The 15 Best Mailboxes of 2023 That Are Practical and Stylish

Elevate your home’s style, and ensure the safe delivery of your letters and packages, with the Mail Boss Mail Manager mailbox that scores high on looks and functionality.

By Samantha S. Thorpe Published on December 14, 2022
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process.

Your humble mailbox is more than a letter delivery spot. It’s an essential curb-appeal booster. You can make it a focal point whether it’s next to your street or right beside your front door.

To select the right one, start by making a list of your priorities: Is the best mailbox for you a lockable one that keeps your mail and packages safe until you can retrieve them, a freestanding one that can hold large or multiple parcels, made from a material that can withstand rain, snow, or intense sun, or one that shows off a fun color or looks like a piece of garden art?

These factors all went into our selection of the best mailboxes. Along with the style and capacity considerations, you will also need to factor in the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) regulations for the mailbox’s placement, height, and size. Consult the USPS website and contact your local post office (or Homeowner’s Association) for any neighborhood-specific regulations.

Overall, the best mailbox is the Mail Boss Mail Manager Street Safe Locking Security Mailbox. It comes with multiple security features and a timeless profile that suits a variety of home styles. You can safely retrieve your mail through its rear-access yard-side door. Plus, it’s made of steel, so it can withstand tough weather conditions without rusting.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Mail Boss Mail Manager Street Safe Locking Security Mailbox

The Mail Boss’s Street Safe curbside mailbox is a contemporary take on a traditional mailbox. Its front- and rear-locking access door allows you to unlock and retrieve the mail while standing in your yard. An anti-pry locking mechanism, sturdy camlock, and a protective baffle-style door will keep all deliveries safe.

The bottom of the mailbox is cushioned with a plastic liner so packages won’t incur damage when they’re dropped into the compartment. Use the spring steel clip inside the top door to send outgoing mail.

Product Details: Size (W x H x D): 10.8 x 11.06 x 21.4 inches | Style: Post | Lockable: Yes | Package Capacity: ‎Large

Best Lockable

Mail Boss Mail Manager Locking Post Mounted Mailbox

Need to deter potential mail thieves? The Mail Boss Manager combines an anti-pry bar, commercial-grade lock, and baffle-door design to keep thieves from leveraging open its door to access your deliveries. When you need to send outgoing mail, you can discreetly tuck it inside an interior-mounted clip for your carrier.

All of these security features are wrapped up in a fashionably modern white body with a wood-tone door—or you can go with an all-black option. Its matching post is sold separately.

Product Details: Size: 21 x 11.2 5x 21 inches | Style: Post | Lockable: Yes | Package Capacity: Large

The Bottom Line

We selected the Mail Boss Mail Manager Street Safe Locking Security Mailbox as the best mailbox for its large capacity and its protective bi-cam, anti-pry latch. We also like its rear- and front-access doors that simplify mail delivery and collection. Its sleek, timeless profile also ups a home’s curb appeal.

What to Know About Mailboxes Before Shopping

All mailboxes must meet USPS installation regulations to ensure your mail is delivered. They must be securely installed so they can’t come off a wall or topple into the street. Consider these mailbox features when shopping:

Size/Mail Capacity

Mailboxes are typically listed as small-, medium-, large-, or extra-large capacity. Some manufacturers will also list the capacity in cubic inches. Small- and medium-sized mailboxes are for smaller households that receive a few pieces of mail daily.

A large-capacity mailbox is ideal for households that receive a lot of mail or small packages. Large-capacity options are also best for those who travel often and need a mailbox that can hold several days’ worth of mail. Lockable drop-boxes (also known as mail vaults or parcel drop-boxes) are for households who receive large envelopes or packages regularly and need a safe holding place until they can collect them.

Style 

Mailboxes are available in pole, wall-mount, slot, column, or drop-box options. Post-mounted mailboxes are common in rural areas or neighborhoods with curbside mail delivery. Their posts must be installed into the ground or bolted into a cement base. Consider a rear-access version if you live on a busy street or want to avoid stepping into the road to gather your mail.

Wall-mounted options are typically placed next to the front door for easy access from the house. Column-style mailboxes are built into brick, stacked-stone, or stucco structures.

