Need help setting up a PO box for mail and packages

[sunrise]

I’m moving soon and don’t fully trust the mailbox at my new place, so I’m thinking about getting a PO box for important mail and online orders. I’ve never had one before and I’m confused about the steps, documents I need, costs, and how package deliveries work with a PO box. Can someone walk me through how to properly set up a PO box and what to watch out for so I don’t make any mistakes?

[Shizuka]

Here is the simple version for a USPS PO Box in the U.S.

1. Decide what you need

• Only letters and small stuff → small box.
• Packages and online orders → medium or large.
• If you get a lot of Amazon/UPS/FedEx, look for a USPS location with “Street Addressing” so you can receive some non‑USPS packages there.

2. Check locations and sizes

• Go to usps.com → “PO Boxes.”
• Enter your new ZIP.
• Compare:
  • Access hours (24/7 or lobby hours only).
  • Parking and safety.
  • Which sizes are available.
  • Price per 3, 6, or 12 months.

3. What you need to bring
   USPS needs 2 forms of ID.

You need:

• One photo ID, government issued:
  • Drivers license or state ID.
  • Passport.
  • Military ID.
• One address ID:
  • Lease, mortgage, or utility bill.
  • Car registration.
  • Voter card.
  • Bank statement.

Names and addresses on IDs must match you, not a parent or friend.

4. How to set it up online

• On usps.com, pick a location and box size.
• Create or log in to a USPS account.
• Choose rental period.
• Pay with card.
• You get a confirmation with:
  • Box number.
  • A form PS 1093 to finish at the post office.
• You still need to go in person with your IDs within 30 days or they close the reservation.

5. How to set it up in person

• Go to your chosen post office.
• Ask for a PO Box and PS Form 1093.
• Fill it out:
  • Name, phone, email.
  • Names of anyone else who gets mail there.
• Show your 2 IDs.
• Pay at the counter.
• They assign a box and give keys or a code.

6. Keys and access

• Most offices give 2 keys.
• There is a deposit or fee for extra keys and lock changes.
• Some new offices use a code instead.
• Ask:
  • Lobby hours for pickup.
  • Where packages get placed if they do not fit in the box.

7. Mail and address format
   Your PO Box address looks like:

Your Name
PO Box 1234
City, ST ZIP+4

If your office offers “Street Addressing,” they let you use:

Your Name
123 Main St #1234
City, ST ZIP+4

That helps with retailers that refuse to ship to PO Boxes.

8. What packages you get

• USPS packages go to your box or a separate locker.
• If a package does not fit, they put a key or a slip in your box.
• For UPS/FedEx:
  • Only some offices accept them under Street Addressing.
  • Ask the clerk before you rely on it.
• Oversized stuff gets held at the counter for a limited time.

9. Mail forwarding and address changes

• When you move:
  • File a change of address from old home to PO Box on usps.com or at the office.
• Use the PO Box for:
  • Banks.
  • Credit cards.
  • Government, IRS, etc.
• Keep your physical address on file where required for legal stuff or deliveries.

10. Price examples
    Pricing changes by ZIP and size but rough ballpark:

• Small: around 40 to 80 per 6 months.
• Medium: around 60 to 150 per 6 months.
• Large: around 100 to 250 per 6 months.
  Check your exact office, prices swing a lot by area.

11. Private mailbox alternative
    If you want more package flexibility, look at:

• UPS Store.
• Mailbox stores.

Pros:

• You get a real street address.
• UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS all accepted.
  Cons:
• Usually more expensive than USPS.
• Hours limited by store schedule.

12. What I would do in your case

• Since you do not trust the new mailbox, use the PO Box for:
  • All financial and ID related mail.
  • Important documents.
• Use your home for:
  • Things you do not care if they sit at the door or risk theft.
• If you order a lot from Amazon and similar, pick:
  • A USPS location with Street Addressing.
  • Or a UPS Store mailbox instead.

Common gotchas:

• Forgetting to renew. Put a reminder in your phone.
• Assuming every package fits. Some large stuff might get returned.
• Putting someone else’s name without listing them on the PS 1093. That triggers holds.

Once you do it once, it is simple. The confusing part is the ID rules and the Street Addressing piece, so ask the clerk at your chosen office those two things first.

[Kakeru]

If you’re mainly worried about security and not trying to min‑max every USPS rule like @shizuka (in a good way), here’s the more “real life” angle and a few extras they didn’t cover as much:

1. First decision: PO box vs private mailbox

   • PO box = cheaper, super reliable for mail, but kinda annoying for some online orders. Some sites still refuse “PO Box” even if the office offers street addressing.
   • Private mailbox (UPS Store, local mail center) = more expensive, but you get a real street address and they’ll take USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. If you’re a heavy online shopper, this can save you a lot of “package returned to sender” rage.

2. What actually happens with packages
   This is where people get surprised:

   • Big stuff that won’t fit in your box gets put in a parcel locker or held at the counter. If you do a lot of bulk orders, the clerks will start to know you by sight.
   • Even when a post office offers “street addressing,” some FedEx/UPS drivers still refuse to deliver to that location or the system flags it. So I would not fully rely on it for every online store. Use it mostly for important things, not random oversized Amazon furniture.

3. Minimal “what do I need” checklist
   Forget the long list and think of it this way:

   • One government photo ID with your name
   • One document that has your physical address
     Typical working combos:
   • Driver’s license (photo + often has address) plus lease / utility bill
   • Passport plus lease / bank statement
     If your ID still has your old address and your lease is for the new place, that’s usually fine. USPS cares more that you are a real human tied to some physical address, not that it perfectly matches your new one.

4. How I’d actually set this up in your situation
   Since you don’t trust the new mailbox:

   • Use the PO box for: banks, credit cards, tax stuff, ID documents, work‑related paper, anything that would be a nightmare if stolen.
   • Use your home address for: low‑value packages, stuff that can be replaced, groceries, big things that clearly won’t fit in a PO box.
   • For sites that hate PO boxes: if your post office offers street addressing, use that format and keep “PO Box” out of line 2 unless they explicitly ask. If it still rejects, send to home or a locker (Amazon Locker, etc).

5. Small disagreement with @shizuka on size choice
   They said medium or large if you get packages. I’d say: start with a small or medium unless you know you’re drowning in mail. USPS handles overflow with parcel lockers and slips anyway. Bigger boxes jump in price fast, especially in busy ZIP codes, and you might be paying extra for empty air.

6. A couple of gotchas people do not mention

   • Renewal snipes people: USPS does not always shout loudly when your term is up. Toss a calendar reminder in your phone for 2 weeks before renewal.
   • Name mismatch: if you use different names (nickname vs legal, or you’ll have a partner/roommate getting stuff there), make sure every version is listed on the form. Otherwise mail can get held or returned.
   • You still need a real residence: a PO box does not replace a legal physical address. Some institutions will ask for both: “mailing address” and “physical address.” Put PO box for mailing, apartment for physical.

Bottom line:

• If your main concern is secure important mail with occasional normal packages, a USPS PO box is perfect.
• If you are basically running a mini Amazon warehouse at home, consider a private mailbox or mix: PO box for official stuff, home + lockers for most packages.