Prying your mailbox door open is the fastest way to open your mailbox when you have lost your key. You may even be able to open a cheaper lock with your neighbor's key, manicure scissors, or a small thin knife. Prying requires little skill, and you only need a flathead screwdriver and claw hammer to get the job done.
So, what you probably need to do is call a locksmith and have the locksmith at the unit when the mail carrier is there. The locksmith can't change the lock without a mail carrier present to open the boxes with their master key.
If you've lost or misplaced your mailbox key, ask the owner, manager, or superintendent of your apartment or home for a replacement. You shouldn't pry open your mailbox, because it's against the law, and also because our carriers can't deliver mail to unlocked or unsecured boxes.
Please speak with your residential building owner or manager, as they are responsible for purchasing, installing, and maintaining mailboxes. Your local residential building complex is also responsible for individual locks on the boxes and may keep a duplicate key to these locks.
Assuming you do not have a spare, you will need to: Find the website for the USPS post office that oversees your mailbox. Fill out the new keys replacement form and pay the fee (typically, the cost is $20 or more). The postal service company will send you a notice card via email when your new key is ready for pick-up.
Each mailbox has a designated key, and the mailman carries a set of keys to open these boxes. These keys are specific to the postal service, allowing mail carriers to unlock the boxes and insert mail.
Standard Residential Mailbox Locks: Common in suburban areas, these often use a specific style of key that can be duplicated by a locksmith. Commercial Mailbox Locks: Used in apartment complexes or office buildings, these locks often require specific keys that may not be easily replicated without the original.
This is because you cannot duplicate post office box keys yourself, they have to be issued by your post office. As with replacing a lost key, contact your local post office and they will assist you in getting a duplicate key.
Ensure maximum security for your tenant's mail with our cluster or letter-locking mailboxes. All locking mailboxes are USPS approved.
Generally, landlords have certain obligations to provide essential services, such as access to mailboxes, to tenants. If your lease explicitly states that you will receive two mail keys, and you haven't received them within a reasonable time, it could potentially be considered a breach of the lease agreement.
Hire a mailbox locksmith
They also can "pull out" the lock and replace it without too much headache and hassle. A locksmith can even cut new keys for your existing lock, all without having to hold the original keys. That can save you a lot of time and money!
Home Depot offers key duplication services for a range of standard keys, with prices typically between $4 and $10 depending on the key blank. They can duplicate house keys, business keys, and padlock keys from popular brands like Yale, Master Lock, and American Lock.
The Postal Service will charge a non-refundable $10.00 fee to replace a post office box lock or combination lock when the primary box holder has requested that service. Customers can exchange, at no charge, up to two keys with each "new" lock.
Whether your new development is commercial or residential, the builder or property owner is responsible for providing lock and key service for cluster box units. The locks/keys for each of the compartments will be provided with the CBU.
If you should want to have another key, you can have one made at your own expense. If you've lost a key, it will take 2-3 days for the Post Office to issue you a new one. If the lock is damaged or doesn't work, you will have to inform the post office. Replacing a broken lock will require a fee in many cases.
Some locksmiths charge a set fee for a particular job. For mailbox locks, this is usually $80–100 for parts and labor.
Mailboxes owned and maintained by the United States Postal Service ( USPS ) should have the picture of the U.S. Postal Service Eagle or a statement similar to "Property of United States Postal Service" on the side.
If you own your mailbox, you're responsible for any repairs and can replace the lock if you please. While we can't simply say yes or no, by determining who owns your mailbox, you should be able to decide whether DIY replacement is an option or you have to reach out for help getting a new key.