USPS Designates Third Week of May As Mailbox Improvement Week

The United States Postal Service has designated the third week of May (May 19–24) as Mailbox Improvement Week. This annual initiative encourages customers on both city and rural delivery routes to examine their mailboxes and, where necessary, “give their mailboxes a little love” to ensure safe, secure, and efficient mail delivery.

“Customers are encouraged to inspect, maintain, and upgrade their mailboxes to ensure safe, secure, and efficient mail delivery,” said the Postal Service in its announcement.

The United States Postal Service emphasizes that mailboxes should meet several key requirements to function properly. These include being approved by the Postmaster General, fully operational, designed to protect mail from weather, safe to use, conveniently located, neat in appearance, and large enough—within allowable size limits—to support daily mail and package volume (see United States Postal Service Delivery Growth Management).

Customers planning to replace their entire mailbox must consult with their local postmaster or station manager first. This consultation confirms the suitability of the new mailbox for delivery. Similarly, United States Postal Service-approved delivery equipment is required when establishing or extending new delivery addresses.

Throughout the year, mailboxes endure significant wear and tears, necessitating routine maintenance. The Postal Service annually promotes Mailbox Awareness Week due to the wear and tears that mailboxes endure throughout the year. Homeowners may need to perform routine maintenance, such as replacing loose hinges on mailbox doors, repainting mailboxes with rust or peeling paint, remounting loosened mailbox posts, and replacing or adding house numbers.

Mail security remains a critical concern for the United States Postal Service, which partners with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to protect postal employees, safeguard the mail stream, and ensure the security of the American public. They work to prevent incidents through education and awareness while enforcing laws that protect the nation’s mail network. Customers can enhance mail security by promptly collecting their mail, avoiding leaving letters and packages in mailboxes or at doorsteps for extended periods, immediately reporting mailbox vandalism to police, and contacting Postal Inspectors at 1-877-876-2455 if they know of someone who committed mailbox vandalism.

For added convenience, the United States Postal Service offers Informed Delivery, a free service that is simple to set up and available to customers with residential, business, or PO Box addresses in eligible ZIP Codes. This service allows customers to preview incoming mail before it arrives, receive delivery notifications, and opt for Daily Digest emails that provide a sneak peek at incoming mail and packages. Additionally, Informed Delivery allows users to track and manage packages conveniently in one place.