A mailbox, mail box, postbox, post hole, letter box or mail slot is a container for storing incoming and outgoing mail within a house or business premises. For both the incoming and outgoing purposes, a normal mailbox is used. This is the most common type of mailbox and is available in different designs, sizes and colours, with the major difference between them being that a traditional mailbox is intended to be mounted on the outside wall of the building whereas an electronic mailbox is permanently mounted on the computer monitor. In most cases, the conventional mailbox is made up of timber or vinyl. While timber is considered the best choice when it comes to durability and reliability, vinyl mailboxes can also look attractive. They come in a wide variety of colours, textures and are available in all price ranges.
Mailboxes are usually installed by the local municipality as part of the house owner's building permit. In most countries, the local authority is responsible for maintaining the roads and sidewalks, and if a mailbox is situated outside the home or any building, it needs to comply with local laws. It should not be placed on a public street, in parks or other public places. If in a case, it is permitted, it can be placed in front of the home but must have a sign indicating that it is for personal use only. For safety reasons, a mailbox placed on the road cannot have a gate. A mailbox may be fitted with a lock or a latch, which can be adjusted according to individual requirements. Some modern mailboxes have a security lock with a keypad, with the key to open the door being attached to the main power supply.
A mailbox can also be designed and manufactured as per the specifications of the client. This will save a lot of money as the costs involved with installing the mailbox can be quite high, especially in comparison to the costs involved in buying a new home, constructing a building or constructing an office building. The design and size of the mailbox are dependent on several factors such as the number of people who use the mailbox and the number of pieces that need to be stored, along with the size of the recipient's address. Also, the shape and colour of the mailbox play an important role. Plain wood or plain coloured plastic are normally used for normal mailboxes, whereas metal or wooden mailboxes are used for more sophisticated mailboxes.
