PO boxes are lockable mailboxes within the Post Office set up for just your family or business. They’re an affordable and convenient way to have your mail stowed away without having it delivered directly to you, increasing your privacy. They can also be very secure, with most of them requiring a code or key to access. This makes them great for travelers or those who want to keep their mail out of the hands of neighbors, strangers, and thieves.
However, there are some limitations when it comes to using a PO box for a physical address, most notably the inability to receive private shipping companies like UPS and FedEx. To get around this limitation, PO box owners can use a special format when writing their address called a “PO Box Street Address.”
This is typically a line that starts with the recipient’s name, followed by the word “PO,” then their PO Box number. The next line should be the street address of the particular Post Office where they’re located.
To help ensure you’re using a valid PBSA, we recommend pushing it through an advanced address verification API such as Postalytics. This will provide you with a standardized version of the address, ensuring that it’s accepted by most retailers and shipping companies. This will allow you to get the most out of your PO Box. And it will make things much easier for you when it comes to sending any kind of mail, whether it’s to individuals or to a mailing list.