PO Boxes®

How they work

A PO Box® is a service you can buy for either 6 months or 12 months. It's useful if you need to manage your mail,  or you want to project the right image with a snappy, discreet new address on your packaging. A PO Box® can be really effective for direct marketing, TV, radio or press advertising. You have the option of choosing to use either a full or abbreviated address format:

There are three PO Box® options you can choose from:

1. PO Box® Collect – this is the basic service which allows you to collect your mail from your local Royal Mail delivery office, instead of having it delivered
2. PO Box® Delivery – this allows you to have your PO Box® mail delivered to the address supplied on your application form along with your normal mail.
3. PO Box® with Transfer of Normal Address Mail  – this allows you to have all of the mail in the PO Box® holders name held in the PO Box® ready for collection along with your PO Box® mail.

To rent a PO Box®, you must work or live at a permanent UK address (as recognised by us) and be over 16. We’re sorry, but you won’t be able to use this service if you have a temporary or 'care of' (‘c/o’) address. Applications must be in a single name.

You can only rent a PO Box® at the Royal Mail delivery office that delivers mail to the address stated on the application form.

You can have several PO Box® numbers per address but your mail won't be sorted to each individual PO Box®. All PO Box® mail for one address is delivered together. If you need this level of sortation you can use Selectapost™ which sorts your mail in to categories to meet your mail management needs.

You’ll be given the next number in sequence for your local sorting office. We may have to change PO Box® numbers from time to time, but we’ll always give you reasonable notice. If you want your PO Box® to be abbreviated, legally you must give us your full name and address for us to set this up. Please note that we cannot advise you of your legal obligations.

PO Box® Location

Your PO Box mail® will be held at your local delivery office which normally delivers to your address until you can pick it up (or have it delivered depending on which service option you have chosen),

Types of mail that can be sent to PO Boxes®

Most types of mail can be sent to your Royal Mail PO Box® but we do not accept mail from other carriers or couriers unless full Royal Mail postage has been paid. Also, any mail that is ‘Do Not Redirect’ will be returned to the sender. (Unless of course it is addressed to your PO Box®)

How to apply for a PO Box®

To apply for a PO Box®, you'll need to provide us with proof of address (originals, and less than three months old). This can be one of the following:

• Bank or building society statement (dated within the last 3 months)
• Phone bill for a landline only
• Utility bill (gas, electricity or water dated within the last 3 months)
• Council tax bill
• Royal Mail Account number for an existing service

You can download and print the application form. Just fill it in and post it, with your payment (Direct Debit/Cheque or Postal Order) and proof of ID, to:

PO Box Application Team
PO Box 740
Barnsley
S73 0ZJ

How long setting up a PO Box® takes

We generally need 10 working days notice so your PO Box® should be up and running in about two weeks.
If you need your PO Box® application to reach us sooner than 2-3 days, please use Special Delivery™ 9.00am or Special Delivery™ Next Day and send it to us at:

PO Box Application Team
PO Box 740
Barnsley
S73 0ZJ

Before we can set you up with a PO Box® your address must be valid on our PAF database. If you have any queries regarding your address you need to firstly email address.management@royalmail.com

Your privacy/Sensitive Boxes 

If you need your address to be completely private (for example, if you run a women’s refuge centre or if you’re a member of the security forces), you’ll need to write to us with a letter of endorsement from the police or a similar body.

PO Box Applications Team
PO Box 740
Barnsley
S73 0ZJ

For more information please contact 08457 950 950.

Disclosure of information

We reserve the right in all cases to give the address of the PO Box® holder, should it be requested.

The PO Box® address (and title) will be added to our national address database, the Postcode Address File (PAF®). Information on PAF® is used to produce a number of address management products available to purchase. Find out more about PAF® data.

General Terms and Conditions

Service availability/Suspension of the Service

The service will be unavailable on days when mail is not being delivered such as Sundays and public holidays. We reserve the right to suspend your PO Box® if postal services are suspended generally.

Withdrawal of the service

We reserve the right to withdraw the service immediately and without prior notice, for any reason, including breach of any of the service conditions, or where we believe the reputation of Royal Mail Group Ltd or Royal Mail could be brought into disrepute.

Misuse of the PO Box®

The box must not be used for any illegal or fraudulent purpose.

The Postal Services Act 2000

The PO Box service is provided under the relevant postal scheme made under The Postal Services Act 2000. We cannot advise you on the provisions of the Act. If you think you may breach them, we suggest you obtain independent legal advice.

Document Library

Download product information, from application forms to user guides.

All the documents are available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF Format. If you don't already have it you can download the free Acrobat Reader.