With the growth of technology and digitization, the way of working has changed massively in the last few years. However, some still prefer the traditional or safer medium to transfer their essential documents via PO Box.
Most businesses still apply PO Box to transfer their original documents safely rather than choosing digital options like email.
This article will explain everything about the PO Box cost, uses, benefits, limitations, setup, and more.
What are PO Boxes?
PO (Post Office) Boxes are secured and private lockable boxes accessed via the post office. Individuals or businesses can rent a PO box to receive mail or packages.
How does the PO Box work?
PO Box is a safer option to receive mail or a portion of your mail. If you don’t want any specific mail getting delivered to your home or business location, a PO box is the best option where you will have your mail delivered.
Also, you can rent the PO Box for three, six, or 12 months according to your needs. The box would be accessible 24 hours a day and 7 days a week with a lock and key which is only accessible to the PO box owner.
How much does a PO Box cost?
PO box comes in different sizes determining the needs of the customer and so the cost of a PO box differs.
Here is the list of different sizes of PO boxes available with their monthly prices as per the USPS.
- 3’’ x 5.5’’ – $4.67
- 5’’ x 5.5’’ – $6.00
- 5.5’’ x 11’’ – $9.00
- 11’’ x 11’’ – $13.33
- 12’’ x 22.5’’ – $23.67
PO Box Price determining factors
Renting PO boxes doesn’t come with the same price. The price differs with several factors such as,
- The size of the box – The bigger the size of the PO box, the higher the price.
- The length of rental time – The more time you rent the PO Box, the more money you shall pay.
- The location of the renting – The location is another factor for determining the PO Box price as the more competitive location charges higher fees than the rural areas.
Benefits of having a PO Box
Having a PO box can be beneficial in multiple ways. Here are some major benefits of having a PO box:
- PO boxes are fully secured as it comes with a lock and key system.
- PO boxes mask your real address and your mail gets delivered to your private address.
- With PO boxes you can keep your mails hidden and separate from home or business.
- Delivery to the PO boxes is usually faster than you get at your home address.
- PO boxes are open 24 hours and 7 days a week accessible.
How to set up a PO Box
PO box can be set up easily from any post office near your home or business address. As per the post office regulations, you can apply for a PO box. However, you must be at least 18 years old to apply for a box.
You can apply for a PO box online or by visiting the post office in person. Simply fill up the form to confirm your identity, and you can apply and get your PO box. The process might take 30 days to get your box activated. After activation, you can receive the box key and start redirecting your mail to your personal PO box.
Limitations of PO Box
With the rising development of technology and digitization, the limitations of PO boxes have increased rapidly.
- PO box requires a permanent physical address which might be an issue for nomadic people without a permanent address.
- PO Box doesn’t deliver huge quantities of packages such as FedEx, Amazon, or UPS.
- You must visit the post office every time you need to receive the mail which shall be time-consuming.
- You must receive your mail within 30 days of the delivery.
What are the alternatives to PO Boxes?
After knowing everything about PO boxes, maybe a PO box isn’t the right option for you or maybe you do not have a physical address or enough time to keep visiting the post office every month.
Well, in that case, the most recommended option is to choose a virtual mailbox that doesn’t require a physical address and doesn’t require you to visit the post office every month.
What are virtual mailboxes?
Virtual mailboxes are an online mail service that generally offers more privacy than a physical PO box. With a virtual mailbox, you can receive your physical mail at any address of your choice.
You can simply receive the mail in a PDF format scanned to your email. Also, within a few clicks, you can save it, forward it, or erase it from your system.
Conclusion
PO boxes are a secured box which is untouched by the digitization of the world and provides privacy of your valuable information from the outside world. So, if you wish to have a safe and secured mail PO box is one of the best options.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use a PO Box for my business address?
Yes, many businesses use PO Boxes to manage their correspondence securely and privately. It’s especially useful for small businesses without a fixed office location.
Can I receive large packages at my PO Box?
If a package is too large to fit in your PO Box, the post office will place a notice in your box indicating that you have a package to pick up at the counter.
Can I share my PO Box with others?
Yes, you can authorize other individuals (like family members or business partners) to access your PO Box. Their names must be added to the rental agreement, and they may need to provide identification when picking up mail.
Can I forward mail from my PO Box to another address?
Yes, mail forwarding services are available if you need your PO Box mail sent to another address. You can set this up online or at the post office, typically for a fee.
Nabin Adhikari
