Does UPS Deliver to PO Boxes? The Complete Guide for Savvy Shoppers

As a picky online shopper, you want the greatest flexibility and reliability when it comes to getting packages delivered. If you‘re wondering whether UPS will ship orders to your PO box, you‘ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about UPS deliveries to PO boxes, including some insider tips and lesser-known solutions.

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What Exactly Is a PO Box?

Before we dive into UPS specifics, let‘s clarify what a PO box is and how it differs from a regular mailbox. PO stands for "post office," and a PO box refers to a lockable mailbox located inside a post office station.

PO boxes have been a secure mail receiving solution for over a century. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) launched its PO box service in 1907 to provide a more efficient way for customers to get their mail.¹ Today, there are over 21 million PO boxes in use across the country.²

The key thing to note is that PO boxes are operated solely by USPS. They are considered federal property. This will be important when we look at UPS‘s delivery policies.

Why Do Some Shoppers Prefer a PO Box?

There are several reasons why some consumers opt to use a PO box over their home or business address:

Security: Packages are held in a secure post office facility until picked up, preventing theft or damage
Privacy: Keep your residential address confidential by using a PO box as your mailing address
Convenience: If you travel often or move frequently, a PO box provides a stable address to receive mail and packages
Business use: Many small businesses use a PO box to keep their personal and business mail separate and project a professional image

While a PO box isn‘t right for everyone, it‘s a useful tool for many discerning shoppers. But can you have your online orders from retailers like Amazon or eBay shipped via UPS to a PO box? Let‘s find out.

Can UPS Deliver to a PO Box?

In most cases, UPS cannot deliver packages to a USPS PO box. According to the UPS website, "UPS does not deliver to P.O. Boxes. To ensure timely delivery, always provide a valid street address."³

As a private shipping carrier, UPS only has access to deliver packages to actual street addresses, not to federal property like PO boxes. This is an important distinction shoppers should be aware of.

The Exception: UPS SurePost Deliveries

There is one exception where a UPS package could end up in your PO box through an arrangement called UPS SurePost. This is a hybrid shipping service where UPS transports the package to your local post office and then hands it off to USPS for the final delivery leg.⁴

With UPS SurePost, if your PO box is your primary mailing address on file, USPS will place the package in your box or hold it for pickup if it‘s too large. However, this only happens if the retailer or sender specifically chooses UPS SurePost, so it‘s not a consistent solution.

Why Won‘t UPS Deliver to a PO Box?

You might be wondering why UPS can‘t just leave packages at the post office for you like USPS does. There are a couple main reasons:

Federal property restrictions: PO boxes are owned and operated by USPS, a federal agency. As a private company, UPS doesn‘t have the authority to access PO boxes.
Logistical challenges: Delivering a high volume of packages to PO boxes would require a complex and costly partnership between UPS and USPS. The infrastructure and systems aren‘t in place to make this feasible.

So while it may seem inconvenient that you can‘t typically have UPS orders shipped to your PO box, it boils down to legal and operational constraints. However, there are still some handy workarounds for receiving UPS deliveries at a PO box.

The Street Addressing Hack for PO Boxes

One clever solution to receive UPS packages at a PO box is to use USPS‘s premium "Street Addressing" service. With street addressing, you essentially convert your PO box number into a "suite number" at your post office‘s physical address.

Here‘s how to set it up:

Verify eligibility: Contact your local post office to see if they offer Street Addressing service for your PO box. Not all locations do, and there may be a small fee.
Get your new address: If eligible, you‘ll be assigned an alternative address that uses your post office‘s street address plus your PO box number as a "unit" or "suite" number. It will look something like this:

John Smith
123 Main Street Unit 4321
Anytown, CA 12345
Use it for UPS deliveries: Provide this Street Addressing version of your PO box address when placing orders that will ship via UPS. The package will be accepted by USPS and placed in your PO box for pickup.

Street Addressing can be a game-changer for frequent UPS shoppers. Just keep in mind that it may not be offered at all locations and there could be some restrictions on package size. Be sure to get all the details from your post office before signing up.

Inside Scoop: UPS Deliveries to Military PO Boxes

For our readers with loved ones serving overseas, there‘s good news: UPS does deliver to military PO boxes. The UPS website states they ship to APO (Air/Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office), and DPO (Diplomatic Post Office) addresses.⁵

Military PO boxes operate a bit differently than domestic ones. They‘re still run by USPS but are located on U.S. military bases abroad. To send a UPS package to a military PO box, you‘ll need the recipient‘s full name, unit, and box number, plus a special city-state code based on their branch and location:

APO: Used by Army and Air Force. City is APO, state is AE (europe), AP (pacific), or AA (americas other than Canada).
FPO: Used by Navy and Marines. City is FPO, state is AE, AP, or AA.
DPO: Used by U.S. diplomats and embassy staff. City is DPO, state is AE.

