Can You Put A Mail Slot In A Glass Door? 122 Most Correct Answers

Post boxes, also known as post boxes, can be placed on outside walls and front doors so you no longer have to go to the post box to get your mail. Mail slots feature flaps or moveable panels that block drafts, and decorative mail slots come in a variety of colors, from bright brass to copper. The slot cover can be embossed with your initials or words like “Mail” or “Letters” and a delicate design all around for an elegant antique look.

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Not the door mailbox you are looking for? Check out our full range of mail slots for your door or wall.

This large mail slot is available in five finish options. The dimensions of the actual mail slot are 3.625″H x 13″W ​​x 1 ¾”D and the actual opening through which mail passes is 2″H x 11″W. When your mailman brings mail to your door, you can dress Up your mail slot with a new brass door slot This door slot consists of two main parts, the inside of the letter slot & the outside of the letter slot and they are screwed to the door separately with wood screws.

Looking for a smaller door mailbox? Check out the letter slot with sleeve option for your wood or metal door.

A sleeve for hollow doors is available as an option. The sleeve is made of stainless steel and is designed for standard doors with a thickness of 1 ¾. The outer flap on the door slot is spring-loaded to automatically close when opened, the inner flap is not. That is, there is both an inner cover (door flap) and an outer cover (door flap).

Use above option to add receiving pocket Mail Catcher For Mail Slots. No tools required to install the bag. It’s easy to install to intercept your mail. No need to keep a basket or trash can under your mail slot hoping it will catch the mail as it falls through your mail slot. The optional mailbox pocket works with all standard size horizontal mailboxes, up to 11″ wide and 4″ high. The overall size of the mail bag is 21.8″H x 16.2″W x 0.5″D. Quick and easy to install.

The 6 finish options are: Brass, Antique Brass, Oiled Bronze, Satin Nickel and Lifetime PVD Brass. The PVD brass finish is a lifetime plating specially formulated to withstand rough treatment or saltwater air.

Large Magazine Mail Slot SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

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Mailboxes are pretty important, and while they’re not often among the first things you look for when moving into a new home, you’ll soon find out if you don’t have one. Whether you designed and built the home yourself, are moving into a newly built subdivision, or the home is just new to you, you may be wondering if a new home comes with a mailbox. Well, we’ve researched the topic thoroughly and we have an answer for you.

Whether a new home comes with a mailbox depends on a few things.

If you have an older home the post office may not deliver to you and therefore a post box is not required. However, if the post office can deliver to your home and you lack a mailbox, look for a postal delivery slot at your front door.

Homes in newer subdivisions often have the same mailboxes that are installed by the contractor during construction. In other cases, cluster mailboxes are located near sub-departments. Otherwise, it’s up to you to install a mailbox.

So a mailbox may or may not come with a new home, but read on as we delve into them so you can find out if you can expect a mailbox or not. We also answer some other questions you might have about mailboxes!

Mailboxes for your new home

We’ve touched on a few situations above when it comes to whether or not your new home comes with a mailbox, but let’s discuss each situation in a little more detail.

Make sure you can receive mail in your new home

If you’ve just moved into a house and find that there is no mailbox at the end of your driveway, the first step is to look for a slot in your front door. In some households, mail is dropped through the slot instead of a mailbox. If there is no slot and no mailbox, it may be because the post office does not deliver to your address.

mailboxes

You will be surprised that not every household can be reached by post. If you have moved into a house in a rural area and find that there is no mailbox there, you should call your local post office to find out if you live at a deliverable address. Post offices often offer a post office box for those who cannot receive mail directly at their home.

Matching mailboxes with the neighbors

Contractors who build subdivisions often choose to install mailboxes for each home they build to achieve uniformity. These mailboxes are bought in bulk and usually installed before you move in. So if your home isn’t quite finished yet and is in a new subdivision, contact the developer or seller to ask if they will install a mailbox for you.

cluster mailboxes

Cluster mailboxes are free-standing units that contain locked mailboxes for each house in a subdivision or apartment complex. In recent years, the Post Office has encouraged sub-departments to use cluster mailboxes as this saves the postman time in delivering the mail. While they save the carrier time and provide an extra layer of security for your mail, having to leave the house just to collect your mail can be inconvenient.

How do I get a mailbox for my new house?

If your mail can be delivered right to your house and you’re just missing a mailbox (perhaps it was torn down or taken away by previous owners), it’s up to you to install a new one. Unfortunately, the post office does not sell post boxes, but you can find post boxes at most hardware stores and are readily available on the internet. Just be sure to check the mailbox rules and instructions so you can install it correctly and according to USPS requirements.

For more information on installing a mailbox, see our other blog post on the topic here: How deep should a mailbox post be? [A Complete Guide]

Click here to see Gibraltar Mailboxes Grand Haven Mailbox on Amazon.

If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, be sure to check to see if there are any other rules, regulations, or requirements for your mailbox. Some HOA require the mailboxes to look a certain way. Contact those responsible for your HOA if you have any questions or concerns.

Do I own my mailbox?

If the mailbox is on your property and you need to maintain it, the mailbox is yours. If you live in an apartment complex and the mailboxes are managed by a landlord or property manager, it is their property. Occasionally the USPS may own a mailbox, but you can check with your local post office to find out.

Need to write your name on your mailbox?

You don’t have to write your name on your mailbox. The USPS states that you can write your name on your mailbox. However, there are rules regarding mailbox identification. All mailboxes must display the private number. Sometimes mailboxes are on a different street than your home address. If this is the case for you, your address must also be displayed.

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Does it matter which side of the driveway your mailbox is on?

It doesn’t matter which side of the driveway your mailbox is on. Keep in mind that it may be easier to have it facing the direction of travel right in front of your ride. However, it is up to you on which side you continue. The only requirement is that the letterbox is on the right-hand side of the street in the postman’s direction of travel.

Can I move my mailbox from the street to the house?

If you live on a busy street or are concerned about mail theft, you might be wondering if you can move your mailbox from the street to your house.

Whether or not you can move your mailbox from the street to your home depends largely on what your local postmaster says. Before you move your mailbox, call your post office. They can approve or deny the move of your mailbox and advise you if you have any concerns.

