Can You Address a USPS Package to a post office Instead of a Physical Address?

The United States Postal Service (USPS) prides itself on delivering mail to virtually every address in the country. However, there are a variety of reasons why you might want to address a package to a post office instead of the recipient’s address, for example if you don’t know the recipient’s exact address or if they have experienced issues with porch piracy. Is this possible?

As a general rule, packages cannot be addressed to a post office. The USPS requires that all packages be addressed to the recipient’s physical address, P.O. box, or gopost delivery locker. However, there is an exception called General Delivery. It is a service for people without a permanent address who want to use a post office as their temporary delivery address.

If you want your package delivered to a post office, it must be addressed correctly. The shipping label must clearly state that the package is intended for General Delivery. The address format is as follows:

Recipient name
General Delivery
City State ZIP Code

Simply writing the address of the post office building without specifying “General Delivery” will not work because the package will be routed like normal mail and may not be held for pickup. It is also extremely important to get the recipient’s name correct because, to pick up a General Delivery package, the recipient must present a photo ID, and the name on the ID must exactly match the name on the package.

Please note that General Delivery has certain limitations. Most importantly, not all post offices accept General Delivery packages. Typically, only one office per city, often the main post office, will accept General Delivery packages, so you must address the package to that exact post office. There are also volume limitations. If a person receives an excessive amount of mail through General Delivery, the post office may refuse to accept any more items and require that they get a PO box instead.

Another available option is the Hold for Pickup service, which allows packages to be held at a designated post office for pickup by the specified addressee. This service is free, but you must pay postage and purchase the shipping label using select methods, such as USPS Click-N-Ship. When picking up the package, the recipient must present a valid photo ID.

The Hold for Pickup service should not be confused with the Hold Mail service. The latter holds all mail for all recipients at the specified address for 3 to 30 days. This service is intended primarily for recipients who are temporarily leaving town and don’t want packages sitting on their porch.

To submit a first-time USPS Hold Mail request, the recipient must sign in to their USPS.com account (or create one if they don’t have one), go to USPS Hold Mail, and follow the steps to verify their identity and current address. Once verification is successful, they can submit a request.

If an addressee has an active Hold Mail request, their packages will be delivered to the post office, even if they are addressed to their physical address. Recipients have ten days after the end of the Hold Mail request to pick up packages from the post office with a valid photo ID.

There is one more option for rerouting a package for pickup at a post office: Package Intercept. This paid service allows senders to reroute packages that have not yet been sent out for delivery. As with the Hold Mail service, Package Intercept must be requested through a USPS.com account. Available Package Intercept options include returning the package to the sender, holding it at the destination post office, or holding it at another post office. You can use Package Intercept instead of addressing a package to a post office, but it will cost extra.

In short, you cannot simply address a USPS package to a post office and expect them to hold it for pickup. However, there are several USPS services that allow packages to be held at post offices instead of being delivered to the recipient’s address. Depending on the situation, you can choose one of these services.