Short answer
A PO Box is rented from USPS and uses a PO Box number as its address. A mailbox at The UPS Store is a private mailbox at the store’s street address, written with PMB or #, and participating stores accept packages from all carriers. A PO Box takes private carriers only with Street Addressing, where USPS offers it. Both need two forms of ID.
Key takeaways
- A PO Box is rented from USPS. A mailbox at The UPS Store is rented from a local store, and the company says its locations are individually owned and operated.
- Publication 28 standardizes a PO Box as “PO BOX” and a number. A private mailbox uses the store’s street address with “PMB” or “#” and the box number. Publication 28 says “Use of any other identifier is prohibited.”
- The UPS Store’s mailbox page marks all-carrier acceptance as available at participating locations. A PO Box takes private carriers only with Street Addressing, which USPS offers where available.
- Both boxes need two forms of ID, and one must have a photo. A PO Box uses PS Form 1093. A private mailbox uses PS Form 1583.
- USPS Notice 123, effective October 4, 2026, lists paid six-month fees of $31.00 to $170.00 for the smallest PO Box, by location. The UPS Store’s FAQ gives no dollar figure and says prices may vary by location.
- Some forms limit one or both boxes. Shopify Payments says “You can’t use PO Box or Private Mail Box addresses with Shopify Payments.” Read each form line before you enter a rented box address.
What is the difference between a UPS Store mailbox and a PO Box?
A PO Box is a locked box you rent from USPS at a Post Office, and its address shows a PO Box number. A mailbox at The UPS Store is a private mailbox at the store’s street address, and participating stores accept packages from carriers other than USPS.
One detail changes the simple answer. Some Post Offices offer Street Addressing, which lets a PO Box use the Post Office’s street address and receive packages from private carriers. The section on delivery explains how that option works.
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UPS Store mailbox vs PO Box, side by side
The table compares the two boxes on the points that matter when you choose. The UPS Store column comes from the company’s mailbox pages and USPS rules for private mailboxes. The company also says “Products, services, prices, and hours of operation may vary by location,” so confirm each point with the store you plan to use.
The UPS Store’s FAQ refers to “the mandatory PS Form 1583.” For a business, the form says “an officer must sign the application and provide his or her title.” Our guide on how to fill out USPS Form 1583 covers each box on the form.
| Point | PO Box from USPS | Mailbox at The UPS Store |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | The U.S. Postal Service, at a Post Office | A local store. The FAQ says “all our locations are individually owned and operated” |
| Address format | “PO BOX” and a number. Some locations offer Street Addressing with “#” or “UNIT” | The store’s street address, with “PMB” or “#” and your box number |
| Who can deliver | USPS. Private carriers only with Street Addressing, where available | “We Accept All Carriers,” marked “Available at participating locations” |
| Large packages | If a package does not fit, you get a slip for the counter “during normal business hours” or use a secure parcel locker | Ask the store about its limits. Delivery text alerts are marked “Additional fees may apply” |
| Signature items | USPS leaves a notice and you sign at the counter, unless you use the free Signature on File service where it is offered | “We Sign for Packages” |
| Access hours | “24/7 PO Box access at most Post Offices.” USPS adds that “hours vary by Post Office location” | “24-hour access at participating The UPS Store locations” |
| Application | PS Form 1093, Application for Post Office Box Service | PS Form 1583, Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent, signed in the physical or virtual presence of the store’s owner, manager, or authorized employee, or a notary public |
| ID | Two forms, “one photo and one non-photo” | Two forms, “one of which must include a photograph” |
| Rental term | 3, 6, or 12 months. A 3-month term requires automatic renewal | Set by the store. The FAQ says the minimum length “may vary” |
| Price | $31.00 to $170.00 for six months for a paid Size 1 box, by location (Notice 123, effective October 4, 2026) | No dollar figure in the FAQ. It says “prices may vary,” so ask the store |
| After you close it | Submit a change of address. USPS says mail “can be forwarded to your new address for up to one year” | USPS rules say the store must remail your mail for at least 6 months, with new postage, unless you tell it in writing not to. USPS “cannot process a change of address request from a CMRA to another address” |
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How each address must be written
A PO Box address has one standard form. Publication 28, the USPS addressing standard, says in section 281: “The Post Office Box address on a mailpiece must be standardized as follows: PO BOX ## (in this example, “##” indicates the actual number, numbers, or letter).”
