If you’re putting up a new mailbox post to replace one already built into the ground, you should be OK to put the new post in the same spot as the old one. If you want to move it, you should get your utilities marked out. Make sure that you don’t hit any lines running under your yard that aren’t utilities, such as pipes running to sprinklers or wires leading to yard lights. These likely won’t show up with a local service. In the United States, you can call 811 to get your utilities marked out for free within 2 days. Once they are marked, you will have 10 days to install your mailbox post in a safe area. The United Kingdom has a service called Linesearch Before U Dig that will mark out the placement of utilities for free, contacted through their website: https://www. linesearchbeforeudig. co. uk/
The USPS requires that the opening of your postbox be 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) away from the curb, and 41 to 45 inches (100 to 110 cm) above the surface of the road. Make sure that you factor in the size of the mailbox when installing your mailbox post. If you’re unsure about the regulations in your area, take a look at the height and placement of your neighbor’s mailboxes for a good guide on what yours should look like.
If the hole left behind from your old post is in the same location you want to install the new one, you should be able to reuse the same hole. Otherwise, fill it in and dig a new hole in a different location.
If you’re installing a new mailbox to replace an old one, you shouldn’t need to mark or dig a new location.
Throw the dirt you dig out of the hole onto a tarp or something similar. This will make it easier to clean up once you’ve finished installing your mailbox post. Check the depth of the hole with a tape measure as you dig it. If you don’t want to buy a post digger, you may be able to rent one from your local hardware store for a short period of time.
Gravel should be available in large bags from your local hardware store or nursery. You’ll need roughly 10 to 30 pounds (4. 5 to 13. 6 kg) of gravel, depending on the size of your hole and the density of the gravel. Check the depth of the hole again once you’ve added your gravel, to make sure you will still comply with the requirements for mailboxes in your area. If there’s gravel in the hole from an old mailbox post you’ve removed, you shouldn’t need to add anymore gravel as long as it is deep enough and sets your post at the right height.
Mailbox posts and mailboxes can be bought from your local hardware store, which should be built with around 20 inches (51 cm) extra length at the base to sit in the hole. You can make your own mailbox post by cutting a 4 by 4 in (10 by 10 cm) piece of wood to size. It should be around 65 inches (170 cm) in length, with the cut end sitting in the hole. Make sure your chosen mailbox post is weather-treated so that it won’t rot or disintegrate in the elements. Either purchase waterproof wood, or waterproof the wood yourself.
Dry concrete powder should be available at your local hardware store. You’ll need roughly 50 pounds (23 kg), depending on the size and depth of your hole. The space left at the top of the post can be covered with soil, which will prevent concrete from showing at the base of your mailbox post. Get someone else to hold the post in place while you pour the concrete over it. Hold the bubble level on each face of the post and check that the bubble is in the middle of the level before proceeding.
This is the last chance you’ll have to adjust your mailbox post before it is cemented into the ground. Use a level on all sides of the post to make sure it is even.
For extra stability, use a few pieces of excess timber leaning on each side of the post to hold it steady while the concrete dries. It may help the leave a sign on the post while you leave it to set in place so that people avoid it, reducing the chance for it to be knocked off center as it dries. You may also need to contact your mail carrier to make sure they don’t disturb it. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for your concrete powder for a recommended amount of time to leave your concrete to dry.
Check that your mailbox is able to open comfortably before screwing it in place. Mailboxes and mailbox kits should be available at your local hardware store. Some of them may even come with a mailbox post ready to install.
