Good news, everybody—it’s Mailbox Improvement Week! While this is sometimes spun as an opportunity to “beautify” your mailbox (paint it, plant some flowers around it), there’s a more pressing issue: a human being has to stick their hand inside that thing, so please try not to make it a threat to life and limb.
To make your mail carrier’s life easier, as well as your own, here are a few things you should consider doing this Mailbox Improvement Week—or, honestly, anytime.
Fix safety issues
If your mailbox is falling apart, somebody’s going to be unhappy one of these days—whether that’s a mail carrier who hurts themselves on it, or you dealing, with soggy mail.
The post office suggests that you:
Tighten or replace any loose hingesPaint over areas that are starting to peel or rustMounting the mailbox securely to its attachment point if it’s gotten looseThey also recommend making sure that the mailbox support—the post it’s bolted to, usually—is something that is sturdy enough to hold up the mailbox but that will also bend easily if a car hits it. Concrete pillars are considered dangerous in the event of an accident.
Make sure your mailbox is easy to find and access
Your mailbox probably had house numbers on it at some point, but numbers can fall off, wear off, or get dirty. Now is a good time to fix or replace those numbers. If your mailbox is on a different street than your official address (for example, if your house is on a side road but the mailbox is on the main road), include the street name on your mailbox as well.
You’ll also want to make sure the mailbox is accessible. If your mail carrier walks to your mailbox, you don’t want to make them wade through a poison ivy patch. And if they drive up, you’ll want the mailbox easily within reach of their window. The USPS has guidelines and measurements on this page.
Consider upgrading your mailbox while you’re at it
Besides those basic fixes, you may want to take the time to shop around for a better mailbox. A mailbox sold in stores and online should have a postmaster general’s seal of approval, which lets you know that it’s an appropriate size, shape, material, and so on. (You can also make your own, as long as it meets the standards; show your plans to your local postmaster or write to the USPS’s Engineering department—address here.)
Besides just choosing a prettier mailbox, consider a package-sized mailbox, which is just over 13 inches wide and can fit Priority Mail boxes in addition to your regular mail.
