What To Know Before Ordering A Custom Mailbox From Post & Porch 

Buying a mailbox sounds super simple until you start choosing one for your own home – today’s modern market is flooded with options. This spurs the questions: Should it be post-mounted or wall-mounted? What size makes sense? Which mailbox color will work best with your exterior? Do you need address numbers, a mailbox lock, a post, or special mounting hardware?

It’s completely normal to pause over those details; most homeowners only shop for a mailbox a handful of times in their lives, and the one you choose becomes part of your home’s everyday look for years – it’s practically a house accessory that everyone sees.

At Post & Porch, we want you to feel confident about what you’re purchasing before it arrives at your driveway or front porch. This guide walks through the choices that matter when you’re personalizing a custom mailbox, what may be included or sold separately, how Post & Porch production and shipping work, and what to review before placing your unique order.

Before choosing a color, size, or set of address numbers, make sure the custom mailbox style you’ve gone with works with the way mail is already delivered to your home. Your current delivery setup is usually the best place to begin. Some homes receive mail at the curb, while others have walk-up delivery near the front door or porch. 

Choosing the right type of mailbox first can save you from installation problems, missed deliveries, or an unexpected conversation with your mail carrier later. Here’s what to know:

Post-Mounted Mailboxes

A post-mounted mailbox is installed near the street and is commonly used for curbside mail delivery. Before ordering, look at your current setup and decide whether you’ll reuse an existing post or install a new one. Local road conditions, snow removal, landscaping, and neighborhood requirements may also affect where the mailbox can be safely placed.

A post-mounted mailbox may be best when:

• You already receive curbside mail delivery
• Your carrier delivers from a vehicle
• You want the mailbox to become part of your home’s street-facing curb appeal
• You have room for a mailbox post near the road
• Your neighborhood or HOA requires curbside mailbox placement

Things to consider before choosing one: 

• Installation may require digging, concrete, or a new mailbox post
• Snowplows, road salt, sprinklers, and nearby traffic can affect placement and maintenance
• You’ll need to follow USPS guidance for mailbox height and distance from the curb

Wall-Mounted Mailboxes

A wall-mounted mailbox attaches directly to the exterior of your home, usually near the front door, porch, garage, gate, or another approved walk-up delivery area. Before ordering, check where your carrier currently delivers mail and make sure the mounting surface can safely support the hanging mailbox you chose and the required hardware.

A wall-mounted mailbox may be best when:

• You already receive walk-up mail delivery near your front door
• You live in a townhome, row home, historic property, or home with limited yard space
• You want easier access to your mail from inside the home
• You want the wall mailbox to coordinate with your front door, lighting, hardware, or house numbers
• You don’t have room or approval for a curbside mailbox post

Things to consider before choosing one: 

• A wall-mounted mailbox won’t automatically replace an existing curbside delivery setup
• Brick, stone, stucco, siding, and other exterior surfaces may require specific anchors or professional installation
• The mailbox should be visible, easy for your carrier to reach, and large enough to hold a typical day’s mail
• Roof runoff, sprinklers, gates, porch furniture, and landscaping can affect placement and accessibility
• You may need approval from your local post office before changing your current delivery location

Once you know which custom mailbox style fits your delivery setup, the next step is confirming where it can actually be installed. A modern mailbox may look completely different from the old one it replaces, but it still needs to be safe, visible, and easy for your mail carrier to reach. Placement rules can also vary based on your neighborhood, local roads, HOA guidelines, and the type of property you own.

For most curbside mailboxes, USPS generally recommends placing the point of mail entry 41 to 45 inches above the road surface and positioning the mailbox door 6 to 8 inches back from the curb or edge of the road. These measurements help mail carriers reach the post box safely from their vehicles.

Wall-mounted mailboxes should be installed near the home’s main entrance in a location that is clearly visible and easy for the mail carrier to reach. If you currently receive curbside delivery and want to switch to a wall-mounted mailbox, contact your local post office for approval before changing your setup. 

Your exact mailbox placement may still be affected by local conditions, including:

• Carrier routes
• Road width and traffic
• Snowplow paths
• Drainage and roadside ditches
• Landscaping and irrigation
• Shared mailbox areas
• Neighborhood design standards

Before ordering or installing a custom mailbox, it may be helpful to check with:

• Your local post office if you’re moving the mailbox, changing delivery types, or creating a new delivery location
• Your homeowners association if mailbox colors, styles, sizes, or placement are regulated
• Your historic district or local planning office if exterior changes require review or approval
• Your installer, landscaper, or contractor if the mailbox will be part of a larger outdoor project

Custom mailbox design and approved mailbox placement go hand in hand, but they aren’t the same thing. A mailbox can have the right size, materials, and features and still be installed too high, too close to the road, or in a location your carrier can’t safely access. Taking a few minutes to confirm the requirements before ordering can save you from having to move, reinstall, or replace the mailbox later.

Once you’ve confirmed which mailbox style and placement will work for your property, you can start choosing the details that make it feel a lot more personal. After all, we believe a custom mailbox can mean much more than adding a simple address number to the side. 

