How to Buy Commercial Mailboxes – Guide for New Buyers

In this post, our mailbox experts will explain how to buy commercial mailboxes plus explore some of the commercial mailbox types.

Commercial mailboxes are uniquely designed to accommodate centralized mail distribution systems in business, educational, and commercial settings.

If you are a developer, project manager, businessperson, or university campus director who has yet to make a commercial mailbox purchase, or if it has been a while, the following overview should help. This guide on how to buy commercial mailboxes will explore some of the most common commercial mailbox types and their applications.

Types of Commercial Mailboxes

• CBU Cluster Mailbox
• 4C Horizontal Mailbox
• 4B+ Replacement Mailbox
• Private Distribution Mailbox
• Pedestal Commercial Mailboxes
• Commercial Vertical Mailbox

CBU Commerical Cluster Mailboxes

Some of the most commonly utilized commercial mailboxes are CBU mailboxes or commercial cluster mailbox units. These commercial gang mailboxes are available as 4, 8, 12, 13, and 16 tenant door units and are usually installed on a pedestal. Pedestal cluster mailboxes can be installed in virtually any outdoor location, pending approval from your local postmaster. They are also available in four color finishes and come with either engraved tenant door identifications or decals. Contact The MailboxWorks if you still have questions about how to buy commercial mailboxes. We also offer professional installation services for your new CBU commercial mailboxes.

4C Horizontal Mailboxes

For indoor installations, versatile 4C mailboxes are the most popular, which are available in configurations that range from one tenant door up to twenty-nine tenant doors. Versatile 4C horizontal mailboxes may be recessed into the wall or surface mounted onto a wall and are available in eight color finishes. Integrated collection boxes, drop boxes, and trash and recycling bins may also be ordered as part of your new 4C commercial mailbox system.

UPDATE: 4C Pedestal Mailboxes have been discontinued as of November 30, 2020. The USPS Cluster Box Unit (CBU) Mailbox is now the standard for all multi-family mail delivery.

4B+ Replacement Mailboxes

Authorized by the United States Postal Service (USPS) for replacement use only (in minor renovation projects), 4B+ replacement mailboxes are available in various configurations. They can be ordered with as few as ten tenant doors or up to thirty-five tenant doors. Florence Manufacturing’s 4B+ commercial mailboxes come in a standard aluminum anodized finish. For an additional fee, they can also be upgraded to one of nine beautiful color finishes. Tenant doors can be specified to arrive with engraved numbering (matching the number of doors), custom numbering, or simply left blank. The 4B+ replacement mailboxes are designed for indoor use only unless located in a covered hallway where these commercial mailboxes can be protected from the elements.

Private Distribution Mailboxes

Here’s how to buy commercial mailboxes for private distribution only. Designed as a centralized mail delivery system for private mail distribution, these commercial mailboxes are not serviced by the United States Postal Service. Instead, the mail is distributed privately and the units can be ordered with a pre-installed private master lock on the master door. Private distribution mailboxes can also be ordered as either front loading or rear-loading horizontal mailbox units (4C horizontal mailboxes). These are ideal for private business installations or for use in universities, hospitals, and medical or military complexes that are not serviced by the USPS.

Pedestal Commercial Mailboxes

These are USPS-approved outdoor pedestal commercial cluster mailboxes, which are also known as 4C pedestal mailboxes and manufactured by Florence Manufacturing. They come in a wide range of sizes and configurations and can be ordered with up to 29 tenant doors and with or without a parcel locker or a collection dropbox. Pedestal commercial mailboxes can also be used for a variety of purposes including package deliveries, key drops, library book returns, and much more. They are also protected with corrosion-resistant weatherproofing to ensure years of reliable outdoor use.

Vertical Commercial Mailboxes

Vertical mailboxes are designed to be mounted indoors and can be inserted into the wall or surface mounted as required. Vertical commercial mailboxes are designed as replacement vertical mailboxes for multi-tenant complexes that are experiencing only minor renovations. For major renovations or new construction projects, USPS regulations dictate that 4C horizontal mailboxes must be used.

Summary

While this is an article on how to buy commercial mailboxes this is not an exhaustive list of available commercial mailboxes. The mailbox experts at The MailboxWorks hope that this commercial mailboxes guide will help you in your decision making.

If you need assistance ordering commercial mailboxes online, please contact our office toll-free at 1-866-717-4943 or send us an email.

Categorized in: Mailbox Tips & General Information