Installing the Mailbox Post The Federal Highway Administration recommends: A 4″ x 4″ wooden support or a 2″-diameter standard steel or aluminum pipe. Avoid unyielding and potentially dangerous supports, like heavy metal pipes, concrete posts, and farm equipment (e.g., milk cans filled with concrete).
Get an old bucket, metal or plastic. Put the post into it and brace it up straight. Add a sack of concrete mix (even the kind for post holes) and water. Keep it braced until the concrete hardens. Done.
Contact the local Post Office before erecting, moving or replacing mailboxes and supports.
Dig a hole larger than the post and put gravel into the hole until the post sits on top of the gravel at the right height. Then add gravel around the post a little at a time and keep packing it in.
Call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) or TTY: 711. Locate your local post office to speak with your station manager.
If you have information on mailbox vandalism or mail theft in your area, report it to your local Post Office™ or to the Postal Inspection Service at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).
Self-service options are available 24/7 by calling 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777). Customer Service representatives are also available to take your calls: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time (Alaska and Hawaii are 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. ET)
Installing the Mailbox Post
The Federal Highway Administration recommends: A 4″ x 4″ wooden support or a 2″-diameter standard steel or aluminum pipe. Avoid unyielding and potentially dangerous supports, like heavy metal pipes, concrete posts, and farm equipment (e.g., milk cans filled with concrete).
1. A Local Custom or Practical Joke. In some areas or communities, placing a small rock in someone's mailbox is simply a local tradition – a way of saying hello or playing a harmless prank. It could be a quirky method to foster communication or a sign of friendship from a neighbor.
Because it's your land and it is affixed to your land, it legally belongs to you. Thus, if he refuses to move the mailbox, you can remove it from your property yourself. You don't need to call a lawyer or the post office unless the post office put it there rather than your neighbor or the builder.
You don't need to set a mailbox post in concrete, but it's a good idea. Concrete serves as a strong foundation for the post, making it a sturdy option for your mailbox. How Deep Should I Set a Post in Concrete? In general, the depth of the concrete post hole should be 1/3 to 1/2 the height of the post.
The Postal Service does not regulate mailbox supports in any way except for purposes of carrier safety and delivery efficiency. Posts and other supports for curbside mailboxes are owned and controlled by customers, who are responsible for ensuring that posts are neat and adequate in strength and size.
If the post is still standing, wiggle it to see if it's stable. If it's sturdy, and if the mailbox is intact, you might just need to screw the box back onto the post. Check the top of the post and bottom of the mailbox. If the metal bracket that connected them is damaged, you'll need to replace it.
Anchor the new mailbox post with concrete: Here's how to put in a mailbox post easily. Insert the new post into the hole, making sure the top is at the required height. Prop the post up with secure supports on all sides, making certain that it is level and won't shift after the concrete is poured.
Prop the post up with support beams on all sides, extending around the outside of the hole. Make sure these are secure and will not shift as the concrete is poured. Measure the height of the mailbox above the ground to ensure it's around 42 inches.
Most mailbox posts will need 2 bags of Quikrete to set, but before starting use this calculator to determine how many bags you need!
Birdhouses: Attach a birdhouse to your mailbox post to provide a cozy nesting place for your feathered friends. Sculptures: Add a unique and eye-catching sculpture to your mailbox area to showcase your personality and style. Welcome mats: Place a welcome mat under your mailbox to greet your guests and mail carrier.
If your post is rocking around inside of its concrete footing, a good solution is a steel wedge. These can be driven between the post and concrete footing to straighten a leaning or wobbly post.
Have you ever seen a brick mailbox leaning over? This is due to an inadequate foundation, and can easily be avoided with a proper foundation design. Leaning mailboxes simply do not have adequate foundations, and are extremely difficult to straighten without having to rebuild.
1) 1-800-ASK-USPS: Postal call center employees can answer most questions. They also can contact Postal officials nationwide electronically and immediately refer your issue to the appropriate local Postal manager who is in the best position to deal with your concerns.
For other issues or more information, you can e-mail the Postal Service's Customer Care Center at USPS® Customer Service or call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).