How do you separate mailboxes on a duplex?

Sometimes a single-family house is converted into an apartment building, but how do you get the two families to have their own mailbox?

If in doubt, call your post office. The postmaster should give you some pointers on how to proceed. However, adding a second mailbox and simply labeling them A and B should be sufficient. Just make sure your postman can distinguish which unit is A and which is B.

Another plus to contacting your postmaster is that they can make the A and B part of the address official, making it easier for your renters to order online.

Who is responsible for replacing cluster mailboxes?

Whoever owns and manages the cluster mailboxes is responsible for replacing them. In most cases it is either the developer, owner or builder.

The situation can get complicated if your neighborhood has an HOA. However, the HOA documents should state who is responsible for repairing or replacing the cluster mailboxes.

Final Thoughts

Your new home may or may not come with a mailbox, but hopefully our article has helped provide some insight as to why this might be the case. Local post offices are often happy to help answer your questions and can be a valuable resource for new homeowners. With a bit of luck you will receive mail in no time!

A new home can mean many new experiences. If your home is brand new and your stairs are creaking, should you be concerned? Read this article to answer this question: should new stairs creak? [And how to stop that]

Container for receiving incoming mail

“Mail slot” redirects here. See MailSlot for how interprocess communication works. For other uses, see Letterbox (disambiguation)

A post box letterbox in London that sits in the middle of the front door

A cast iron mailbox with a slot

A post box, post box, letter sign, letter hole, letter box or post box is a receptacle for receiving incoming mail in a private home or business. For outbound mail, mailboxes are often used to deposit mail for pickup, although some mailboxes are also capable of holding outbound mail for pickup by a carrier. Post boxes or post boxes use the following primary designs:

A slit in a wall or door through which mail is delivered (delivery through the door)

A box attached directly to the building (delivery directly to the front door)

A box mounted on or near the road (curbside delivery)

A central postal delivery station consisting of individual mailboxes for an entire building, also known as “Flock” in the South Island of New Zealand and parts of the Americas.

A central postal delivery station consisting of individual mailboxes for multiple recipients at multiple addresses in a specific neighborhood or community

Styles and usage[edit]

A “mail box” or “mail slot” in American and Canadian parlance is a slot, usually horizontal but sometimes vertical, about 30 cm x 5 cm (12 in x 2 in) cut through the middle or bottom half of a front door . This style is almost universal in UK homes and offices, but is mostly limited to urban areas in the US. Most have a flap or seal on the outside to ensure weather protection. The flap can be gravity closed or spring loaded to prevent noisy opening and closing in the wind. Some mailboxes also have a second flap on the inside to provide extra protection from the elements. There may also be a small cage or box fitted to the inside of the door to hold the mail being delivered. PO Boxes are limited to receiving incoming mail as most do not have provisions for securing and protecting outgoing mail for pickup by the postman. It is possible to send post from private addresses in the UK, but Royal Mail normally charges an additional fee per item for this service.[1]

An attached or wall-mounted mailbox with a hook underneath for newspapers

Instead of mail slots, wall-mounted or attached mailboxes, usually located near the front door of the dwelling, can also be used. They are referred to as “full service” mailboxes when they have safeguards in place to protect both outgoing and incoming mail. Wall mounted mailboxes are still used in older urban and suburban neighborhoods in North America. They are particularly common in urban and suburban areas of Canada, where the roadside mailbox is rarely seen, except in rural areas. Connected PO Boxes are less common in newer urban, suburban and rural areas of the United States, where curbside delivery or community post office delivery (cluster mailbox, known in the UK as PO Box Bank) is generally used.

Rural and some suburban areas of North America may use roadside mailboxes, also known as rural mailboxes. These containers generally consist of a large metal box mounted on a carrier primarily intended to hold large quantities of incoming mail, often with a flag attached to signal the postman the presence of outgoing mail. In the United States and Canada, rural roadside mailboxes can be found clustered at property lines or road/driveway intersections, depending on conditions. Although the United States Postal Service (USPS) has general regulations specifying a mailbox’s distance from the road surface, these requirements may be modified by the local postmaster according to local environment and road conditions.[2]

At one time nearly 843,000 rural Canadian residents used rural (roadside) mailboxes for private mail delivery, although Canada Post has since required the installation of municipal mailbox stations for many rural residents.[3]

In the United States, wall or curbside mounted mailboxes intended only to receive incoming mail are called “limited service” mailboxes, while mailboxes equipped with a mechanism that notifies the mailman reject outgoing mail to pick up the mailbox, are referred to as “full service” mailboxes.

A number of mailbox and mailbox designs have been patented, particularly in the United States. One design was the visible mailbox (because it was made of transparent glass) with a flip-up aluminum lid, manufactured by George F. Collins of the Barlet-Collins Glass Company in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, in the first half of the 20th century ][5 ]

Mailbox standards and construction[ edit ]

Community mailbox in France

Europe [edit]

The European standard for letter boxes, EN 13724:2002 “Postal services – Openings for private letter boxes and letter plates – Requirements and test methods”, replaces earlier national standards such as BS 2911:1974 “Specification for letter plates” or DIN 32617. It specifies, among other things:

Envelopes of size C4 (229 mm × 324 mm) must be able to be delivered without creases or damage

The internal volume must be able to accommodate at least a 40 mm high bundle of C4 envelopes

Opening width optionally 230-280 mm (> C4 width) or 325-400 mm (> C4 height)

Opening height of 30-35mm

Panel mounting height between 0.7 and 1.7 m

When installed outdoors, the mailbox should not allow more than 1% of the total capacity of water to enter from natural precipitation or moisture causes.

Various test requirements for privacy, anti-theft, vandal resistance and corrosion resistance

This standard is voluntary. Developed by German mailbox manufacturer Burg Wächter, it reflects that manufacturer’s technical prowess and commercial interests, with a number of specifications being unfounded, e.g. problems of a property and occupants are not addressed in the standard.

