NOTICE: Please consult your local postmaster at your local post office for approval prior to purchase and installation of a new mailbox. Not all United States Postal Service Approved Mailboxes are approved for all USPS applications.
Why would you need a USPS-approved mailbox?
USPS-approved mailboxes adhere to the standards set forth by the US Postmaster General. In order for mailboxes to be usps approved the manufacturer must demonstrate a sound manufacturing process and design products that adhere to a specific set of standards.
Installation of a USPS-approved mailbox is easy and only requires an exchange of the mailbox itself while while often re-using the old post.
What is a USPS approved mailbox?
A usps approved mailbox refers to any mailbox that has been designed in accordance to the USPS standards and is pre-approved for use in either a residential or commercial setting. The post master general provides specific standards that a mailbox must meet in order to be considered usps approved. Manufacturers are required to apply with the post master general and are then added to a list of approved manufactures.
Common USPS Approved Mailboxes
Residential Mailboxes
Locking Mailboxes
With the recent uptick in mail theft and identity theft, locking mailboxes have risen to the top in the residential category. A security mailbox will feature a locking mechanism that prevents any unauthorized 3rd party from accessing the mail within, while still allow the mail person to deliver mail.
Non Locking Mailbox
Commercial Mailboxes
Cluster Box Units (CBU)
Cluster Mailboxes usually refer to horizontal mailboxes that are either mounted in free-standing enclosures or recessed in a wall. They feature either private or USPS access, whereby the postperson has a master key that enables them to retrieve outgoing mail and deposit incoming mail. These are most commonly used in apartment complexes but, more recently, are also used for newer housing developments to simplify mail delivery.
CBUs can also include parcel lockers that are specifically designed to accommodate larger parcels.
Common USPS Approved Mailbox Manufacturers
MAIL BOSS
Mail Boss provides a selection of post mounted and wall mounted locking mailboxes designed for residential postal service mail delivery. All of their mailboxes are constructed from are constructed from elegalvanized steel, are powder coated finish to provide a weather resistance and use 12-disk high security wafer locks.
All Mail Boss post mounted mailboxes can be mounted on gangs of up to 4 mailboxes, allowing a single installation to service multiple residences. They are known for their ease of assembly and fast delivery times with orders generally shipping within one business day. They offer three different sizes for use in any mailbox project and some of them can even accept small packages.
Salsbury Industries
Salsbury Industries offers both residential and commercial mailboxes. Whereas Mail Boss uses steel for their designs, Salbury has opted to construct all of its mailboxes from aluminum. Aluminum has the added benefit of being more weather-resistant.
Salsbury has the latest cluster box unit designs featuring 4c horizontal mailboxes and parcel lockers. While they do offer 4b cluster mailboxes these can only be used for replacement purposes of an existing commercial mailbox and it is recommended to contact your local postmaster prior to installation.
Jayco industries
Jayco Industries is a Calidornia based manufacturer of custom-made-to order mailboxes. Mailboxes can be customized in terms of the material used, the incoming mail slot size, locking mechanism and many other features. They provide some of the most secure option mailboxes on the market any postal carrier is sure to love while adhering to the latest USPS specifications.
Whitehall Products
Whitehall products offers made-to-order sand-die cast aluminum mailboxes that includes customized side address plaques, door plaques for the house numbers and mailbox toppers for your name.
What mailboxes are approved by the Postmaster General, and what are the different USPS standards?
USPS-Approved mailboxes are available for both residential and commercial use.
Residential Mailboxes: USPS Standard 7C
Mailbox Types
USPS Standard 7C classifies curbside mailboxes into two main categories based on their design and functionality:
Non-Locked Mailboxes:
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Traditional (Full or Limited Service)
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Contemporary (Full or Limited Service)
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Large Capacity (Full or Limited Service)
Locked Mailboxes:
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Locked, Mail Slot Design (Full or Limited Service)
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Locked, Large Capacity / USPS Security Tested (Full or Limited Service)
Materials
Mailboxes must be constructed from durable materials to withstand various weather conditions and physical impacts. The standard does not specify exact materials but implies that they should be robust enough to pass specific tests, including:
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Modified Salt Spray (Fog) Testing (ASTM G85)
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Abrasion Resistance of Organic Coatings by Falling Abrasive (ASTM D968)
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Rain Test Only (UL 771 Night Depositories)
Basic Specifications
To ensure functionality and uniformity, mailboxes must adhere to several design and operational specifications:
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Carrier Door Operation: The door must allow easy deposit and retrieval of mail by the carrier.
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Flag Operation: Flags must be functional to indicate outgoing mail.
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Incoming Mail Openings: Openings should be of adequate size and design to prevent mail from falling out while allowing easy access for deposit.
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Outgoing Mail Retrieval: Full-service designs must allow outgoing mail to be pulled straight out without interference.
Approval and Compliance
Manufacturers must get USPS approval for their mailbox models. Approved models are published annually in the Postal Bulletin. Manufacturers are required to meet testing and compliance reviews and may need to retest or revise designs to maintain approval.
Commercial Mailboxes: USPS Standard 4C
As of October 5th 2006 USPS-std-4c has superceded USPS-std-4b for all commercial mailboxes and must be used for all new construction and major renovations. Following this latest standard assures that the mailbox specifications are followed for all horizontal mailboxes. This centralized mail delivery standard applies to all front loading mailboxes as well as rear loading mailboxes providing various usps delivery options.
Mailbox Types
The standard outlines several mail receptacles categorized into Type I through Type XII.
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Types can be either Front Loader or Rear Loader designs.
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Configurations range from single to double columns with varying numbers of customer compartments.
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Options for mail collection compartments, outgoing mail slots, and parcel compartments or a combination thereof.
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Dedicated parcel delivery units without integral parcel compartments.
Materials
The standard does not specify specific materials, but commercial mailboxes must be constructed from durable materials designed to withstand daily use and environmental factors:
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High-quality metal:
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Resistant to rust and corrosion.
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Ensures longevity and security.
Basic Specifications
The standard mandates several key specifications:
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Design: It must be wall-mounted and centralized. Include a master door for front loaders and rear access covers for rear loaders.
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Dimensions: Varied configurations allow for customization based on space and user needs.
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Security Features: Equipped with Arrow lock doors for secure mail collection. Ensure tamper-proof construction.
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Testing Requirements: Must pass water-tightness, impact resistance, salt fog resistance, abrasion resistance, temperature stress, and security tests.
Approval and Compliance
To ensure compliance with USPS standards:
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Manufacturers: Must obtain USPS approval to sell wall-mounted, centralized mail receptacles. USPS provides a list of approved manufacturers upon request.
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Inspection and Quality Management: Regular inspections and adherence to a quality management system are required. Must follow procedures for corrective actions if standards are not met.
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ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): All ADA guidelines must be met
Are vertical or 4B Horizontal Mailboxes USPS-approved?
Yes, these are considered USPS-approved mailboxes. They are, however, only permitted for replacement installations. All new construction commercial mailboxes must adhere to standard 4c. Even though they may be usps approved it is highly recommend to discuss this first with your local postmaster prior to purchase. Your local post office will be able to provide you the most up to date requirements for your specific locality to ensure you mailbox project can be completely smoothly.