A private mailbox follows its own rule. Publication 28, section 285, says “Private companies offering mailbox rental services to individuals and businesses are considered commercial mail receiving agencies (CMRA).” It says mail to a CMRA customer “must include either the PMB identifier or the #, followed by the appropriate private mailbox number. Use of any other identifier is prohibited.” So a private mailbox number is written with PMB or #, and never as a suite or unit number.
The UPS Store’s FAQ shows the same format. It says your mailing address “will be the address of The UPS Store location, with either PMB (private mailbox) or the pound symbol (#) designating your individual box.” Your name goes first, in place of the store’s name.
Some store addresses already include a suite number. Section 508.1.8.3 of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) says the customer then “must use “PMB” in the three-line format.” Publication 28’s examples accept 10 MAIN ST STE 11 PMB 234 and reject 10 MAIN ST STE 11 # 234. The DMM also says USPS “may return mail without a proper address to the sender endorsed “Undeliverable as Addressed, Missing PMB or # Sign.””
The table shows sample addresses built from USPS examples. A “#” sign alone does not tell you the box type, because a private mailbox and a PO Box with Street Addressing can both use it. Our guide on how to tell if an address is a PO Box walks through the checks.
| Box type | Sample address lines |
|---|---|
| PO Box | ABC CO / PO BOX 34 / HERNDON VA 22071-2716 |
| Private mailbox, four lines | ABC CO / PMB 234 / 10 MAIN ST STE 11 / HERNDON VA 22071-2716 |
| Private mailbox, three lines | ABC CO / 10 MAIN ST STE 11 PMB 234 / HERNDON VA 22071-2716 |
| PO Box with Street Addressing | John Smith / 123 Main Street #4567 / Any Town, NY 10001 |
Who can deliver to each box
A standard PO Box receives what USPS delivers. Publication 28 says “Only the Postal Service is entitled to provide delivery to a PO Box.” So a private carrier cannot deliver to an address written as PO BOX and a number.
Street Addressing is the exception. USPS says that with Street Addressing “(if available),” you can use the street address of your Post Office with your PO Box number. USPS adds: “This lets you receive packages from private carriers (such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Amazon), as long as they comply with USPS mailing standards.”
Publication 28 says this option exists “in some locations,” so ask your Post Office first. The DMM says you sign a Customer Agreement for it.
A box with Street Addressing is still PO Box service. The DMM says “Post Office Box, PO Box, or the # symbol when a Post Office street address is used as allowed under 4.5.4, designates this service in an address.” If a form line says no PO Box, ask that agency or company before you enter this format.
A mailbox at The UPS Store takes deliveries at the store. The FAQ says “You can receive packages from any carrier with your mailbox agreement.” The company’s mailbox page marks all-carrier acceptance as available at participating locations. USPS says it delivers all of a CMRA customer’s mail to the CMRA, but “is not responsible for putting the mail in the individual boxes.” USPS also says to contact the CMRA directly about delivery issues.
What each box costs
USPS publishes PO Box fees in Notice 123. The version effective October 4, 2026 sets each fee by box size, rental period, and the fee group of the location. USPS says “Prices differ depending on your location.”
For a six-month period, the smallest box (Size 1) costs from $31.00 to $170.00 across the paid fee groups. The largest box (Size 5) costs from $156.00 to $677.00. The USPS PO Boxes page says you can find pricing for specific locations.
The UPS Store’s FAQ gives no dollar figure. It says “Because all our locations are individually owned and operated, prices may vary. Contact your neighborhood location for pricing.” For mail forwarding and mail holding, it says “Additional charges may apply.”
To compare the two, ask the store for its price for the box size and term you want. Then ask what forwarding, holding, and text alerts add. Put that total next to the USPS fee for your nearest Post Office.