Although the standard was due to be reviewed after 5 years in 2007, this has not happened. Finally, in April 2013, the amended BS EN 13724:2013 standard was published, but again this was drafted by the same company and is an almost verbatim copy of the old EN 13724:2002 standard. The main changes (particularly important for the UK) have not been reintroduced and the interests of safety, energy saving and public welfare have not been taken into account.

Canada[ edit ]

For those neighborhoods where mail is delivered to a letterbox, the letterbox must have an opening of at least 17.5cm x 4cm and must be in a front door or adjacent panel that is no more than 125cm and no less than 60 cm from the finished floor line.[6] Wall mounted mailboxes equipped with a slot must have a slot opening of at least 13.5cm x 4cm and the slot must be on or near the top of the box.[6]

Curbside mailboxes, known in Canada as rural mailboxes, must be weatherproof, have space for the mailbox owner’s name, and have a signaling device on the right hand side (when looking at the front of the mailbox) to collect outgoing mail. [6] The signaling device must be located above the mailbox and must be visible from afar and must not obscure the name of the mailbox owner or impede vehicle or pedestrian traffic.[6] Canada Post requires all rural mailboxes to be at least 45 cm long by 17.5 cm wide by 17.5 cm high for a rectangular mailbox and 45 cm long by 25 cm diameter for a cylindrical mailbox. [6]

United States[edit]

The US Post Office has established guidelines for email recipients, including mailbox or mailbox size, location, and identification requirements.[2][7] While the post office permitted alternative designs for attached mailboxes and mailboxes that met basic size and construction requirements, this did not apply to roadside mailboxes, whose postal regulations dictated the shape of the traditional rectangular dome or “tunnel roof”. The design was first introduced in 1915. In 1978, seven years after the formation of the reorganized US Postal Service, postal authorities finally approved a “Contemporary” letterbox specification for alternative designs.

Currently, U.S. roadside mailboxes are classified as (T) Traditional, (C) Contemporary, or (L) Locking.[8] Traditional or modern non-locking curbside mailboxes are approved in three sizes – #1, #2, or #3, measured against the minimum internal dimensions.[8] The largest acceptable curbside mailbox is the #3, which measures 22.81 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 15 inches high at the top (58 cm x 28 cm x 38 cm).[8] Lockable mailbox designs that provide security for the recipient’s incoming mail have fewer shape and size restrictions, although designs with an incoming mail slot must be at least 1.75 inches high and 10 inches wide.[8] Under USPS specifications, the postman cannot require a key for lockable residential mailboxes.[9] Therefore, no USPS-approved residential mailbox has secure outgoing email. Installation requirements differ from standard unlocked mailboxes: Lockable mailboxes must have the inbox slot 41″-45″ above the street surface and the front of the mailbox must be 6″-8″ from the curb.[10] The USPS specifications for all mailboxes dictate the same thing, except that the placement of the “inbox area” varies for a lockable mailbox.[11]

Ambient Conditions [ edit ]

Outdoor or curb mailboxes are not temperature controlled and this can sometimes be a problem for temperature sensitive products such as pharmaceuticals, live plants or other organisms or chocolates. Conditions may include high or low temperatures outside of recommended storage conditions for specific products. For example, the USFDA found that the temperature inside a black-painted steel mailbox in full sun could reach 136°F (58°C) while the ambient air temperature was 101°F (38°C).[12]

Security [edit]

It is recommended that the mailbox be fitted with a lock if it is not built into a lockable door. Unlocked mailboxes are commonly used for identity theft, including ordering something of value to be stolen from the unlocked mailbox. For example, in the United States, the USPS by policy will not deliver mail to an unlocked or unsecured mailbox located in a central mailbox installation.[13]

history [edit]

A 19th century wanted letter box in the town of Wormgate, Lincolnshire, UK

Europe [edit]

Private post boxes, or post boxes, did not become popular in most of Europe until the mid to late 19th century, although they were used in Paris from the late 18th century.

In 1849, the Royal Mail first encouraged people to install post boxes to facilitate mail delivery. Previously, mailboxes of a similar design were installed in the doors and walls of the post offices for the delivery of outgoing mail. An example of such a wall box (originally installed in the wall of the Wakefield Post Office) dates to 1809 and is believed to be the oldest example in Britain. It is now on display in the new Wakefield Museum.

North America[edit]

US Rural Free Mail Delivery to Curbside Mailbox, circa 1905

With the formation of Free City Delivery in 1863, the US Post Office Department began delivering mail to homes.

By 1916, postmen would knock on the door and patiently wait for the answer.[14] Efficiency experts estimated that each postman wasted more than 1.5 hours every day just waiting for customers to come to the door.[15] To remedy this problem, the post office mandated that every household must have a mailbox or letter box to receive mail.[14] This requirement was gradually introduced, beginning with new delivery locations around 1912.[16]: 20 Slowly, homeowners and businesses began to install letter slots, or attached mailboxes, to receive mail when they were either away from home or didn’t answer the door could. The requirement was made mandatory in 1923.[16]: 21

As early as the 1880s, the Post Office had begun encouraging homeowners to mount wall letterboxes instead of letter slots on the outside of their homes. Mounted at a standing man’s height, attached mailboxes did not require the postman to bend down to deliver the mail. They also allowed the homeowner to keep outbound mail dry while it awaited pickup by the postman.[14]

In order to reduce the time it takes for the postman to complete the delivery when the front door of a house is some distance from the road, it has been proposed to mount individual roadside letterboxes for residential or commercial use on fence posts or lampposts, or other supports. While this idea was rejected for urban mail delivery, it was adopted for rural areas. Roadside mailboxes, located on a rural route or road and located at the intersection of the road with the carriageway or private driveway of each recipient, allowed a limited number of postmen to deliver mail by horse-drawn cart or mail to many far-flung in a single day Farms and ranches later deliver motor vehicles.

