PO Box

Geography & Places abbreviation · Address

PO Box
Stands forPost office box
CategoriesGeography & Places

PO Box stands for Post office box, an address abbreviation.

Locked mailbox rented at a post office and used instead of a street address. In the US, private carriers such as UPS and FedEx cannot deliver to a plain PO Box unless the post office offers its street-addressing option.

Example: Send all correspondence to PO Box 1234, Boulder, CO 80306.

Usage notes

USPS prefers PO BOX without periods; P.O. Box is common in prose. With Street Addressing, box holders can use the post office's street address with the box number as a unit, which private carriers accept. Some large box sections have their own ZIP code.

More address abbreviations

  • Orch – Orchard
  • PH – Penthouse
  • Pkwy – Parkway
  • Pl – Place
  • Plz – Plaza
  • PMB – Private mailbox
  • Pr – Prairie
  • Rd – Road
  • Rdg – Ridge
  • Riv – River
  • Rm – Room
  • Rnch – Ranch

See all 118 address abbreviations →