Forms that limit a PO Box or a private mailbox
A street address format does not settle where you can use a box. Each form sets its own rule, and one form can treat two lines differently. The table quotes five lines from forms and account pages. Read each row on its own, because the wording differs.
| Form or account | Line | Exact wording |
|---|---|---|
| IRS Form SS-4 instructions (Rev. December 2025) | Lines 5a and 5b, street address | “Provide the entity’s physical address only if different from its mailing address” and “Don’t enter a P.O. box number here.” |
| California Form LLC-12 | Item 4a, principal office | “Street Address of Principal Office - Do not list a P.O. Box.” The instructions add “Address must be a physical address.” |
| California Form LLC-12 | Item 4b, mailing address | “This address will be used for mailing purposes and may be a P.O. Box address or “in care of” an individual or entity.” |
| Shopify Payments account setup | Address requirements | “You can’t use PO Box or Private Mail Box addresses with Shopify Payments.” |
| Mercury company address requirements | Physical address | “We don’t accept a P.O. box, virtual address, commercial mail receiving agency, mail center, or registered agent address.” |
The SS-4 line and LLC-12 Item 4a each name a P.O. box and also ask for a physical address. A line that does not name a private mailbox has not approved one. Where a line rules out a P.O. box, do not enter one. If a line asks for a physical address, ask the agency or a lawyer before you enter a private mailbox.
State filings have more rules than this table can hold. Our guide on using a UPS Store mailbox for an LLC covers state filings and registered agents. Our comparison of a virtual office and a PO Box covers an LLC’s business address lines.
Which one fits you: PO Box or UPS Store mailbox
Neither box is the right answer for every reader. Use the conditions below, then confirm them with the Post Office or the store.
A PO Box may fit if these points describe you:
- You receive only letters and USPS packages, or your Post Office offers Street Addressing for private carriers.
- You want a fee you can look up before you apply.
- The form line you need accepts a P.O. box, such as Item 4b on California Form LLC-12.
A mailbox at The UPS Store may fit if these points describe you:
- Your packages come from UPS, FedEx, DHL, or Amazon, and your Post Office does not offer Street Addressing.
- You want store staff to sign for packages.
- You want mail forwarded or held while you travel, and you accept any added charges.
- You want a street format address for general mail and packages, and your Post Office does not offer Street Addressing.
A virtual mailbox is a third option for people who cannot visit a box in person. The provider receives mail at a street address, and you view scans of your mail online. The DMM defines a CMRA as a business that, “in whole or in part, accepts the delivery of U.S. Mail on behalf of another person or entity as a business service,” so PS Form 1583 can apply here too. The form limits in this guide can apply to a virtual mailbox from any provider, including save office. Read each form line before you enter that address.
To compare a virtual mailbox with a box you visit, ask each provider the same questions from the first table. Ask who signs for packages, which carriers it accepts, and what happens to your mail when you close the account. Our Silicon Valley and Los Angeles pages describe the business addresses save office offers.
Not legal or tax advice
This guide summarizes USPS Publication 28, section 508 of the Domestic Mail Manual, USPS Notice 123, The UPS Store’s mailbox pages, and the form and account pages named above, as read on November 7, 2026. Prices, services, and form wording can change. Check the current page, and ask the store, the Post Office, or a lawyer or tax professional about your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
Primary sources this guide is based on.
- 1The UPS Store · Personal Mailbox Services (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 2The UPS Store · Mailbox Services (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 3United States Postal Service · PO Boxes (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 4United States Postal Service · Domestic Mail Manual 508, Recipient Services (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 5United States Postal Service · Publication 28, section 281, Post Office Box Format (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 6United States Postal Service · Publication 28, section 284, PO Box Street Addressing (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 7United States Postal Service · Publication 28, section 285, Private Mailbox Addresses (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 8United States Postal Service · Notice 123, Price List, effective October 4, 2026 (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 9United States Postal Service · Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 10United States Postal Service · PS Form 1093, Application for Post Office Box Service (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 11United States Postal Service · PS Form 1583, Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 12Internal Revenue Service · Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 13California Secretary of State · Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) and Instructions (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 14Shopify · Shopify Payments account setup, Address requirements (accessed November 7, 2026)
- 15Mercury · Company address requirements (accessed November 7, 2026)
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