you apply for a PO Box online, this form is automatically generated). Bring the completed form with you to the Post Office.

Step 2: Bring your payment and 2 forms of acceptable U.S. identification to the Post Office and tell the retail associate at the counter that you'd like to apply for a PO Box.

You have a few options: You can choose another box size, find a box at a different location, or request to be added to the wait list (online or at a Post Office). If you request to be added to the wait list, your name will be placed on a list for that box size at the location you requested. We'll contact you via an email or phone call when the box becomes available. You'll then have 2 days to reserve the box before it goes to the next person on the wait list.

Yes, you can. However, you are still required to visit the Post Office where your box is located, with the proper documentation, to pick up your PO Box keys or combination.

When you're ready to pay for your PO Box, you have 3 payment term options: 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months. A 3-month payment term requires enrolling in automatic renewals with no opt-out. However, if you choose a 6- or 12-month period, you can opt out of automatic renewals.

There are 4 ways you can renew your PO Box:

• Online with a credit or debit card. Go to the PO Boxes Online application and click Renew, which will take you to the "Manage PO Box" page. Then, click Renew PO Box. This feature is available 30 days before your next payment is due.
• At a self-service kiosk. Find a kiosk.
• Renew by mail. Send a check or money order payable to "U.S. Postal Service" to the Postmaster where your PO Box is located. (Include your PO Box number on the memo line of the check.)
• Visit the Post Office where your box is located. Pay by cash, check, or credit card.

You must make payments by the 10th of the month the payment is due. If you don't make this payment, your PO Box will be closed on the 11th of the month.

You pay for a full rental period at the beginning; however, if you decide to close your box, you'll get a partial refund depending on how long you've had the box. See full details on refunds.

Once you've reserved your box, completed the PO Box application (PS Form 1093), paid the rental fee, and verified your 2 forms of acceptable ID at the Post Office counter where your box is located, you'll get 2 keys for your box. If you need more than 2 keys, you can request more for an additional fee.

Most PO Box locations allow 24/7 access to your PO Box; however, hours vary by Post Office location. Look up the hours for the facility where your PO Box is located.

If you are a small business owner, a few great services are available for you, including Caller Service, designed for customers who have more than 5 PO Boxes at one location or who receive more mail than will fit in the largest PO Box. If there is an overflow of mail, we'll hold the mail for you to pick up at a time that works best for you. Learn more about services available for small businesses.

You can change your personal account to a business account: Go to Your Profile and click Edit. In the upper right-hand corner, click Change to Business Account to switch your personal account to a business account.

If you currently have a USPS.com business account, you can't change your business account to a personal account. Instead, you'll need to create a new, separate personal account and re-verify your identity.

Select Manage PO Box, sign in, and you can:

• Open a new PO Box
• Add an existing PO Box to your online account
• Add or manage the credit card you use for payment
• Edit your User Profile
• View your online payment history

An additional service to consider adding to your PO Box is Street Addressing. With Street Addressing (if available), you have the option of using the street address of your Post Office location, combined with your PO Box number, as your mailing address. This lets you receive packages from private carriers (such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Amazon), as long as they comply with USPS mailing standards. See the Customer Agreement for more details.

You can close a PO Box by going to Manage PO Box, signing in to your account, and clicking the Close/Request Refund link next to the box. You can also request a PO Box be closed by informing the retail associate at the Post Office where your box is located. Once a box is closed, be sure to submit a Change of Address (COA) form. Depending on where you close your box, the form will be provided online on your close/refund confirmation page or by the retail associate at the Post Office. Your mail can be forwarded to your new address for up to one year.

Yes. For deliveries that require a signature, we'll leave a delivery notice inside your PO Box, and you'll go to the counter to sign for and pick up your package. If you sign up for the free Signature on File service, we'll leave the item in your PO Box.