Before the introduction of rural free delivery (RFD) by the post office in 1896[17] and in Canada in 1908[18] many rural residents did not have access to mail unless they picked it up at a post office many miles away home or commissioned a private express company to deliver. For this reason, mailboxes did not become popular in rural North America until RFD roadside mail delivery by the Post Office was an established service. Even then, peasants and rural homeowners were initially reluctant to purchase special mailboxes, preferring to leave empty bushel baskets, tin boxes, or wooden crates by the roadside for the postman to deposit their mail.[15][17] It was not until 1923 that the post office finally mandated that every household set up a mailbox or letter slot to receive mail home.[15]

Originally designed only for the delivery of incoming mail, roadside mailboxes were soon fitted with a semaphore or signal flag attached to a fixed arm to signal the postman to collect outgoing mail.[17] Originally, this flag was flown not only by the occupant of the estate to signal the postman about outgoing mail, but also by the postman to notify the recipient that incoming mail had been delivered – a convenience for all in times of frost or inclement weather . [19][20]

Since 1923, in order to promote the uniformity, convenience, and expeditious delivery of mail, the United States Post Office Department (later USPS) has retained the authority to approve the size and other characteristics of any mail container, whether mailbox or postal tray, for use in the delivery of the Post. The USPS continues to issue specifications for the construction of curbside mailboxes for use by manufacturers. Approved mailboxes from the latter are always stamped “U.S. Mail” and “Approved by the Postmaster General”. These standards have limited product variety and design, although new materials, shapes and features have appeared in recent years.[2][21][8][22]

After World War II, suburban housing construction in the United States increased dramatically along with the volume of mail. In the 1960s many new suburban homes were considerably larger and on larger lots, but most still used mailboxes or wall-mounted mailboxes. This development led to a significant increase in the distances traveled by the postman, slowing mail delivery and increasing labor costs. To reduce delivery times and increase efficiency, the Post Office required all new suburban developments to install curbside mailboxes instead of door-to-door delivery, allowing postmen to remain in vehicles while delivering mail. In 1978, the USPS (successor to the Post Office) declared that any new development must have either curbside delivery or centralized mail delivery.

Joroleman mailbox [ edit ]

In 1915, the Joroleman mailbox, named after its designer, postal clerk Roy J. Joroleman, was approved by the US Post Office.[17] Joroleman, who had a degree in mechanical engineering, designed his mailbox with an unusual rectangular dome shape that included a curved, tunnel-shaped roof, a locking door, and a rotating semaphore flag. The Joroleman mailbox has been hailed as a manifestation of American functionalist industrial design.

Joroleman constructed his mailbox from lightweight, painted sheet steel with a domed, tunnel-shaped roof that prevented excessive accumulation of rainwater or snow while resisting deformation. The tunnel top also simplified the mass production process by eliminating the need for precise sheet metal bends. Stamped and formed metal bands riveted to the domed opening and letter box door served as the door locking mechanism, while a rotating red semaphore flag mounted on a shaft mounted on the side of the letter box served to signal the approaching mailman whether there was outgoing mail inside . Featuring a crimped or brazed steel rear plate and a double bottom to keep contents dry in inclement or damp weather, the Joroleman mailbox required only two rivets, three axle bolts and four nuts and bolts to complete. The popularity of the Joroleman mailbox, which is durable and inexpensive, was further boosted by the decision not to patent the design but to make its specifications known to all potential manufacturers for competitive sale. Introduced throughout the United States, it has remained the best-selling mailbox since its introduction and was also widely distributed in Canada before that country decided to abolish individual curbside delivery to rural residents.

The Joroleman letter box was originally approved for manufacture in one size, No. 1, which could hold letter mail, magazines, newspapers, catalogs and small packages.[17] After July 1, 1916, the Joroleman mailbox was the only design approved by the Post Office for new roadside mailbox installations. In July 1929 the Post Office approved specifications for a larger Joroleman letter box known as the No. 2. The No. 2 mailbox, which was soon followed by the even larger No. 3, could accommodate larger packages and parcels that were sent by parcel post; These large boxes proved particularly popular with rural mail recipients, who could order manufactured goods through the mail for delivery to the farm or ranch.

Joroleman roadside mailbox with red semaphore flag. If set, the flag indicates outgoing mail.

An oversized rural Joroleman mailbox in southern Nebraska with a red semaphore arm

Close up of a Joroleman mailbox door with latch in Washington state

Recent developments[edit]

An automatically opening mailbox in an apartment building in Sweden

Europe [edit]

Sweden[ edit ]

KopparStaden AB, a housing association in Falun, Sweden, has begun installing central post offices with individual mailboxes with electronically operated doors in their buildings.[24]

United Kingdom[ edit ]

In recent years, many mailbox designs have been created with products suitable for both apartment buildings (typically high-rise private residential buildings) and single-family homes.

Deliveries of mail are typically brought into the mailbox through an opening (an entry hole in the mailbox) where they fall into a secure compartment. The deposited items can only be accessed by a person with a coded key (which only works with that particular coded lock) or by entering a sequence of numbers through a combination lock. Electronic locks can also be used with post boxes but must be used in an internal location due to their susceptibility to inclement weather in the UK.

Mailboxes are commonly manufactured from Zintec steel, aluminium, stainless steel or galvanized steel and then powder coated to meet the design requirements of the mail recipient. Post boxes can also be made from materials such as cast iron and plastic, but these are less common in the UK.

All mailboxes are fitted with an opening which allows for the risk of vandalism or theft of deposited mail but additional items are available to reduce this including opening restrictors which allow the recipient to adjust the opening on their mailboxes and adjust them to hold it for right.

In multi-occupancy projects, mailboxes are commonly “banked” into a collection of mailboxes, allowing delivery staff to deposit items in a single location rather than having to travel to each individual door to deliver mail. These rows of mailboxes are often used in new construction projects in place of letter openings in property doors.

In 2019, following a campaign by Royal Mail, the UK government agreed to ban low-level postboxes.[25]

A bank of wall mounted post boxes in the UK

United States[edit]

Numerous mailbox designs with improved construction and security have been patented in recent years, particularly in the United States.[26] In 2001, the USPS first approved designs for locking curbside mailboxes to curb a rise in identity and mail theft.[2] In these secure designs, incoming mail is placed by the postman in a slot or hopper where it falls into a secure locked compartment where only the homeowner (who keeps a key or combination for the lock) can retrieve it. Lockable mailboxes are generally made from heavy gauge steel or sheet aluminum, although some models are made from rotomoulded polymer plastic.

