Estimate your Post Office Box rental fees based on size, location tier, and duration.
Group 1 (Highest Cost / Competitive City)
Group 2 (High Cost)
Group 3 (Moderate-High)
Group 4 (Moderate / Standard)
Group 5 (Moderate-Low)
Group 6 (Low Cost)
Group 7 (Lowest Cost / Rural)
*USPS assigns every ZIP code a Fee Group (1-7). Group 4 is average.
Size 1: XS (3″ x 5.5″) – Holds 10-15 letters
Size 2: S (5″ x 5.5″) – Holds 15-20 letters
Size 3: M (11″ x 5.5″) – Holds large envelopes
Size 4: L (11″ x 11″) – Holds small packages
Size 5: XL (22.5″ x 12″) – Holds large packages
3 Months
6 Months
12 Months
Base Rental Fee:$0.00
Key Deposit (One-time):$0.00
Billing Frequency:6 Months
Total Due: $0.00
*Note: Rates are estimates based on 2024 Competitive Fee Groups. Actual pricing may vary slightly by specific station status (Market Dominant vs. Competitive).
Complete Guide to USPS PO Box Rates (2024)
Renting a PO Box from the United States Postal Service (USPS) is a secure way to receive mail, but the pricing structure can be confusing. Unlike a flat-rate product, PO Box rates vary significantly depending on two main factors: the Box Size and the Fee Group (location competitiveness) of your local post office.
How USPS Fee Groups Work
The USPS classifies every post office location into "Fee Groups" ranging from 1 to 7 (for competitive areas) and separate categories for "Market Dominant" areas.
Fee Group 1 represents the most expensive areas, typically dense urban centers with high real estate costs and high demand (e.g., New York City, San Francisco).
Fee Group 7 represents the least expensive areas, often rural locations where operational costs are lower.
PO Box Sizes Explained
Before renting, it is crucial to choose the right size for your mail volume. If your box overflows frequently, the USPS may require you to upgrade to a larger size.
Size
Dimensions
Capacity Capacity
Best For
Size 1 (XS)
3″ x 5.5″
10-15 Letters
Individuals with low mail volume.
Size 2 (S)
5″ x 5.5″
15-20 Letters
Households or small businesses with standard mail.
Size 3 (M)
11″ x 5.5″
Large Envelopes
Businesses receiving magazines and catalogs.
Size 4 (L)
11″ x 11″
Small Boxes
Small businesses receiving product returns or small parcels.
Size 5 (XL)
22.5″ x 12″
Large Packages
High-volume businesses and bulk receivers.
Payment Terms and Deposits
Rental Periods: You can typically rent a box for 3, 6, or 12 months. Most post offices default to 6 or 12-month terms. The 3-month option is often only available if you choose automatic renewal or at specific locations.
Key Deposit: When you open a new PO Box, you must pay a refundable key deposit (typically $5.00) for the first two keys. If you close the box and return the keys, this fee is refunded.
Market Dominant vs. Competitive
The USPS distinguishes between "Market Dominant" locations (where they have a monopoly on mailboxes) and "Competitive" locations (where they compete with UPS Stores and private mailbox rentals). Competitive locations usually have higher rates and offer additional services, such as "Street Addressing," which allows you to receive packages from FedEx and UPS at your PO Box.
function calculateUSPSRate() {
// Get Input Values
var feeGroup = parseInt(document.getElementById('feeGroup').value);
var boxSize = parseInt(document.getElementById('boxSize').value);
var duration = parseInt(document.getElementById('rentalDuration').value);
var includeDeposit = document.getElementById('keyDeposit').checked;
// Base 3-Month Rates Matrix (Estimates for 2024 Competitive Groups)
// Structure: [Group Index 0-7] -> [Size Index 0-5] (0 index is placeholder)
// Matrix Format: FeeGroup[Size1, Size2, Size3, Size4, Size5] (Base 3-month price approx)
var rateMatrix = {
1: [0, 57.00, 86.00, 148.00, 275.00, 437.00], // Group 1 (Most Expensive)
2: [0, 45.00, 69.00, 117.00, 215.00, 340.00], // Group 2
3: [0, 38.00, 56.00, 96.00, 175.00, 275.00], // Group 3
4: [0, 32.00, 46.00, 78.00, 140.00, 225.00], // Group 4 (Standard)
5: [0, 26.00, 36.00, 60.00, 105.00, 165.00], // Group 5
6: [0, 20.00, 28.00, 48.00, 82.00, 128.00], // Group 6
7: [0, 17.00, 23.00, 38.00, 62.00, 98.00] // Group 7 (Least Expensive)
};
// Logic Check: Ensure valid inputs
if (!rateMatrix[feeGroup] || isNaN(boxSize) || isNaN(duration)) {
alert("Please select valid options.");
return;
}
// Calculate Base Fee
// Get the 3-month base rate
var base3MonthRate = rateMatrix[feeGroup][boxSize];
var finalFee = 0;
// Calculate based on duration
// Note: 6-month is typically 2x the 3-month rate (sometimes slightly less, but linear for estimation)
// 12-month is typically 4x the 3-month rate
if (duration === 3) {
finalFee = base3MonthRate;
} else if (duration === 6) {
finalFee = base3MonthRate * 2;
} else if (duration === 12) {
finalFee = base3MonthRate * 4;
}
// Add Deposit
var depositFee = 0;
if (includeDeposit) {
depositFee = 5.00;
}
var total = finalFee + depositFee;
// Display Results
document.getElementById('baseFeeDisplay').innerText = '$' + finalFee.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('depositDisplay').innerText = '$' + depositFee.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('frequencyDisplay').innerText = duration + ' Months';
document.getElementById('totalCostDisplay').innerText = '$' + total.toFixed(2);
// Show Result Box
document.getElementById('result').style.display = 'block';
}