Depending on the Post & Porch mailbox model you’re eyeing, you may be able to choose:

• A post-mounted or wall-mounted mailbox
• Regular or large mailbox capacity
• A powder-coated color or naturally weathering finish
• A coordinating mailbox post
• Magnetic address numbers
• The font and finish of your house numbers
• A compatible locking mailbox option
• A wood door
• A double mailbox bracket
• Additional address digits or letters

The best custom mailbox combination will depend on your home, delivery setup, climate, and everyday needs. A homeowner in a snowy region may think carefully about post placement and road exposure, while someone near the coast may prioritize finish care and protection from salt air. Your exterior colors, landscaping, HOA requirements, and the amount of mail you receive can also shape the final choice.

Not every component is automatically included with every mailbox. 

Some items are offered separately so you can reuse an existing mailbox post, choose only the accessories you need, or create a full setup that works with your property. Before checking out, review the product page carefully to confirm what comes with the mailbox and what must be added separately. Depending on the model, the post, adapter, locking kit, address numbers, bracket, or installation hardware may be separate selections.

Once you’ve chosen your mailbox style and custom details, think about how much space your household actually needs for a mailbox. Exterior dimensions are helpful, but they don’t tell the whole story. The right mailbox size depends on the type of mail you receive, how many people live at your address, and how often someone walks out to collect it.

A regular post-mounted mailbox may offer plenty of room if you check your mail daily and mostly receive letters, cards, bills, and standard envelopes. A large mailbox may be a better fit for households that regularly receive magazines, catalogs, prescription deliveries, padded envelopes, or small packages sent through USPS.

Consider choosing a larger mailbox when:

• You don’t collect your mail every day
• Multiple people receive mail at the same address
• You frequently receive prescriptions or padded envelopes
• Your household subscribes to magazines or catalogs
• The mailbox serves a vacation home or second property
• You want additional capacity without changing the overall mailbox style

Keep in mind that a large mailbox with post isn’t the same as a dedicated package delivery box. It can provide more room for USPS mail and qualifying smaller deliveries, but packages brought by private carriers such as UPS, FedEx, or independent Amazon drivers are generally delivered to the door or placed in a separate package box. The goal isn’t simply to choose the largest mailbox available – it’s to find a capacity that fits the way your household receives mail now, with enough room to keep everyday deliveries from feeling cramped.

Once you’ve chosen a mailbox size that fits your routine, it’s worth thinking about the conditions it will face outside every day. Post & Porch mailboxes are designed to bring modern curb appeal and everyday function together. Our custom mailbox models are made from heavy-duty 14-gauge galvanized steel and finished with a weather-resistant powder coating, creating two layers of protection against typical outdoor exposure.

The galvanized steel helps protect the structure of the mailbox, while the powder-coated finish helps resist rain, snow, sunlight, fading, scratching, and normal wear. However, weather-resistant doesn’t mean damage-proof – like any outdoor metal product, a mailbox can be affected by its placement, installation, maintenance, and local climate.

The appearance and lifespan of an outdoor mailbox may be affected by:

• Deep scratches, chips, or exposed metal
• Constant sprinkler or roof-runoff exposure
• Standing water or poor drainage
• Coastal salt air
• Road salt and snow-removal chemicals
• Harsh cleaners or abrasive scrubbers
• Improper drilling or incompatible hardware
• Vehicle, landscaping-equipment, or snowplow impact
• A loose or unstable installation

Where you live can make a real difference. A mailbox in dry, sunny Utah may face intense UV exposure and temperature swings, while one near the Florida coast may experience frequent rain, humidity, and salt air. Homeowners in the Midwest and Northeast may need to pay closer attention to road salt, freezing rain, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Your local weather should help guide where the mailbox is installed and how often it’s cleaned. Try to keep it away from direct sprinkler spray, heavy roof runoff, and areas where water tends to collect. For routine care, gently wipe the mailbox with a soft, damp cloth and mild soap when needed. Avoid harsh chemicals, abrasive pads, or aggressive scrubbing that could weaken or scratch the powder-coated finish.

A little attention to placement and maintenance can go a long way toward helping your custom mailbox look and function as intended through changing seasons.

If you’re considering a Corten or patina mailbox, it helps to know that the finish is meant to evolve. Unlike a powder-coated mailbox, a patina mailbox begins with a raw steel surface and gradually develops a naturally weathered exterior. As it reacts to moisture, air, sunlight, and changing temperatures, the color may move through shades of orange, copper, brown, and deeper earth tones. That changing appearance is part of the design, not a flaw.

The patina won’t form at the same speed or look exactly the same in every location. A mailbox in dry, sunny Utah may weather differently from one in humid Florida, the rainy Pacific Northwest, or a snowy area of the Northeast. Rainfall, humidity, airflow, sun exposure, and seasonal conditions all influence how the finish develops. 

Even two identical patina mailboxes can take on slightly different tones over time – that natural variation is part of what gives weathering steel its character. A patina finish may be the right choice when you like warm, earthy colors and don’t mind watching the surface change with the seasons. But a powder-coated mailbox may be a better fit when you want a more consistent color and appearance from the day it arrives.

