Post Office Box Cost: Current Prices & Fees

A PO Box is a locked mailbox you rent inside a Post Office. People rent them for privacy, for a stable mailing address when they move often, to keep packages off a porch, or to separate business mail from home mail. The rental price is not one national number. USPS sets it by box size and by the fee group of the Post Office where the box sits, and the spread between the cheapest and the most expensive combination is large.

This guide shows the published six-month fees for all five box sizes, explains the two kinds of locations USPS prices differently, and lists the smaller charges that catch renters off guard, such as key deposits and late fees.

USPS publishes PO Box fees as a grid. One axis is the box size, from size 1 (the smallest) to size 5 (the largest). The other axis is a fee group, which is assigned to each ZIP Code. Two Post Offices in different cities can sit in different groups, so the same size box can cost very different amounts.

The grid is split into two families of locations. Standard-fee locations are called "market dominant" in the price list. These are the offices where USPS faces little competition for box service, and the fees are lower. Competitive locations are priced higher. They are mostly in areas where private mailbox stores also rent boxes. Your local Post Office or the USPS PO Box page tells you which group applies to a ZIP Code.

Standard-fee (market dominant) locations

The table shows the lowest and highest published six-month fee for each box size. The low end is the cheapest fee group and the high end is the most expensive.

Competitive locations

Competitive locations start higher and climb faster. Even the smallest box can cost more here than a mid-sized box at a standard-fee office.

Size 1 is meant for letters and a few rolled magazines. Larger boxes hold more letters and some small packages. A size 5 box is big enough for multiple packages. Many Post Offices do not stock every size, so availability may limit what you can rent. If you expect packages, ask the clerk whether a locker or a larger box is available, since a box that is too small means packages are left at the counter or in a parcel locker instead.

The rental fee is not the whole bill. USPS charges separately for keys and for lateness.

The key deposit applies to each key issued. Check at the counter whether your location waives the deposit for the first keys, since the price list notes that competitive locations do not charge a deposit for the first two. Replacement keys and replacement locks cost more, and so does paying late, so set a reminder before the rental period ends.

• Location: the fee group tied to the Post Office is the biggest factor.
• Box size: each step up in size raises the price, often steeply.
• Rental period: USPS also publishes three-month fees, which are priced per period and are not a simple half of the six-month price.
• Extra charges: key deposits, lost keys, and late payment are billed on top.

Check the period you are actually paying. The tables above show six months because that is the common rental term. If you want a shorter term, ask for the quarterly fee at your location.

The answer depends on what you need. If your goal is privacy, a PO Box keeps your home address off business filings and shipping labels, although some uses require a street address and will not accept a box. If you want package delivery, check the carriers you rely on. USPS boxes accept USPS packages, and some Post Offices also allow other carriers through street addressing, but rules vary by location, so ask.

Private mailbox stores are an alternative. They usually offer a street address that works with all carriers, and they handle mail forwarding and scanning. Their prices are set by each store, so compare them against the USPS fee for your ZIP Code before deciding. For a business, confirm that the address type your bank, state, and payment processor accept includes a PO Box before you rent one.

Search for a Post Office near you on the USPS site, pick a size, and reserve it online or at the counter. You will need to complete an application and show identification. USPS verifies the name and address, so bring what the form asks for. After approval you pay the rental fee and the key deposit, and you receive your box number and keys.