Here‘s an example of a military PO box address:
CPT John Smith
123 Main Street Unit 1234
FPO AE 12345

Unlike regular PO boxes, UPS can deliver directly to these addresses since USPS operates the mailroom on base as an extension of the U.S. mail system. Just be sure to include a valid phone number and use sturdy packaging since these parcels have a longer journey.

PO Box Delivery Policies of Major Carriers

Wondering how other national carriers handle PO box deliveries? Here‘s a quick breakdown:

Carrier	PO Box Policy	Street Addressing Allowed	Military APO/FPO
USPS	Delivers to PO boxes	N/A	Yes
UPS	No PO box delivery	Yes	Yes
FedEx	No PO box delivery	Yes	Yes
DHL	No PO box delivery	Yes (only for DHL Express)	Yes
Amazon	Delivers via USPS so allows PO boxes	N/A	Yes

As you can see, USPS is the only carrier that delivers to PO boxes by default. However, UPS, FedEx, and DHL all offer a Street Addressing option, and all the major carriers support military PO boxes.

Which Retailers Ship to PO Boxes?

When shopping online, you‘ll want to know which major retailers will ship to your PO box. Here are some popular stores and their PO box policies:

Amazon: Ships to PO boxes via USPS, but not all items are eligible. Look for "Ships to Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories, and P.O. Boxes" on the product page.
eBay: Depends on the individual seller‘s shipping methods and settings. Check the listing for any restrictions on PO boxes.
Walmart: Ships to PO boxes via USPS, but not all items are eligible. Verify your address is listed as a PO box in your account settings.
Target: Does not ship to PO boxes currently.
Best Buy: Ships to PO boxes via USPS for most items. Will be noted on the product page if PO box delivery isn‘t available.

If a retailer uses UPS or FedEx for shipments, you can usually still have your order delivered to your PO box using the Street Addressing method we covered earlier. Just be sure to double-check with your post office first.

Alternative Solutions for UPS Deliveries

If you don‘t have access to Street Addressing or just prefer to keep your PO box separate, there are a couple other convenient options for receiving UPS packages:

The UPS Store Mailboxes: The UPS Store offers private mailbox rentals that can accept packages from all carriers. Prices vary by location but start around $20/month. This is a good choice if you need a non-USPS mailing address.
UPS Access Point Lockers: These secure lockers are located at select retailers, apartment buildings, and UPS facilities. You can have packages sent directly to the locker for pickup at your convenience. Fees may apply for storage after the first 7 days.

Both of these services allow you to get UPS deliveries without needing a PO box or home address. They‘re worth considering if you frequently shop with retailers that only use UPS shipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions about UPS and PO boxes? We‘ve got answers to some common queries:

Can I return a UPS package from my PO box?

In most cases, no. Since UPS doesn‘t pick up from USPS PO boxes, you‘ll need to use a different return method. Some options are:

Return via USPS if the retailer provides a prepaid USPS return label
Drop off the package at a The UPS Store, UPS Access Point, or UPS Customer Center
Schedule a UPS pickup from your home or office address

Does UPS deliver to PO boxes on Saturdays?

No, UPS does not deliver to PO boxes at all unless you use the Street Addressing workaround. In that case, your package would be delivered to the post office by UPS but held for pickup until USPS‘s next business day (typically Monday).

Can I use a PO box for UPS My Choice?

Yes, you can add your PO box address to your UPS My Choice profile using the Street Addressing format. This will allow you to track and manage any deliveries sent to your PO box via UPS.

Is a PO box or The UPS Store mailbox better?

It depends on your needs and budget. A PO box is more affordable and offers some added security, but it can only receive USPS mail and packages without Street Addressing. A mailbox at The UPS Store can receive packages from all carriers and offers extra services like package notification and mail forwarding, but it costs more. Consider how often you plan to receive UPS shipments and if the added features are worth the price.

The Bottom Line

While UPS doesn‘t deliver to PO boxes by default, savvy shoppers have several options to get around this restriction. The easiest solution is to sign up for Street Addressing if your post office offers it – this allows UPS and other carriers to deliver right to your PO box.

If Street Addressing isn‘t available or you want a separate address for package deliveries, consider using a mailbox at The UPS Store or a secure locker like a UPS Access Point. And if you‘re sending a care package to a military loved one, rest assured that UPS does ship to APO, FPO, and DPO addresses.

At the end of the day, the right shipping solution depends on your unique needs and preferences as a consumer. We hope this guide has armed you with the knowledge to make an informed choice and get your UPS orders delivered seamlessly. Happy shopping!