A PO Box can have a street address where USPS offers Street Addressing. At those Post Offices, you write the Post Office's street address, then "#" and your box number. PO Box street addressing lets private carriers such as UPS, FedEx, DHL and Amazon deliver to your box. It is not available at every location.
Can a PO Box have a street address?
Yes, at some locations. The United States Postal Service (USPS) calls the option Street Addressing. It is part of Premium PO Box Service, and USPS describes it as "subject to availability and restrictions."
Without it, a PO Box address is "PO Box" plus a number. With it, the same box also gets a street-style address: the street address of the Post Office, followed by "#" and the box number. Mail sent to either format goes to the same box.
According to the USPS Postal Bulletin that added these rules to the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), USPS started its competitive PO Box features at 49 locations in January 2011 and expanded them on 22/1/2012.
How do you write a PO Box street address?
DMM section 508.4.5.4 gives this example:
John Smith
123 Main Street, #4567
Any Town, NY 10001
USPS Publication 28, section 284, adds that the box number follows the Post Office street address, with a "#" sign or the word "UNIT" in front of it.
- Line 1: your name.
- Line 2: the exact street address of your Post Office, then "#" or "UNIT" and your box number.
- Line 3: the city, state and ZIP Code of that Post Office.
Do not replace "#" with "Suite" or "Apt". Publication 28 names only "#" and "UNIT".
Can a PO Box receive packages from UPS, FedEx or Amazon?
Only with Street Addressing. USPS says the option gives you "a delivery address for packages from other carriers (including Amazon, DHL, FedEx, and UPS)." PostalPro adds that it helps when private carriers require a street address and when merchants refuse to ship to a PO Box.
USPS packages that do not fit in your box are handled in one of two ways: you get a slip to pick them up at the counter during business hours, or you pick them up from a secure parcel locker.
What are the conditions?
- Not every Post Office offers it. USPS notes that additional services are "not available at all Post Office locations." PostalPro publishes the list of locations that moved to Street Addressing (file dated 19/10/2026).
- You sign a customer agreement. The DMM requires a signed Customer Agreement to use the Premium PO Box enhancements.
- Do not file a change of address to the street format. PostalPro states that customers who sign the agreement must not file a Change of Address from their PO Box to the street-style address, because mail sent to both addresses already goes to the box.
- You rent the box in person. USPS asks for 2 forms of acceptable U.S. identification at the Post Office where your box is. If you apply online, you do this within 30 days.
- Sizes depend on the location. Most Post Offices have 5 PO Box sizes, from XS (3 x 5.5 inches) to XL (12 x 22.5 inches), depending on availability.
What other Premium PO Box features come with it?
DMM section 508.4.5.4 lists two more enhancements:
- Real Mail Notification: an email or text alert when new mail arrives in your box.
- Signature on File: USPS keeps your signature, which makes it easier to receive Priority Mail Express, insured mail over $200 and Signature Confirmation items. USPS says this service is free and lets those items be left in your box.
USPS also offers Informed Delivery, which previews incoming letter-sized mail and tracks packages.
How does it compare with a private mailbox?
A private mailbox at a mail center also gives you a street address with a number. The difference is who runs it and what you can do from a distance.
| PO Box with Street Addressing | Private mailbox at a mail center | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | USPS, at a Post Office | A private business registered with USPS |
| Address | Post Office street address + # and box number | Mail center street address + PMB or # and box number |
| Where offered | Selected Premium PO Box Service locations | Any mail center that rents boxes |
| UPS, FedEx, DHL, Amazon | Yes | Yes |
| Identity check | 2 forms of acceptable U.S. ID | PS Form 1583 and two IDs |
| See your mail from a distance | Email or text alerts, Informed Delivery previews | Online scans when the mail center offers them |
A private mailbox follows its own USPS format: see how to write a PMB address. For the identity form, read our guide to USPS Form 1583.
What if your Post Office does not offer Street Addressing?
You can rent a box at another Post Office that offers it, rent a private mailbox at a mail center, or use a virtual mailbox, which adds scanning, forwarding and pickup from an online account. Our guide to PO box alternatives explains each option, and our page on virtual mailbox vs PO box shows them side by side.
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.
Street Addressing is a USPS service for PO Boxes in the United States. If you live in Canada and need a civic address for packages, a mailbox at a local mail center gives you one.
FAQ
Can I still use my "PO Box" address after I switch?
Yes. PostalPro explains that mail sent to the PO Box format and to the street-style format both go to the same box. This is why you should not file a Change of Address between the two.
Is the street-style address my home address?
No. It is the street address of the Post Office, followed by your box number. You still collect your mail and packages at that Post Office.
How do I know if my Post Office offers Street Addressing?
Ask at the counter of your Post Office, or check the list of Street Addressing locations on the USPS PostalPro page linked below.
Can a mail center receive my packages instead?
Yes. A mail center has its own street address, so all carriers can deliver there. With YogoMailbox, you then choose to forward, pick up or open and scan each item, depending on your plan.
Get a street address for your mail and packages
Compare mail centers and plans on the YogoMailbox pricing page, then sign up online.
Sources
- USPS PostalPro: Premium PO Box Service Street Addressing
- USPS Publication 28, section 284: PO Box Street Addressing
- USPS Postal Bulletin 22374: DMM revision, Competitive Post Office Box Service Features
- USPS: Rent a PO Box
Last updated: 6/11/2026