The 10 Best Secure Mailboxes
Special Honors
TedStuff RetroBox The wall-mountable TedStuff RetroBox has a mid-century modern aesthetic that certainly won't detract from your curb appeal, and it comes in more than 10 vibrant colors so you can easily match it to your home. It includes stainless steel address numbers in your choice of two styles and can hold a few days worth of mail, though it can't accommodate packages. tedstuff.net
Editor's Notes
November 24, 2020:
Whether you are worried about identity theft or somebody stealing your deliveries of online purchases, the mailboxes on this list can help. They come in a range of capacities and offer various levels of security depending on your needs.
Heavy-duty metal options with pry-resistant locks, such as the Mail Boss 7536 Latitude, Architectural 6900 Elephantrunk, Salsbury Type III Cluster Box, and DVault Parcel Protector are going to offer the most protection to their contents, though they generally come with a high price tag. That being said, the Mail Boss 7536 Latitude is one of our favorites specifically because it does a good job of balancing cost and security. It isn't overly expensive yet features a strong 12-disc wafer lock that is pry and pick resistant, and its sturdy shell can even stand up to attempts at leveraged entry. It takes the place of Mail Boss 7106, which we had previously recommended, because of its ability to be accessed from the rear.
If you are more concerned about capacity for parcels than getting the most entry-proof option, the Keter Delivery Box is a good choice. Its large opening accommodates big boxes, and it spacious interior allows it to hold a couple of them without overflowing. You can put as strong of a padlock as you want on it too, however, because it is made of resin, a determined thief could certainly find a way to break it open. The previously-mentioned Architectural 6900 Elephantrunk will eat into your budget more, but it offers a similar capacity combined with more peace of mind that the contents will stay safe until you retrieve them.
The Salsbury Victorian 4460 stands out as one of the most decorative options, with its horse-riding delivery man relief that pays homage to the Pony Express. However, it wouldn't be suitable for anyone who expects to receive parcels, as it only accommodates letters and magazines. It doesn't have an outgoing mail slot either, which can be a dealbreaker for some.
April 26, 2019:
Secure mailboxes come in all shapes and sizes, so I wanted to make sure the list was widely represented by as many versatile options as possible. To some people, mailboxes with extra-large capacities might be the most important value, while security is top priority to others. I did my best to make sure both ends of this spectrum were covered.
I maintained the Mail Boss Epoch for its 12-wafer disc lock, patented Fast-Trak mounting plate, and lifetime warranty. Also added the Peelco WSPB001 for the extra-wide deposit slot and built-in guard rail. Its soft-closing lid also helps prevent damage to envelopes and other packages. I realize the Salsbury Cluster Box is quite an expensive option, but I still felt it was a worthy addition because it provides a solution for those who may be running a large apartment complex. Furthermore, each of its individual compartments has a heavy-duty 5-pin cylinder cam lock, while the matching pedestal allows for a relatively straightforward installation. Maintained the Architectural Elephantrunk for its patented rotating drum design and adjustable leveling feet for stability. I thought the DVault Parcel Protector was a useful option, thanks to its slim design as well as the ability for its main access door to be assembled on any side of the unit. I also maintained the Salsbury Victorian for its elegant design, aluminum construction, and internal stop for its mail flap. Finally, the high-capacity design of the Step2 MailMaster is a perfect option if you take a lot of long vacations, since mail has a tendency to pile up quickly. Its stone column profile is also quite attractive.
A Box Guaranteed To Deliver
Of course, you can also provide a key to a neighbor, family member, or someone else who you trust to retrieve your mail should stuffing be a concern.
When you think about it, mail is a very personal subject. Letters delivered to your home may seem inconspicuous in terms of the envelopes they come in, but what those envelopes contain is often quite personal, detailed, and sensitive. People receive bills, checks, new credit cards, personal letters, greeting cards with money in them, and other materials displaying addresses and social security numbers. That said, to provide for the safe delivery of your packages without prying eyes getting in the way, a secure mailbox is the perfect answer.
