Size

• Each mailbox must meet standards specified under USPS Standard 7. Before buying a mailbox from a manufacturer or constructing your own curbside mail receptacle, contact the USPS at the address below for information regarding size, strength, quality and flag specifications.
  
  Engineering
  
  US Postal Service
  
  8403 Lee Highway
  
  Merrifield, VA 22082-8101
  
  

Location

• For rural or highway contract delivery, the mailbox must be on the right-hand side of the road of the carrier's route, and the carrier must be able to deliver the mail safely without leaving the vehicle. In addition, if the mailbox has a lock, there must be an opening large enough for the delivery of a normal volume of daily mail.
  
  

Identification

• Curbside mailboxes must have a house number or box number inscribed; an owner's name may be placed on the box. If more than one family utilizes the box for mail delivery, no more than five families may share a receptacle on a rural route and a written notice of agreement must be on file with the postmaster.
  
  

Regulations

• When installing a mailbox, make sure it is set back 6 to 8 inches from the curb and the bottom of the mailbox is between 41 and 45 inches in height from the road. In addition, if you put a name on your curbside box, the letters must be at least 1 inch in height.