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In Charlotte Bronte's novel, Jane Eyre, the protagonist's aunt intercepts a life-changing inheritance letter and keeps it hidden from her for years. Mailbox "boxes" were not part of life back then, and receiving such correspondence was an accomplishment in and of itself. In Jane Eyre's case, it took three years and the looming specter of her aunt's death to access her mail. Today, all we have to do is check our mailboxes.
Mailboxes are an integral part of our lives and make mail delivery faster, easier, and more convenient. Before the advent of the radio, telephone, or internet, mail was the only way that people could keep in touch, but they had to walk miles to send or receive it.
A breakthrough came with the Free City Delivery Service in 1862, with couriers delivering mail directly to people's homes. Still, there was no standard mailbox "box" to place the mail in. Due to different factors such as mail theft and flimsy receptacles, the USPS now regulates mailbox standards, and they fall under federal protections.
Today's mailboxes have different styles and sizes, serving multiple residents in one convenient place. If it's time for a change, it helps to know about the different types of mailboxes to help you make the right decision before buying one.
1. Cluster Mailboxes
Cluster mailboxes (CBU's) are prevalent in gated communities, newer residential developers, and commercial complexes. They have multiple units and come in different dimensions and colors that help them integrate better with their surroundings. The USPS both regulates and encourages their use since they save time for postal carriers.
With CBU's, residents have a unique key for their slot, and the postal carrier has one that opens the front panel of the mailbox. It allows for quick and convenient sorting and placement without spending time opening each slot individually. These types of mailboxes are mounted on pedestals, not wall-mounted, and they usually stand together in an accessible place.
2. Recessed Lobby Mailboxes (4C Horizontal Mailboxes)
You may not think of elegance or art when imagining a wall-mounted mailbox system, but they are nothing short of both. The function of all lobby wall-mount mailboxes is the same--they occupy a space in the lobby of a business or apartment building to store mail. Yet the sheer number of height specifications, colors, and sophisticated architectural concepts of recessed lobby mailboxes is pretty impressive.
The 4C horizontal lobby mailbox systems accommodate a range of architectural wall specifications. As with cluster mailboxes, these units allow a mail courier to deliver parcels and letters to multiple people without cluttering the lobby. These types of mailboxes usually have a separate parcel locker to place packages in, to make sure they don't stay outside.
The next time you are in a large business complex, try to look on the walls behind the reception area, and you might be able to find them hidden in the décor.
3. Apartment Mailboxes
Not all apartment complexes use the same type of mailbox style, and there may be size constraints or limitations on using the walls of the lobby.
To counter logistical issues, the installation of apartment mailboxes is now standard practice in most buildings, and they help save time for couriers while concentrating mail delivery in one area. Different types of mailboxes work for apartment buildings that look similar to CBU's but accommodate lobby size limitations.
Apartment mailboxes work both indoors and outdoors, allowing for the safe delivery and access of mail without compromising on space or budget. You can mount them onto a wall inside the lobby or outside of the building, making it easier for the courier to access.
Types of Apartment Mailboxes include:
- Outdoor Cluster Mailboxes
- Recessed Lobby 4C Horizontal Mailboxes
- Recessed Lobby 4B Horizontal Mailboxes
- Surface Mount or Recessed Vertical Mailboxes
4. Post Mount and Pedestal Mailboxes
The traditional pedestal or post mount mailbox is the American classic--the standalone mailbox you find in front of houses throughout small towns, suburban streets, and sprawling farms with curbside delivery. A pedestal mailbox is an ornamental piece for homeowners since it has many elaborate designs and shapes.
Although most pedestal mailboxes seem small, they are customizable, and some can be quite large and heavy. The standard elongated shape fits letters and envelopes while the larger, square-size shape fits small boxes and packages. Before you buy a new pedestal or post mount mailbox, make sure to check if it meets USPS requirements.
5. Drop Boxes and Collection Boxes
Drop boxes and collection boxes are for handling large volumes of mail and packages. These types of mailboxes are ideal for people who have home businesses or who send and receive packages daily. They offer a secure place in which to place outgoing mail and make sure your incoming mail is safe while you are traveling.
Mail theft is a growing problem, so these boxes come with unique features that make them difficult to tamper with or access the contents inside. Drop boxes are safe and dependable, and the USPS has thousands that dot American streets around the country. These types of mailboxes give residents and business owners peace of mind, especially when it comes to securing their mail delivery.
Private Delivery Mailboxes (Multi-tenant)
A private delivery mailbox is a multi-unit mail storage box with rear access or front access, but fitted with private master locks rather than the USPS proprietary arrow lock. Private delivery mailboxes are best for commercial buildings, colleges, agencies, or any organization with its own internal post sorting service.
When thinking about large-scale organizations that receive consistent mail and correspondence and also send out high volumes, it makes sense to install these types of mailboxes to save time and space.
This type of mailbox best accommodates files and envelope-sized mail, although sizes differ depending on the organization. Larger parcels usually have their own space, separate from the individual slots, and fit multiple mailboxes at once.
Other FAQs
By now, you may have questions regarding style, material, and what mailbox works best for you. Here are some questions we often receive when breaking down mailbox types and styles.
What is the best type of mailbox?
Now that you are familiar with the different types of mailboxes, the second step is to choose which kind works best for you. Selecting the perfect mailbox means finding the right size and style that suits your accommodation needs while ensuring that it meets U.S. postal service standards. Remember that what you consider to be the best option for you might not work, especially if you don't have a private residence or business office.
If you are a homeowner living in a standalone single-family residence, a pedestal mailbox works well, unless you don't have curbside delivery. If you don't, your neighborhood likely has a cluster mailbox within the community. For residents of apartment buildings, cluster mailboxes and apartment mailboxes are the best choices.
Businesses and organizations should have private delivery or recessed mailboxes in each building to prevent over-cluttering and provide adequate security for inbound and outgoing mail. They don't have to be drab and gray as they come in various architectural colors to brighten up or complement an aesthetic.
What is the difference between a single mailbox and a shared mailbox?
There are two main differences between a private mailbox and a shared mailbox – accessibility and size. A private mailbox is solely yours, and post couriers don't deliver mail to multiple people. A single mailbox takes up less space than a shared one.
When you live in an apartment complex, shared mailboxes (i.e., cluster, 4C, 4B, vertical) accommodate not just your mail delivery, but that of tens or even hundreds of others who occupy the same building or complex. The same applies if you're a resident of a community that has a cluster system. If you still worry about the security of your mail despite having your own secure tenant mailbox, you can opt for a private P.O. Box at your nearest post office.
Which is better, a plastic or metal mailbox?
It's always better to choose a metal mailbox over a plastic one, for several reasons. The first is safety and security. With a metal box, it's much more difficult to pry open or damage. These types of containers also protect your mail from the elements and don't break easily.
Many people want plastic mailboxes because they won't rust easily. While this may be the case, they are not as durable as steel or aluminum boxes, especially when it comes to withstanding temperature extremes. For example, in states where summers are hot, plastic mailboxes lose their strength.
Wrapping Up
The U.S. post office regulates mailboxes to ensure that you safely and securely receive your mail. The different types of mailboxes available today result from changes in demand and a growing population's ever-evolving needs. With so many options to choose from, estimating your mail volume and how much space you need helps you save space and money when it's time to make a purchase.