Once you’ve chosen your custom mailbox and planned for installation, it’s helpful to understand what happens between placing the order and seeing it arrive at your home. For a made-to-order mailbox, production time and carrier transit are two separate stages. Knowing the difference can make the timeline feel much clearer, especially when you’re ordering for a move, exterior renovation, housewarming gift, or scheduled installation.

Production Time

Production time begins after your order is placed. 

This is when the Post & Porch team prepares, finishes, customizes, inspects, and packages the mailbox configuration you selected. Because custom mailbox orders can include different sizes, colors, posts, address numbers, locking options, and accessories, some combinations may take longer to complete than others. Certain finishes or components may also be produced in smaller quantities or experience higher demand.

Post & Porch mailboxes are prepared by a small team in Utah, so the production estimate shown on the individual product page is the best place to find the most current timeline for your selected configuration. Inventory and demand can change throughout the year, so review that estimate again before checking out.

Carrier Transit

Carrier transit begins only after the completed mailbox has been inspected, packaged, labeled, and handed over to the shipping carrier.

You’ll receive tracking information when the order is ready to ship, although the tracking page may not show movement until the carrier completes its first physical scan. The time between placing your order and receiving tracking information is usually part of the production process, not time the package has already spent in transit.

Business-day estimates generally don’t include weekends or major holidays. 

When timing matters, leave room for both the custom production window and the carrier’s delivery schedule rather than planning around shipping time alone. A custom mailbox takes a little more preparation than an off-the-shelf, big-box option, but understanding each stage can make the wait feel far less uncertain.

Before placing your custom mailbox order, it’s worth taking a few minutes to understand what happens if something arrives damaged, a piece is missing, or the finished product isn’t quite what you expected. Knowing how returns, exchanges, damage claims, and warranties are handled can help you feel more confident before checking out.

A few good-to-knows:

• Returns and exchanges are accepted within 30 days of delivery
• Customers generally cover return shipping costs for standard returns
• Post & Porch covers shipping costs for qualifying exchanges
• Returned products must arrive back at the warehouse before a refund or exchange can be processed
• Shipping damage or loss should be reported within 48 hours of delivery
• Damage claims require clear photographs of the product and its packaging
• Qualifying manufacturing defects are covered during the first year
• Accidental damage, improper installation, normal wear, and improper handling aren’t considered manufacturing defects

Policies can change, so it’s always a good idea to review the latest Post & Porch FAQ and return information before ordering.

When your custom mailbox arrives, open the package and give everything a quick once-over. Make sure the mailbox, address numbers, post components, hardware, locking kit, and any other mailbox accessories are there and in good condition. Hold onto the original box and protective packaging until you’ve finished checking your unique order. 

If something looks damaged, take clear photos of the mailbox, the affected area, the shipping box, and the packing materials before beginning installation or throwing anything away. That quick inspection can make it much easier for the customer service team to understand what happened and help you figure out the best next step.

A custom mailbox comes with a lot more choices than a standard mailbox from a big-box store, but that’s also what makes the finished setup feel like it truly belongs to your home. Before you hit “Place Order,” give your selections one final look. A few extra minutes now can help you avoid missing components, installation delays, or realizing later that the mailbox color, size, or mounting setup isn’t quite right for what you’re looking for.

Confirm that you’ve selected:

• The correct post-mounted or wall-mounted mailbox style
• Your preferred mailbox model
• A regular or large mailbox size
• The right powder-coated color or patina finish
• Every mailbox number needed for your address
• Your preferred house-number font and finish
• A locking or non-locking mailbox configuration
• The correct mailbox post, adapter, bracket, or mounting hardware
• Hardware that works with your wall surface or installation setup
• A production timeline that works with your plans
• The correct shipping address
• Any required approval from your HOA, neighborhood, historic district, or local post office

It’s also helpful to save a screenshot of your final selections and keep your order confirmation somewhere easy to find. You can refer back to it when preparing for installation, checking your custom mailbox production timeline, or contacting the Post & Porch customer service team with a question. That final review may feel like a small step, but it can make the entire process smoother from checkout to the moment your new mailbox becomes part of your home’s curb appeal.

A Post & Porch custom mailbox may be right for you if the little details of your home matter. You notice when the lighting, landscaping, house numbers, and mailbox all feel connected, and you want something more personal than a standard mailbox pulled from a shelf.

A custom mailbox does take a little planning – you’ll need to think about delivery type, size, color, installation, and production time. If you need something tomorrow or your neighborhood has strict mailbox rules, it may not be the best fit for your home.

We’d rather say that upfront. The goal is to help you choose a modern mailbox that works for your home and gives you that tiny spark of happiness every time you pull into the driveway.

Got questions?

Don't hesitate to email us at [email protected], and our team will get back to you ASAP. You can also give us a call at 385-436-0270.

Business Hours: Monday - Friday 9-5 PM MST

Brick-and-Mortar Store: 1273 S. 1800 W. Unit 1
Woods Cross, UT 84010