A package receiving service is a business with a street address that accepts your parcels from any carrier, logs them and keeps them safe until you decide what happens next: pickup, forwarding to another address or consolidation into one shipment. It suits people who are often away, live without a doorman or order a lot online.
How does a package receiving service work?
- You get an address. The mail center gives you its street address with your box number, written as a private mailbox (PMB). See how to write a PMB address so carriers deliver it correctly.
- Carriers deliver there. The postal service, UPS, FedEx, DHL or Amazon drop your parcels at the counter, like at any business.
- Staff log each parcel. They record it and photograph the label, and the item appears in your online account.
- You choose an action. Pickup in person, forwarding to the address of your choice, or open and scan for a letter that came with it.
In the United States, a business that receives mail for customers is a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA). The USPS Domestic Mail Manual says a CMRA "accepts delivery of the mail and holds it for pickup or remails it to the addressee, prepaid with new postage."
Who needs a package receiving service?
- People who travel or work long hours, so parcels do not wait on a porch or go back to the sender.
- Apartment residents without a concierge or a secure parcel room.
- Snowbirds and expats, who keep one stable address while they are away.
- Online shoppers abroad, who need a local address because some stores only ship within the country.
- Freelancers and small businesses, who receive samples and supplies without giving out a home address.
Can a PO Box receive packages from UPS or FedEx?
Not in most cases. A United States Postal Service (USPS) PO Box address is not a street address, so private carriers usually cannot deliver to it. At some Premium PO Box Service locations, USPS offers Street Addressing, which lets UPS, FedEx and others deliver to your box. Our guide to PO Box street addressing explains where it is offered. A mail center address works with every carrier because it is already a street address.
How is it different from USPS or Canada Post Hold Mail?
Postal hold services pause delivery to your home. They do not give you a new address.
| Package receiving at a mail center | USPS Hold Mail | Canada Post Hold Mail | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Address | A street address at the mail center | Your home address | Your home address |
| Parcels | Received from every carrier | Included, with all your mail | Not covered, per Canada Post |
| Duration | As long as your plan runs | 3 to 30 days | Periods set by Canada Post |
| See items while away | Yes, online | No | No |
| Forwarding on request | Yes | No | No |
USPS states that Hold Mail is free, lasts from 3 to 30 days and cannot hold just one package. Canada Post states that its Hold Mail service does not apply to parcels and suggests asking senders to delay shipping.
What can you do with a parcel once it arrives?
| Action | What the mail center does | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup | Keeps the parcel until you visit | You live or work nearby |
| Forward | Ships it to the address you choose; the cost is shown before you confirm | You are away or abroad |
| Consolidate | Combines several parcels into one box before forwarding | You order from several stores |
| Open and scan | Opens an envelope and scans the pages | A document arrived with the parcel |
Combining parcels often lowers the shipping cost: see how to consolidate shipments. The actions included each month depend on your plan and your mail center.
What do you need to sign up?
- Mail center in the United States: a photo ID, a proof of address, a selfie holding the ID and USPS Form 1583, signed and notarized before you upload it.
- Mail center in Canada: a photo ID, a proof of address and a selfie holding the ID. Form 1583 does not apply.
Other people can receive parcels at your box if you add them as authorized recipients. In the United States, each adult recipient files their own Form 1583.
How do you choose a package receiving service?
- Location. Pick a city where stores ship, or a mail center close to you for pickup.
- Storage. Ask how long parcels are kept free of charge and what happens after.
- Size limits. Check what the mail center accepts, especially for large or heavy boxes.
- Carriers. Check which carriers are offered for forwarding.
- Price. Plans and fees vary by mail center, so compare them before you sign up.
If you also want letters scanned online, read what a virtual mailbox is and how it adds mail scanning to parcel reception.
YogoMailbox is a virtual mailbox platform that gives you a real street address at a local mail center in Canada or the United States, with mail scanning and forwarding.
FAQ
Can someone else pick up my parcels?
Yes, if your plan allows authorized recipients and that person is added to your box.
How long will the mail center keep my parcels?
It depends on the plan and the mail center. Check the storage period and any extra fees before you sign up.
What happens to my mail if I close the box in the United States?
USPS rules require the CMRA to remail mail intended for you for at least 6 months after the end of the agency relationship. Give the mail center your new address when you close the box.
Can I receive parcels from another country?
Yes. International parcels arrive like any other delivery. Duties and taxes follow the rules of the country where the mail center is located.
Get a street address for your parcels
Choose a mail center and a plan on the YogoMailbox pricing page, then sign up online.
Sources
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 508, section 1.8: Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies
- USPS FAQ: USPS Hold Mail, the basics
- USPS: Hold Mail
- Canada Post: Hold Mail overview
- USPS PostalPro: Premium PO Box Service Street Addressing
Last updated: 10/11/2026