A secure mailbox is a self-contained, locking receptacle into which your packages are dropped to prevent tampering until you retrieve them. Depending on the box's style, your geographical location, and personal preference, secure mailboxes can either be wall-mounted close to the front door or they can be installed at the curbside. Those mailboxes capable of accommodating both incoming and outgoing mail are referred to as full-service mailboxes. Full service mailboxes often feature a flag or marker to alert the postal carrier and recipient that mail has just been delivered or that it is ready for pickup. By contrast, limited-service boxes only receive incoming mail. Wall-mounted boxes are common in both urban and suburban areas, whereas curbside boxes are more common in rural environments.
Regardless of whether they're installed on a post at the curbside or attached to your house by the front door, locking mailboxes have several major advantages over simple mail slots. Firstly, mail slots can be messy. By messy, we mean that unless you've rigged some type of mail cage inside your home to catch mail drops from outside the front door or through your mail slot, you're going to come home to a pile of letters on the ground. This issue is exacerbated when you're away for an extended period of time while your mail piles up. A locking mailbox solves this problem by keeping all those letters organized and in one place.
Secondly, the locking box can store a large volume of mail in that one place over time. If you're planning to be away for several days, such a box accommodates the accumulation of several days' worth of envelopes without being stuffed. Of course, you can also provide a key to a neighbor, family member, or someone else who you trust to retrieve your mail should stuffing be a concern.
Thirdly, a locking mailbox helps to prevent both mail and identity theft. With a locking box, only you have access to its contents. It becomes increasingly difficult for a thief to break in when the box is made of heavy-gauge steel and requires a key to access. Depending on their design, some locking boxes even have separate built-in compartments for pickups and drop-offs.
Self-locking mailboxes have a single method of delivery through their main door that is set to be opened once by the mail carrier. Once the door has been shut, the box locks automatically. Upon mail retrieval by the homeowner, the box is then reset so that it can be opened again by the mail carrier the next day.
The Evolution Of Secure Mailboxes
Private mail slots and letterboxes didn't become common in Europe until the middle of the 19th century when the Royal Mail encouraged homeowners to install personal boxes. Prior to that point in time, people would drop off their mail through doors or walls at their local post office.
In places where the distance between homes and farms was significant, a mail carrier could deliver mail to a central location along a rural route.
Until 1916, United States postal carriers were forced to deliver mail to recipients in person. As an answer to this lack of efficiency, the United States Post Office Department ordered every household to have its own mailbox or letter slot. As an additional attempt to improve service and delivery times, it was proposed that both business and residential mailboxes be mounted curbside or on fence posts. This became most beneficial for mail customers in rural spots, especially following the introduction of rural free delivery service in 1896. In places where the distance between homes and farms was significant, a mail carrier could deliver mail to a central location along a rural route.
In 1915, post office employee Roy J. Joroleman designed a mailbox known as the Joroleman mailbox using light-gauge painted sheet steel with a domed and rectangular shape, a tunnel-shaped roof, latching door, and a rotating semaphore flag. Approved by the United States postal service, this box became synonymous with functional design and still remains a popular style of mailbox to this day.
By 2001, the United States post office approved designs for curbside locking mailboxes in order to help prevent a rise in both mail and identity theft. Most of these locking boxes were and still are produced from heavy-gauge steel.
Keeping Your Letters Safe
When investing in a locking mailbox, most important things to consider include the box's construction, strength, and capacity. If you take a lot of vacations, definitely have extra keys, which you can give to the neighbors or a trusted family to retrieve your mail while you're away.
Some curbside secure mailboxes are also tall enough to feature adjustable or removable shelving, allowing you to customize their internal capacity should you have more mail coming in than going out.
One must be sure an outdoor locking box is made from strong, tamper-resistant materials like steel or sturdy aluminum. Not only will heavy materials prevent theft, but they also withstand the elements, especially if your box is located curbside and will be contending with the rain and snow.