A UPS driver will not knock on a Post Office box wall. That single fact is the reason PO Box Street Addressing exists at all.
Street Addressing is a free USPS feature that gives your PO Box a real street address. It uses the Post Office’s own building address.
Your box number gets written as a unit number instead of a box number. That small change is what lets UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Amazon treat your PO Box like any other delivery point.
How PO Box Street Addressing actually works
Every Post Office has a physical street address, the same way any building does. Street Addressing lets you use that address instead of the words PO Box.
Your box number follows it, written with a hash symbol. A box addressed as PO Box 3094 becomes something like 131 South Center Street, Unit 3094, at the exact same location.
Mail and packages sent either way still land in the identical box. The Post Office treats both formats as the same destination.
What it costs and who can get it
Street Addressing itself is free to enroll in. You still pay your normal PO Box rental fee, the same as any other box holder.
Not every Post Office offers it. Only locations USPS classifies as competitive typically provide it.
A smaller or rural office may not have it at all. Check with your specific Post Office to confirm it exists at your location. For the base cost of the box itself, see our breakdown of PO Box prices.
How to sign up
You need an existing PO Box first, since Street Addressing is an add on rather than a standalone product. Ask at the counter about enrolling, or check when you first apply.
You will sign a customer agreement covering the terms of the service. A postal employee handles the paperwork in person.
It typically takes effect quickly once approved. If you do not have a box yet, our guide to how to get a PO Box covers the application itself first.
What it unlocks
UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Amazon can all deliver to a box using Street Addressing. Each of those carriers otherwise requires a genuine street address to complete a delivery.
See how it changes the picture for each carrier: UPS delivery to a PO Box, FedEx PO Box shipping, DHL delivery to a PO Box, and Amazon orders sent to a PO Box.
The limits worth knowing before you rely on it
You cannot use this address as a physical residence or as your business’s registered address. It exists for receiving mail and packages, not for meeting a physical presence requirement.
Package size still matters too. Most competitive locations cap parcels around 70 pounds and 130 combined inches of length and girth.
Oversized freight and some restricted items still will not go through. Expect the occasional slow start as well, since staff training on this feature varies by location.
A package can take an extra day to land in your box the first time you use the format.
A mistake to avoid
Do not file a change of address from your PO Box number to the street style version of the same address. Both formats deliver to the identical box.
Filing a change of address between them can confuse your own mail routing instead of helping it. Use whichever format fits the sender’s system.
Think of them as two doors into the same room, not two separate addresses.
Frequently asked questions
What is PO Box Street Addressing?
It is a free USPS feature that gives your PO Box the Post Office’s own street address, with your box number written as a unit number. It lets private carriers deliver there.
Does Street Addressing cost extra?
No, enrolling is free. You still pay your standard PO Box rental fee for the size and term you choose.
Is Street Addressing available at every Post Office?
No. Only locations USPS classifies as competitive typically offer it, so check with your specific Post Office before assuming it is available.
Can I use my Street Addressing address as my home or business address?
No. It is meant for receiving mail and packages only, and it cannot substitute for a physical residence or a registered business address.
Do I need Street Addressing to receive Amazon packages?
Often, yes, especially for orders shipped by carriers other than USPS. Amazon orders shipped through USPS itself generally do not require it.
Can I switch back to the plain PO Box format later?
Yes. Both formats always reach the same box, so you can use either one at any time without changing anything about the box itself.
The bottom line
PO Box Street Addressing turns your box into a delivery point every major carrier can reach, at no added cost beyond the box itself. It is worth setting up the moment you expect packages from anyone other than USPS.
Confirm it is offered at your specific Post Office, sign the agreement in person, and keep using either address format interchangeably from then on.