Due to the increased risk of vandalism in roadside mailboxes, numerous vandal-proof boxes made of composite plastic or thick sheet steel or aluminum have also come onto the market. Some resilient polymer composite mailboxes mounted on ground stakes can withstand violent impacts from baseball bats or even being run over by a vehicle.[21]

In 1978, the steady rise in postal service costs caused the USPS to insist on either curbside delivery or centralized mail delivery for new suburban neighborhoods and developments. A cost delivery study published in a 1995 USPS Operations Handbook listed annual delivery costs per address as follows: door-to-door, $243; Curbside, $154; Cluster/Flock Box (centralized mail delivery), $106.[29][30]

Large apartment buildings usually have multiple mailboxes for all units, located in the entrance hall or in a dedicated post office nearby. At the outside entrance there is often a special locker (also called a ‘key keeper’ or ‘knox box’) which either provides access to a front door key or directly activates the front door’s electric strike to allow the mail delivery person to enter the building. A similar “arrow lock” is usually located on the central mailbox to allow the entire unit to be opened for efficient filling of individual mailboxes.[22]

A USPS CBU Mail Station

In the United States, a property with a single mailing address but multiple mail recipients may use a community mailing station called a CBU, or Cluster Box Unit. CBUs are typically self-contained units that have individual compartments closed off for each tenant in an apartment building, trailer or mobile home park, or office center.

Under the policy, the USPS is reluctant to establish direct delivery to new addresses and now requires special approvals to initiate this service (Postal Operations Manual, Section 631.2). Instead, the USPS has insisted on centralized mail delivery in virtually all newly built residential developments, condos, and gated communities, by requiring or encouraging builders or developers to install larger Neighborhood Delivery Collection Box Unit (NDCBU) stations. CBUs and NDCBUs are both commonly known as cluster mailboxes. The NDCBU is a centralized community post office with compartments for the centralized delivery of mail to multiple recipients at multiple addresses within a single neighborhood development or community.

In new housing developments, the NDCBU location is determined by the developer, not the USPS, and may be hundreds of yards from the addressee’s actual residence.[32][33] The station usually has a parcel compartment for receiving parcels and a separate compartment for outgoing mail.[34] The postman has a key to a large door that reaches all compartments on one side, and the residents or tenants each have a key to the door to their individual compartment on the other side.

The location of the NDCBU in a community or business center is extremely important, since neighborhood cluster box installations that are in remote or poorly lit areas lead to widespread mail theft or vandalism.[33][35][36] [37][38][39][40][41][42] Even if it’s in a high-traffic location or in a gated community, the NDCBU is a tempting target for thieves, who are drawn by the opportunity to steal checks , cash, identification information, or other items of value from multiple victims.[31][33][] 35][37][39][40][43][44] A 2008 study by the RAND Corporation, the USPS Citing statistics collected between 2004 and 2007, NDCBU thefts accounted for 52.7% of all mail thefts in urban neighborhoods and 76.6% of all mail thefts in rural neighborhoods in locations with more than one postcode postcode with higher income code zones with a wes significantly higher rates of theft than low-income zip codes.[45]

Canada[ edit ]

Rural Community Mail Box (CMB) station in Canada

In Canada, community mailboxes (or super mailboxes) began to appear in newer suburbs in the late 1980s. Newer developments are usually temporarily supplied with green rural community mailboxes and later replaced by permanent super mailboxes.

Since 2004, many residents of rural Canada have been required to use community mail stations (known as Community Mail Boxes or CMBs) instead of individual roadside mailboxes to reduce health and safety complaints from rural Canada Post mail carriers.[3] [46] This change was also extended to some suburbs of the country.[32][47][48]

In 2014, in an effort to reduce costs, Canada Post announced its intention to phase out door-to-door delivery and introduce community mailboxes in 32% of urban centers. The plan has drawn particular criticism for accessibility concerns. The program was suspended immediately after the 2015 election of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party government, which promised to stop further cuts to Canada Post.[49][50]

Australia[ edit ]

Home Parcel Boxes werden in Australien verwendet, um die Zustellung von über das Internet bestellten Paketen zu erleichtern, da der Briefkasten aufgrund von E-Mails nicht mehr verwendet wird. Durch spezielle Schließmechanismen mit dynamischen Codes wird bei jeder Lieferung ein neuer Schließcode erstellt, der für mehr Sicherheit vor Kleindiebstählen sorgt. Auf diese Sperrcodes greift das Lieferunternehmen mit seinem Barcode-Scanner und einem Standard-Barcode oder QR-Code zu.[51]

Guinness-Weltrekord [ bearbeiten ]

Der größte Briefkasten der Welt befindet sich in Casey, Illinois (USA) und misst 162,63 Kubikmeter (5.743 cu ft). Es wurde von Jim Bolin erstellt und am 20. Oktober 2015 verifiziert.[52]

Gallery [ edit ]

See also[edit]

Disclosure: We may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Insulating a mailbox might not be something you think about on a regular basis. It’s common to assume that these slits are so small that they’re not worth isolating, but that’s not necessarily true. So how do you insulate a mail slot? And what materials can you use? We’ve researched the best ways to do this.

Here are some ways you can isolate your mail slot:

Seal and caulk the edges of the slit. Use insulating foam. Attach sealing strips. Install a mail slot cover. Install a DIY insulation material

Insulating your letterbox can help prevent cool air from entering your home. It can also prevent warm air in your home from escaping outside, keeping the inside cooler than you want. Read on to learn more about how to effectively isolate your mailbox.

Ways to isolate a mail slot

Before isolating your mailslot, make sure the slot is installed correctly. This means that there are no cracks and gaps between the slot and the door and that all screws are tightened and securely fastened to the top and bottom.

1. Seal and caulk the edges of the slit

Insulating your mail slot can help prevent unwanted drafts and air leaks near the door area. If the slit has any holes or tears around it, it will be fairly easy for air to enter through the opening.

