Address format matters
Write the box number exactly as the recipient gives it, including any unit designation. A missing box number strands the parcel at the counter waiting for a claim.
Lobby delivery
Shipping to a PO Box, minus the guesswork
A PO Box lives inside a post office, which settles the carrier question before price enters it: USPS delivers to PO Boxes, while UPS and FedEx ground services ask for a street address. The rest of this page shows what the postal option costs in practice.
Carrier rules stated plainlyBuy the label as a guestTracking to the lobby box
Know the door first
When the destination is a lobby box, the carrier choice narrows before the price comparison starts. The quote below reflects that.
A book bundle bound for a PO Box, quoted 2026-07-27
Our example is the classic PO Box shipment, a 12 × 9 × 6 in box of paperbacks at about 5.5 lb, quoted on Newark, NJ 07102 to Atlanta, GA 30303. The full board is shown for context, but for a PO Box destination the USPS row is the one that matters.
| Carrier | Service | Price | Quoted transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS | Ground Saver | $13.25 | 4 business days |
| USPS | Ground Advantage | $13.29 | 6-7 business days |
| FedEx | Ground Economy | $14.31 | 4-5 business days |
| UPS | Ground | $16.19 | 3-4 business days |
| UPS | 3 Day Select | $19.99 | 3-4 business days |
USPS Ground Advantage quoted $13.29 for a 6-7 business day run, four cents above the cheapest row on the board. That four-cent difference is academic here: the UPS and FedEx services listed want a street address, so the postal line is the practical floor for a lobby box.
Size has a practical ceiling
Oversized parcels for a small lobby box are held behind the counter with a pickup slip instead. Fine for the recipient, but tell them a big one is coming so it does not sit.
The workaround for other carriers
Some post offices offer street addressing for box holders, which lets non-postal carriers deliver there. Only the box holder can confirm their office supports it, so ask before assuming.
PO Box delivery questions
Can UPS or FedEx deliver to a PO Box?
Their standard ground services ask for a street address, so plan on USPS when the destination is a lobby box. Some box holders have a street-addressing arrangement with their post office, which changes the answer for that address only.
What did the PO Box example cost to ship?
The 5.5 lb book bundle quoted $13.29 with USPS Ground Advantage on 2026-07-27, Newark to Atlanta, quoted at 6-7 business days.
Do PO Box shipments get tracking?
Yes, the same tracking as any street delivery, ending with a scan when the parcel reaches the box or the counter.
How do I address a PO Box parcel?
Recipient name on the first line, the exact box number on the second, then city, state and ZIP. Skip the street address entirely unless the holder tells you they use street addressing.