How to Install Mailbox - Step by Step Guide

A letter mailbox is an important part of your home's identity, serving as both a decorative piece and a safe haven for your parcels, personal and business correspondence.

However, many home owners do not know how to install a rural mailbox in a residential style. They have a misconception that installing a mailbox is difficult and time-consuming. It's actually a simple task that anyone can do using basic power tools and materials.

If you’ve recently been thinking about purchasing a new mailbox for your home, then you also need to know how to install a mailbox correctly. Different types of mailboxes all have specific requirements for their installation, so we’ve broken down how to install each kind in this guide. Keep reading to learn how to install mailboxes of any kind anywhere on your property.

How to Install a Post-Mount Mailbox

Step 1: Gather your tools

Make sure you have all the items available before starting the mailbox installation process:

> Measuring tape

> Standard level

> Pole pole digger

> Shovel

> A 50-kilogram bag of quick-setting concrete mix

Step 2: Dig a hole for the post

According to the USPS, your mailbox cannot be higher than 45 inches above street level. Allowing for the street curb, a standard mailbox should be 42 inches above the ground.

Use a tape measure to mark a spot on your front lawn six to eight inches from the curb and dig a hole deep enough for your mailbox to be standard height. The hole should not be deeper than 24 inches.

Step 3: Place the mailbox post

The Federal Highway Administration recommends choosing a mailbox support that is stable but can fall down if hit by a car. A 3.5" Wide by 60" High Salsbury Standard Mailbox Post or a 4" Wide by 81" High Salsbury Decorative Mailbox Post are all good options. Stay away from potentially dangerous supports like heavy metal pipes or concrete posts. Here is an easy checklist to follow:

- Start by inserting the mailbox post into the hole.

- Then, use support beams to prop the post up, but make sure they don’t shift when it’s time to pour the concrete.

- Use your measuring tape again, to ensure you are abiding by the “42 inches above the ground” rule.

- Make sure your mailbox post is straight by using a level.

Step 4: Pour the concrete and allow it to set

To prepare your concrete, follow the instructions on the back of the bag. Pour the mixture into the hole, but don’t fill it all the way. You want to leave a couple of inches between the concrete and the ground. Use the level to double-check that the mailbox is still straight. You can still adjust it before the concrete begins to dry. Don’t take the support beams out until the concrete is completely set (the time might vary depending on which brand you are using).

Step 5: Attach the mailbox and add your street numbers

Attaching the mailbox should be fairly easy to do by following Salsbury Industries instructions for the specific mailbox ordered. Your street address or house number should go on the side or front of the mailbox, and any numbers should be at least one inch above the base of the mailbox. In the case that your mailbox is on a different street than your home, USPS requires you to use your full street address.

Now that you know how to install a mailbox, check out our wide selection of residential mailboxes and find one that best fits your needs and home architecture .