Short answer: How much is a PO Box? Usually 60 to 330 dollars a year for the smallest size. The largest size runs about 296 to 1,316 dollars a year.
Size and location explain almost the entire gap. Nothing else moves the price by much.
USPS does not publish one flat price for a PO Box. It prices each of its roughly 30,000 PO Box locations on its own local fee schedule. That is why the same size box can cost three or four times as much across town.
Prices rose about 5.7 percent on January 18, 2026. The ranges below reflect that current pricing. Always confirm the live rate for your own Post Office before you pay.
How much is a PO Box, really
Two variables set the price. The first is size. A bigger box always costs more than a smaller one at the same location.
The second is the fee group USPS assigns to that Post Office. Rural and small town locations sit in lower fee groups. Busy urban Post Offices sit in higher, pricier groups.
A single Post Office can even split its own boxes into two pricing tiers. USPS labels the cheaper tier Market Dominant. It labels the pricier tier Competitive, and both can exist side by side at one location.
PO Box prices by size, 2026
Here is the current annual price range for each size. It runs from the least expensive rural fee group to the most expensive urban one.
| Size | Roughly fits | Annual price range |
|---|---|---|
| Extra small (Size 1) | 10 to 15 letters | $60 to $330 |
| Small (Size 2) | Letters plus 1 small flat rate box | $78 to $438 |
| Medium (Size 3) | Stacked envelopes plus 2 small flat rate boxes | $114 to $768 |
| Large (Size 4) | Small and medium flat rate boxes | $170 to $878 |
| Extra large (Size 5) | Multiple packages at once | $296 to $1,316 |
Most individuals only need an extra small or small box. If you are unsure which size fits your mail, our flat rate box selector shows what fits in each option before you commit. For a deeper look at every size, see our guide to PO Box sizes.
3 month, 6 month, and 12 month terms
USPS rents PO Boxes in three terms. You can pay for 3, 6, or 12 months at a time.
Paying quarterly costs more per month than paying for a longer stretch. As one real example, a Size 1 box in a low cost fee group runs about 49 dollars for 3 months. The same box runs only 79 dollars for 6 months.
That works out to roughly 16 dollars a month on the quarterly term. It drops to about 13 dollars a month on the half year term.
The 12 month term stretches that saving further still. Committing to a full year typically saves 10 to 15 percent compared with paying quarter by quarter.
The tradeoff is the 3 month term. It is the only one that auto renews with no opt out. The 6 and 12 month terms let you turn auto renewal off.
Why the same box costs so much more in a city
The price gap between locations is not a small rounding difference. A Medium box that costs 114 dollars a year in a rural fee group can run several times higher in a competitive downtown location.
USPS prices boxes this way for a simple reason. Post Office retail space in a dense city is worth more than space in a small town.
You are not locked into your nearest Post Office either. A location a short drive away may sit in a cheaper fee group. Renting there instead can meaningfully cut your annual cost, as long as the trip stays practical.
How to find the exact price for your Post Office
Skip the estimates and get your real number in a few clicks. Search your ZIP code or a nearby Post Office name on the official USPS PO Box page. It shows live pricing and available sizes for that specific location before you apply.
Availability also varies by location. Not every size is offered everywhere. Check what is in stock at the Post Office you want before you plan around a size.
Ways to lower what a PO Box costs you
A few choices genuinely move the price down. Renting for 12 months instead of 3 is the single biggest lever, since it avoids the quarterly premium entirely.
Right sizing matters just as much. Paying for an Extra Large box because you might someday need it wastes money every term if a Small box would do.
Comparing two or three nearby Post Offices can help too. Fee groups can differ meaningfully within the same city or county. For everything else involved in signing up, see our guide to how to get a PO Box.
Can you get a PO Box for free?
Sometimes, yes. USPS waives the rental fee for customers whose address does not receive carrier delivery to the door. That happens in some rural areas.
If that describes your address, ask your local Post Office whether you qualify before you pay for a box. Everyone else pays the standard rate for their fee group and size.
What happens if you miss a payment
PO Box payments are due by the 10th of the month they are due. If payment is not made, USPS closes the box on the 11th.
You can pay online, at a self service kiosk, by mail to your local postmaster, or in person at the counter. Renewing a few days early through usps.com avoids the risk of losing the box.
Once you have your box, addressing mail to it correctly also matters. See our guide on how to write a PO Box address so nothing gets delayed at the counter.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a PO Box on average?
Most individuals renting a small box pay somewhere between 80 and 150 dollars a year, depending on their fee group. Rural locations sit at the low end, and busy city locations sit well above it.
Why do PO Box prices vary so much by location?
USPS assigns every location a fee group based on demand for retail space there. A Post Office in a dense city carries a far higher fee group than one in a small town, even for the identical box size.
Is it cheaper to pay for 12 months at once?
Yes. A 12 month term typically saves 10 to 15 percent compared with paying quarter by quarter. It also removes the mandatory auto renewal that comes with the 3 month term.
Does the price include package delivery from UPS or FedEx?
No. The rental fee only covers the box itself. Receiving UPS or FedEx packages requires the free Street Addressing option, which is separate from the size and term you pick.
Can I switch to a cheaper Post Office later?
Yes, but it means closing your current box and applying fresh at the new location. There is no direct transfer, so compare fee groups before you first apply if cost is a priority.
What happens to my mail if I do not renew?
USPS closes the box on the 11th of the month payment was due. To keep receiving mail at your old box number, renew before that date rather than after.
The bottom line
A PO Box costs as little as 60 dollars a year or well over a thousand. Size and location explain nearly all of that gap. Check the live price for your exact Post Office before you commit to a size or a term.
The honest answer to how much is a PO Box is that the fee group matters more than anything else. Paying for a full year instead of a quarter is the easiest way to lower the cost.
From there, picking the smallest size that truly fits your mail keeps the rest of the price down. Once your box is set up, our guide to what a PO Box is and how it works covers everything else you need to know.