USPS Hold Mail: Who Qualifies and What You Get
Learn how to keep your mail secure and prevent identity theft by pausing your deliveries while you are away from home.
The USPS Hold Mail service allows you to pause your mail deliveries so your items are kept in a secure location until you return.
Who it's for
This service is available to any resident who receives mail at their address. Whether you are going on a short trip or a longer vacation, anyone receiving mail at a residential address can use this service to manage their deliveries.
What you get
You receive secure storage for your mail while you are traveling or away from your home. Instead of having letters and packages left in an unattended mailbox, the service ensures your mail is held safely. This provides peace of mind while you are away, knowing your correspondence is being managed by the postal service rather than sitting outside your home.
What it costs you
This service is free to use. There are no fees required to request that your mail be held during your absence.
The catch to know
There is a limit on how long you can pause your service. You can only hold your mail for a maximum of 30 days. If you need your mail for a longer period, you will need to plan your requests around this monthly limit.
How to apply
- Visit the official USPS website to access the management tools.
- Enter your specific delivery address to confirm eligibility for your location.
- Select the specific dates you want your mail to be held.
- Follow the remaining prompts to schedule your hold.
- Arrange to pick up your collected mail or have your service resumed once you return home.