The vent itself, even when closed, offers a chance for cold air to enter your home and warm air to escape – although we’ll get to how to insulate this area in a moment.

However, one of the best ways to reduce this is to properly caulk and caulk the edges of the slit. The easiest way to do this is to run your hand around the perimeter of the slit and feel for cold drafts.

You may also be able to visually identify holes in the space between the sides of the slot and the door. If you do, take your sealer or caulk and apply it to those areas. Be sure to wipe the area with a cleaning solution and dry completely for the caulk to bond properly.

Click here to see this seal on Amazon.

2. Use insulation foam

You can also use expanding and non-expanding foam insulation to keep air from entering your home.

If your mail slot fits properly around the door, expanding foam may not be necessary. In this case, the non-expanding foam may be better. Apply the foam to all four sides of the slit to keep warm air inside in winter (or cold air in summer).

Click here to see this insulation foam on Amazon.

3. Attach sealing strips

Another easy way to insulate your mail slot is to add weatherstrips. Weatherstripping strips are affordable, readily available, and easy to use on a variety of surfaces. You can purchase weatherstrips made of open-cell foam, felt, vinyl, or various types of metal.

However, you may want to use a softer material like felt or foam so that the mail slot flap isn’t difficult to open.

Weatherstrips are usually supplied with a self-adhesive backing and can be fitted once cut to size. Felt caulking strips can be particularly beneficial as they are usually thicker and denser – not to mention they are usually cheaper.

However, vinyl weatherstrips are more durable and resistant to moisture, which is great if you put them on the outside of the slot. So, for example, if you are replacing the weather strip on the outside of the slot, rubber or vinyl may be ideal, while felt is better for the inside.

Click here to see this weather protection on Amazon.

4. Install a mail slot cover

Another option is to attach a cover to the outside of the mail slot. Mail slot covers prevent drafts and precipitation from seeping through the mail slot, which is perfect for extreme weather conditions.

You can also increase their efficiency by adding another layer of thin insulation (e.g. weatherstripping) between the cover and the top of the letterbox housing.

They are also helpful in preventing possible intrusion by burglars and mail thieves by making access more difficult. You can find these covers at your local hardware store or online and have them installed in minutes.

Click here to view this mail slot cover on Amazon.

5. Install a DIY insulation material

You can also use materials such as heavy pieces of curtains, old comforters, or blankets to insulate the back of the letterbox flap. Basically, you can use any dense, thin fabric to insulate the mail slot.

However, it is best to use these materials on the inside of the flap to prevent them from getting wet from moisture from the outside. It is also best to use them in conjunction with an outer slot cover on the outside to prevent water and precipitation from reaching them.

How tall should mail slots be?

Most mail slots in the US average about 30-40 inches off the ground. This height makes it easier for postal workers to simply slide mail through the slot without having to bend too low.

Is a mail slot in the door secure?

Mail slots on doors can pose a significant hazard when it comes to gaining entry into your home. For example, would-be thieves can simply slide a cord or hook wire down the slide to unlock the door and gain entry into your home.

However, there are ways to prevent this and secure the mailslot without removing it entirely. Here are a few tips on how to do it:

Install a mail slot cover

One of the quickest ways to make your mail slots less attractive to burglars is to simply cover them up. Mail slot covers can be purchased at a local hardware store and then drilled into the door to cover the mail slot.

There are different types of covers to choose from, but if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions, it’s best to choose one made of insulating, weather-friendly materials like vinyl or rubber.

Install a second latch

Installing a mail slot in your door creates a hole that can weaken the integrity of the door. This makes the door easier to kick in in the event of a break-in. One way to prevent this is to install a second latch.

Another deadbolt can help provide protection and support if a burglar tries to break into the door. When shopping for bars, look for ones with consistent customer reviews and impressive safety standards.

Click here to see this bar on Amazon.

Install an air outlet diverter

You can usually find air deflectors on the side or back of a home’s foundation. These are used to bleed air from household dryers and other equipment. Surprisingly, they are also a great deterrent when it comes to protecting mailboxes from burglars.

This is an effective and relatively inexpensive way to prevent a burglar from easily sliding their hand into your mail slot and reaching up to access the lock. You can install the air vent diverter in as little as 15 minutes and can find it at local hardware stores and online.

Click here to see this air outlet diverter on Amazon.

Can a letter slot be built into a glass door?

It’s very unlikely that you’ll find a glass door that has a mail slot built right into the glass part. It’s also extremely difficult to cut into a glass door without breaking it – unless you have special tools designed for this type of job.

The best way to get a mail slot in a glass door is to purchase a door that has a metal or wood partition in the middle or at the bottom. You can install the mail slot in this part of the door.

You can often find glass doors that already have these dividers and also include mail slots. You will often see these in professional buildings.

Are mail slots a standard size?

Mail slots in the US are typically around 9 inches wide and 3 inches long. This slot size is large enough to accommodate standard letter and magazine sizes. However, you can find custom slots that are larger.

pack things

We hope this post has helped illustrate the different ways you can isolate your mail slot. Remember that it is best to use waterproof materials when insulating the outside of the slot.

Before you go, be sure to check out these other posts:

R13 Insulation: Uses, Thickness, Cost and More

Does yellow insulation contain fiberglass?

These front opening boxes are quite roomy and can hold a generous amount of mail and magazines. They can be attached to a fence post, a freestanding wooden post, or even a stone, brick, or concrete pillar. For a more coordinated look you can order your mailbox with a matching metal post

Made from heavy-duty aluminum, our post-mount mailboxes are weatherproof and dependable. They are available in a variety of classic and decorative designs and popular metal finishes such as bronze, copper, silver and black. With so many installation, finish, and style options, postmount boxes are a great way to improve the appeal of your home.

SHOP ALL POST-MOUNT MAILBOXES

Block your mailbox:

Replace a wall mailbox with a letterbox:

Ask your housing manager to improve security:

How to Buy and Install a Wall Mail Slot Post Box

A wall unit mail slot offers the ultimate convenience for homeowners lucky enough to still get mail delivered.

