How to Install a Mailbox: Steps & Tips

Are you wondering how to install a mailbox? Installing your own mailbox is an easy DIY project that doesn't require much in the way of experience or tools. A well-placed, attractive mailbox will add to your landscaping and curb appeal. Plus, your mailbox can help visitors easily identify your home. 

You can mount the mailbox in front of your house, to the side of a driveway, or mount a mailbox on the walls or fence surrounding your home. No matter the installation process, it’s easy to install a mailbox and relatively inexpensive, especially when you DIY.

Who Can Install a Mailbox for Your Home?

Before you start researching how to install a mailbox, you should be sure to look into the United States Postal Service (USPS) requirements for installing a new mailbox, as well as local ordinances. Some cities, HOAs, and communities may also have specific guidelines or mailbox requirements. 

Once you've done your research, follow our step-by-step guide to help install a mailbox on your property. 

Of course, you could also have a professional install the mailbox. Some landscape companies or contractors will offer mailbox installation services. However, enlisting the help of a professional will be more costly. Mailbox installation is usually a simple process that most people can take care of in an afternoon. If you want to save money, installing your own mailbox is a great DIY project.

How Much Does It Cost to Install a Mailbox?

Installing your own mailbox is a relatively inexpensive project. The cost is only for the materials and the mailbox itself. Depending on your budget and style, Do It Best carries a wide range of mailboxes starting at under $20. 

Whenever you buy a product for the outside of your home, especially something like a mailbox that will need to withstand year-round weather, it’s often a good idea to look for the highest quality you can afford. The other materials needed to install a mailbox are relatively inexpensive, so splurge a little on the best mailbox you can afford.

Installing a mailbox on your own is really where you’ll save money on this project. Additionally, you can do the installation project on your own time whenever you like. There’s no waiting and scheduling for the process.

As for the materials you need, look for a post digger, a mailbox post, house letters and numbers, and ready-mix cement. The other materials you will likely have on hand already include work gloves, a drill, and a shovel.

When buying a post digger, choose one that's higher quality if you plan to use it for other projects, such as fence installation. A basic model is appropriate for this particular project, but owning a post digger can come in handy, so it’s worth buying a quality digger.

Although a mailbox installation requires a few supplies, it’s a fairly quick and inexpensive project you can tackle on a sunny afternoon. 

Before you begin installing your mailbox, be sure you have what you need:

The next step is to dig a deep hole for your post. According to the USPS requirements, a mailbox shouldn’t sit higher than 45 inches above street level. Keep these guidelines in mind as you select the spot to place your mailbox. You’ll want to put your mailbox on your lawn, six to eight inches from the curb. Curbs are usually a few inches higher than street level, so you’ll want to measure and place your mailbox approximately 42 inches off the ground—standard mailbox height.

The post will need to be securely buried in the ground. Use your post-digger to burrow down about two feet, keeping the post at the target height of about 42 inches. The hole for your mailbox post needs to be dug well. Don't make it too shallow, or your mailbox will sit too high and be unstable.

The mailbox post you use is important. It should be the appropriate height as per USPS regulation requirements and strong yet flexible (like the above-mentioned metal, wood, or plastic). Choose a premade mailbox post or a 4 x 4-inch wooden post for the best results.

Once you have chosen your post, place the mailbox post into the freshly dug hole. In preparation for cement, use supports to prop up the post in the hole so it’s not tipping from side to side. Make sure these supports are steady so the post doesn’t wiggle when you pour the quick-drying concrete. You can also use a level to check that your post is straight in the hole before you start to pour.

Do you need to use concrete to set your mailbox post? While it’s not necessary to use concrete to set a mailbox post in the ground, it will help increase the stability of your mailbox. If you want your mailbox to hold up to shifting temperatures, groundwater, and seasonal fluctuations, concrete will help it last longer.

To set your mailbox post in concrete, prepare the ready-mix cement per the manufacturer instructions. Pour the concrete around the post in the hole, filling it to just a few inches below ground level. The concrete shouldn’t be flush with the ground but instead a little below the surface. Use fast-drying concrete if possible.

Once you’ve poured the concrete, check the post with a level to ensure it still stands straight and hasn't moved. If the post has shifted, adjust it quickly before the concrete dries and sets. Once the concrete has set, you can remove the support beams from around the post.

When your post has fully dried in place, it’s time to attach your new mailbox! Use a drill if needed, and attach the box to the post, following the manufacturer's instructions. Some attach from the bottom of the mailbox, while others secure from the side--it all depends on the type of mailbox. Mailboxes come in many different styles and shapes, so each has its own way of attaching.

Once you’ve attached your mailbox to the post, you should label it. The USPS requires mailboxes to be clearly labeled with house numbers and letters for your full street address. Your local Do it Best will have stickers that you can apply to your new mailbox. It’s a good idea to check with your local postmaster, mail carrier, or post office to ensure you’ve followed all needed regulations. 

From there, you’re ready to receive mail! Some folks like to plant flowers and decorative plants around the base of their mailbox. You may also want to periodically wipe or rinse off your mailbox so it stays free of dirt and debris, which can degrade the mailbox over time.

Installing your own mailbox is a great, satisfying DIY project for any homeowner. Get the supplies and tools you need to install your own mailbox at Do it Best!