Post Office Box facts for kids

A Post Office Box, often called a PO box, is like a private, lockable mailbox you can rent at a post office. Instead of mail being delivered to your home, it goes straight into your PO box. Only you (or someone you allow) and the post office workers can open it. It's a special address used just for receiving mail.

What is a PO Box?

A PO box is a secure, numbered compartment located inside a post office or sometimes in other public places. When you rent a PO box, you get a unique address that looks a bit different from a regular street address. For example, instead of "123 Main Street," your address might be "PO Box 12345."

This special address is where all your letters and packages are sent. Only the person or organization who rents the box, and the postal workers, can access the mail inside. This makes PO boxes a very safe and private way to receive mail.

Why People Use PO Boxes

People and businesses use PO boxes for many reasons. Here are some common ones:

• Privacy: If you don't want your home address widely known, a PO box offers a private mailing address.
• Security: Mail delivered to a PO box is often safer from theft or bad weather than mail left in a home mailbox.
• No Fixed Address: If you travel a lot, live in an apartment without a secure mailbox, or are moving, a PO box gives you a stable place to get mail.
• Businesses: Many businesses use PO boxes to keep their physical location private or to handle a large amount of incoming mail.
• Convenience: You can pick up your mail at the post office during its open hours, which can be helpful if you're not home during regular delivery times.

How PO Boxes Work

Renting a PO box is usually a simple process.

• Renting: You apply at a post office and pay a fee, which can be for a few months or a whole year. The cost often depends on the size of the box and how long you want to rent it.
• Getting a Key: Once you've rented a box, you'll receive a key or a combination to open your specific box.
• Receiving Mail: When mail is sent to your PO box address, postal workers place it directly into your rented compartment.
• Collecting Mail: You can visit the post office at any time during its open hours to unlock your box and collect your mail. Some post offices have lobbies that are open 24/7, so you can pick up mail even when the main counter is closed.

Where to Find PO Boxes

Most PO boxes are located inside post office buildings. You'll often see walls filled with rows and rows of these small, metal boxes. They come in different sizes to fit various needs, from small ones for letters to larger ones for small packages.

In some countries, or in certain areas, you might also find PO boxes in other convenient locations, like inside supermarkets or other public places. This makes it even easier for people to access their mail.

Other pages

Postal address

Images for kids

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  A post office box full of mail

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  PO boxes of various sizes in a German post office, with their number range and postcodes written above them

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  Post office boxes next to the S-market supermarket in Klaukkala, Finland

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  Outdoor Post Office Boxes (as common in Switzerland) numbers one to six at 9054 Haslen, Switzerland

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  PO boxes in the lobby of a U.S. post office

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  PO boxes inside the NamPost main building in Windhoek.

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  Post office boxes in General Post Office, Hong Kong.

See also

In Spanish: Apartado de correos para niños