When installing a wall mailbox, you can choose between:

Door Mounted – A nostalgic door letterbox can be installed through a front (or garage) door.

THROUGH THE WALL – Your wall mounted mailbox can be installed through the wall of your home.

An outer letterbox cover (or lid) covers the letterbox, keeping the home insulated from the elements. USPS mailbox regulations require that horizontal letterboxes be hinged at the top and vertical letterboxes at the opposite side of the door hinges (when mounted on a door).

When the postman approaches the house, the postman simply lifts the lid of the letterboxes in residential buildings to introduce the mail. Mail goes through your door (or the wall in the case of wall-mounted door slots) and is safely inside your home, either on the floor or in a mailbox.

Benefits of a Residential Mail Drop Slot

While residential letterboxes are only advisable for postal areas with walk-up delivery, these through-wall and through-door mailboxes offer triple advantages:

Mailboxes in private homes are often far more secure than non-lockable post or wall mounted mailboxes. Mail slots are less expensive. Mail slots do not require the homeowner to leave their home to retrieve their mail.

For disabled people or elderly people with reduced mobility, this third benefit of slotted mailboxes is undoubtedly the most significant, as their mail can be collected safely and conveniently from their homes.

Ordering a mailbox

When shopping for home mailboxes, take the time to consider these three factors:

Letter slot size Letter slot design Whether or not you want to equip your letter box with a collection box for indoor use

Mail slot size

The size of your installed mailbox should be large enough to hold large envelopes, magazine subscriptions, or small packages, and per USPS mailbox requirements, the mailbox should be at least 1 ½ x 7 inches.

Mail Slot Completion

The finish of your mail slot should match or complement the finish of your door or wall hardware. For example, if you have doorway hardware with a brass finish with a natural patina, you should choose a brass letter slot with a natural patina finish, or consider a strong contrast to that brass finish to avoid surface clashing.

Mail Slot Accessory

If scattering your mail over a high traffic floor area is a safety concern, an indoor mail collection box accessory or a simple indoor letter basket is advisable. In addition, indoor mail collection accessories are also recommended when the floor surface (e.g. softwood floors) is easily damaged by the regular delivery of parcels or parcels that could scratch or damage them.

Reinstallation Considerations

Investing the time to consider these three factors can also increase the success of installing your mail slot in a new location:

Check with your postmaster Ensure mail slot height is correct Consider installing an inner hood

Contact your postmaster

First, check with your local postmaster to make sure your wall letterbox is a viable option for mail delivery to your home. While a trip to any of the major cities in Europe and many of the major cities on the east coast of North America will quickly confirm the popularity of letterboxes (in Europe they are called mailboxes), letterboxes are less common in the vast majority of North America. So before you buy a letterbox for your home, take the time to make sure mail delivery to your area is available.

Correct the mailbox height

Second, the USPS requires the bottom of your private mail slot to be at least 30 inches off the ground after installation. Although the USPS does not specify a height restriction, it is advisable to mount the mail slot at a height that will allow the mailman to easily deliver your mail without reaching up or bending too low.

Installation of the inner hood

In addition, to ensure mail flows smoothly through the mail slot upon delivery, the USPS requires that if an inner privacy hood is used, the hooded portion should not be below the bottom of the outer panel at the horizontal mail slot. For vertical letter trays, the hood should not protrude beyond the side of the outer panel on the door hinge side. Finally, the inner privacy hood should not extend more than 2 1/16 inches past the inside of the door, regardless of orientation.

Mail Slot Marks

To shop the largest inventory of residential wall mounted mailboxes, browse the selection at The MailboxWorks, North America’s largest retailer of all types of mailboxes – commercial and residential.

Auth Florence Mail Slots

The MailboxWorks features the elegantly simple aluminum letter slot designed by Auth Florence and meets all USPS letter slot regulations. Florence mail slots are available in eleven beautiful powder coated finishes including antique copper, antique bronze, black, gold, silver stain and more. In addition, Florence mail slots are offered with optional engraving on the mail slot door, allowing homeowners to have their address or name engraved directly in their mail slot.

European home mail slots

The MailboxWorks also offers a European Home mail slot that resonates with a strong modern contemporary design taste. These corrosion-resistant stainless steel mail slots are handcrafted with a stunning satin finish and meet all USPS standards. Order your letterbox with mail collection box for a complete letterbox system.

Streetscape mail slots

In addition, The MailboxWorks also features a Streetscape Executive mail slot, handcrafted by artisans in the USA. Streetscape Executive letter slots also meet USPS standards and feature a unique patinated brass finish that requires no maintenance. No two of these brass mail slots are alike and all feature a solid brass internal mail chute to channel mail delivery. Additionally, your brass house numbers can be custom welded to the letterbox door to further customize your letterbox.

Read all of our articles on mail slots including:

Do you have anymore questions?

If you still have questions about mailslot mailboxes, please contact our mailbox experts by calling The MailboxWorks toll-free at 1-866-717-4943. You can also contact us online or email us.

Categorized in: DIY Mailbox Installation & Upgrades

Drill pilot holes for the outer and inner mail slot faceplates on the door. If the manufacturer provided a template, use the marks you made when marking the template on the door. If a template was not provided, hold the panels against the door over the hole you cut and mark the screw holes on either side of the door. Vinyl, aluminum, and steel doors are 2 inches thick, but wood doors with recessed sections may be too thin to mount panels on either side of the door. If this is the case with your door, only fit the outside sign.

4 ways to make your mailbox more secure

These days I keep hearing people say they want to find ways to make their mailbox more secure.

According to the United States Postal Inspection Service, nearly 2,500 suspects were arrested for mail and package theft in 2018 alone.

If you’ve ever experienced mail theft, you know how important it is to find ways to protect your mail.

Finding the right solution to make your mailbox more secure can be a little confusing. That’s exactly why I created this simple list of 4 ways you can make your mailbox more secure.

Taking steps to prevent mail theft and put your mind at ease starts with a little planning!

Disclosure: We may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Insulating a mailbox might not be something you think about on a regular basis. It’s common to assume that these slits are so small that they’re not worth isolating, but that’s not necessarily true. So how do you insulate a mail slot? And what materials can you use? We’ve researched the best ways to do this.