Extra-large, drop-box mailboxes are locked options made to hold large envelopes and/or multiple packages. They are freestanding units that must be bolted into a concrete base so they can’t be pushed over or stolen.

Placement and Installation

Before you invest in a mailbox, ask your local mail carrier or post office where your mailbox must be located to ensure delivery. A mail carrier usually won’t come to your door in a rural area or in a neighborhood composed of post- or column-style mailboxes. All mailboxes must be securely fastened to the ground or wall. If you need help with the installation, find a local contractor who can follow USPS guidelines.

Lockable

Lockable mailboxes are a must if you are concerned about mail thieves or identity theft. The types of locks used can vary from simple latches you turn into place with a key, to more secure cam locks or heavy-duty tubular locks used on vending machines. Check for anti-pry and anti-pick features for additional layers of security.

Before you purchase a lockable mailbox, find out how many keys come with the unit and if you can duplicate or order more keys if needed. Postal carriers must be able to deliver to your mailbox without needing a key for access.

Your Questions, Answered

 Where should you put a mailbox?

All mailboxes must be installed per USPS regulations. To install a post curbside, you will need a post digger, cement, a level, and measuring tape. Another option is to bolt the post to a concrete base. A post mailbox’s opening must be 41–45 inches above the ground and 6–8 inches from the curb. Your local hardware store or home center can recommend a landscaper or contractor if you need help with installation.

Verify with your local carrier or post office about the proper placement for wall-mounted or slot mailboxes before installing. Affix your house numbers on your mailbox so they are easy to read. If your mailbox faces a different street than your postal address, post your street’s name, too. Decals and other house numbers are sold at home centers, hardware stores, and online. Select ones that will fit on your box and are large enough to read quickly—usually 2–4 inches tall.

What is the most durable material for a mailbox?

Consider your climate and the location’s light conditions when choosing the best mailbox material for you. Mailboxes that sit out in the full sun or next to a busy street will need to be made of a more durable material than ones placed under a covered front entry. Aluminum is a lightweight option that costs less, but it must be treated to withstand water and slow any rusting.

Powder-coated cast aluminum is a good all-weather option that’s also rust-resistant. Brushed stainless steel is durable and attractive, but it must be powder coated to withstand rain and rust. Galvanized steel is a more expensive material, but it is ultra-durable when weather-treated.

Decorative metal options like copper or brass are pricier and require regular polishing to remain patina free. Heavy-duty plastic or polymer mailboxes are made to withstand tough weather conditions. But they can also crack or fade over time, especially if they’re exposed to full sun or extreme temperatures.

The best wood mailboxes are made from water-resistant cedar or teak. Plan on staining them if you want to preserve their warm wood tones. All wood mailboxes will eventually crack if placed in a sunny location without a protective stain.

How do I boost my mailbox’s curb appeal?

Once you have selected the best mailbox for you, you will want to turn it into a pleasing front-yard feature. As Jenny Simpson, owner of Creekside Nursery and creator of Gardening with Creekside says, “People want to have a really pretty area around their mailboxes since it’s by the entrance into your house or what people first see.”

Simpson recommends first improving the soil with high-quality compost and mulch around the mailbox so plants can thrive. Then you can layer in plants to add color and texture. “Think about it as a way to add interest to your yard,” Simpson says. For wall-mounted mailboxes, Simpson recommends setting them off with a large-scale container planting that will tie your entry into your yard.

If you’re not sure what to plant or how to do it, Simpson suggests taking photos of your mailbox’s area along with its measurements to share with your independent nursery for ideas. “Local garden centers want to help their customers and will be more than happy to help pick the plants that suit your area and your light and soil conditions.”

How much is a good mailbox?

Quality mailboxes are sold at a variety of price points. Weather-resistant, medium-capacity options start around $30. Stainless-steel mailboxes that feature multiple compartments with lock and anti-pry features can run up to $500. Super-secure vault- or drop-box style mailboxes can cost upwards of $1,000. 

Who We Are

Samantha S. Thorpe is a freelance home and garden editor writing about home design, decorating, and organizing tips, gardening how-to, and entertaining know-how. She researched mailbox styles, security features, and USPS regulations that must be followed to ensure mail delivery in curating the list of the best mailboxes. She also consulted Jenny Simpson, owner of Creekside Nursery in Dallas, N.C., for tips on landscaping around mailboxes.