Here are some ways you can isolate your mail slot:

Seal and caulk the edges of the slit. Use insulating foam. Attach sealing strips. Install a mail slot cover. Install a DIY insulation material

Insulating your letterbox can help prevent cool air from entering your home. It can also prevent warm air in your home from escaping outside, keeping the inside cooler than you want. Read on to learn more about how to effectively isolate your mailbox.

Ways to isolate a mail slot

Before isolating your mailslot, make sure the slot is installed correctly. This means that there are no cracks and gaps between the slot and the door and that all screws are tightened and securely fastened to the top and bottom.

1. Seal and caulk the edges of the slit

Insulating your mail slot can help prevent unwanted drafts and air leaks near the door area. If the slit has any holes or tears around it, it will be fairly easy for air to enter through the opening.

The vent itself, even when closed, offers a chance for cold air to enter your home and warm air to escape – although we’ll get to how to insulate this area in a moment.

However, one of the best ways to reduce this is to properly caulk and caulk the edges of the slit. The easiest way to do this is to run your hand around the perimeter of the slit and feel for cold drafts.

You may also be able to visually identify holes in the space between the sides of the slot and the door. If you do, take your sealer or caulk and apply it to those areas. Be sure to wipe the area with a cleaning solution and dry completely for the caulk to bond properly.

Click here to see this seal on Amazon.

2. Use insulation foam

You can also use expanding and non-expanding foam insulation to keep air from entering your home.

If your mail slot fits properly around the door, expanding foam may not be necessary. In this case, the non-expanding foam may be better. Apply the foam to all four sides of the slit to keep warm air inside in winter (or cold air in summer).

Click here to see this insulation foam on Amazon.

3. Attach sealing strips

Another easy way to insulate your mail slot is to add weatherstrips. Weatherstripping strips are affordable, readily available, and easy to use on a variety of surfaces. You can purchase weatherstrips made of open-cell foam, felt, vinyl, or various types of metal.

However, you may want to use a softer material like felt or foam so that the mail slot flap isn’t difficult to open.

Weatherstrips are usually supplied with a self-adhesive backing and can be fitted once cut to size. Felt caulking strips can be particularly beneficial as they are usually thicker and denser – not to mention they are usually cheaper.

However, vinyl weatherstrips are more durable and resistant to moisture, which is great if you put them on the outside of the slot. So, for example, if you are replacing the weather strip on the outside of the slot, rubber or vinyl may be ideal, while felt is better for the inside.

Click here to see this weather protection on Amazon.

4. Install a mail slot cover

Another option is to attach a cover to the outside of the mail slot. Mail slot covers prevent drafts and precipitation from seeping through the mail slot, which is perfect for extreme weather conditions.

You can also increase their efficiency by adding another layer of thin insulation (e.g. weatherstripping) between the cover and the top of the letterbox housing.

They are also helpful in preventing possible intrusion by burglars and mail thieves by making access more difficult. You can find these covers at your local hardware store or online and have them installed in minutes.

Click here to view this mail slot cover on Amazon.

5. Install a DIY insulation material

You can also use materials such as heavy pieces of curtains, old comforters, or blankets to insulate the back of the letterbox flap. Basically, you can use any dense, thin fabric to insulate the mail slot.

However, it is best to use these materials on the inside of the flap to prevent them from getting wet from moisture from the outside. It is also best to use them in conjunction with an outer slot cover on the outside to prevent water and precipitation from reaching them.

How tall should mail slots be?

Most mail slots in the US average about 30-40 inches off the ground. This height makes it easier for postal workers to simply slide mail through the slot without having to bend too low.

Is a mail slot in the door secure?

Mail slots on doors can pose a significant hazard when it comes to gaining entry into your home. For example, would-be thieves can simply slide a cord or hook wire down the slide to unlock the door and gain entry into your home.

However, there are ways to prevent this and secure the mailslot without removing it entirely. Here are a few tips on how to do it:

Install a mail slot cover

One of the quickest ways to make your mail slots less attractive to burglars is to simply cover them up. Mail slot covers can be purchased at a local hardware store and then drilled into the door to cover the mail slot.

There are different types of covers to choose from, but if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions, it’s best to choose one made of insulating, weather-friendly materials like vinyl or rubber.

Install a second latch

Installing a mail slot in your door creates a hole that can weaken the integrity of the door. This makes the door easier to kick in in the event of a break-in. One way to prevent this is to install a second latch.

Another deadbolt can help provide protection and support if a burglar tries to break into the door. When shopping for bars, look for ones with consistent customer reviews and impressive safety standards.

Click here to see this bar on Amazon.

Install an air outlet diverter

You can usually find air deflectors on the side or back of a home’s foundation. These are used to bleed air from household dryers and other equipment. Surprisingly, they are also a great deterrent when it comes to protecting mailboxes from burglars.

This is an effective and relatively inexpensive way to prevent a burglar from easily sliding their hand into your mail slot and reaching up to access the lock. You can install the air vent diverter in as little as 15 minutes and can find it at local hardware stores and online.

Click here to see this air outlet diverter on Amazon.

Can a letter slot be built into a glass door?

It’s very unlikely that you’ll find a glass door that has a mail slot built right into the glass part. It’s also extremely difficult to cut into a glass door without breaking it – unless you have special tools designed for this type of job.

The best way to get a mail slot in a glass door is to purchase a door that has a metal or wood partition in the middle or at the bottom. You can install the mail slot in this part of the door.

You can often find glass doors that already have these dividers and also include mail slots. You will often see these in professional buildings.

Are mail slots a standard size?

Mail slots in the US are typically around 9 inches wide and 3 inches long. This slot size is large enough to accommodate standard letter and magazine sizes. However, you can find custom slots that are larger.

pack things

We hope this post has helped illustrate the different ways you can isolate your mail slot. Remember that it is best to use waterproof materials when insulating the outside of the slot.

Before you go, be sure to check out these other posts:

R13 Insulation: Uses, Thickness, Cost and More

Does yellow insulation contain fiberglass?