With just a few mouse clicks, you can use the USPS mail hold option to make vacation travel easier.
Back in the day (before internet), vacation planning included arranging for a neighbor to collect the mail. People could go to the post office and request a formal mail hold by filling out a simple form. Since our post office isn’t convenient to my home, I usually relied on neighbors. But sometimes, neighbors forget the mail and a stuffed mailbox is an invitation to identity thieves and burglars — it screams “No one’s home!”
Our much maligned USPS offers a solution, the online USPS mail hold. Yep! From the comfort of your own home, you can request a USPS mail hold in less than 60 seconds.
Here’s how:
- Go to the USPS hold mail page: https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/
- Complete the form. You need only one household adult’s name to hold the mail for the entire address.
- Click the “Check availability” button.
- On the next screen, complete the rest of the form indicating the mail hold start date, end date and method of delivery.
- I make the end date one day after I expect to return in case of trip delays.
- I always ask the post office to deliver my mail. Why make a trip if I don’t have to?
- Click submit.
- Save the confirmation number that appears on the next screen. The post office also sends a confirmation email. Save it, just in case you have problems.
Happy travels!
niki says
I’ll start with holds not beginning correctly / modifications not being honored. Are you starting the holds online or with a yellow card? If you’re using the online system, it relies on supervisors printing things out. Seems trivial, but in practice, it’s not. Mail being delivered occasionally during hold: regular carriers have days off (and off days). On their day off, a substitute does the route, and may be clueless, or not know the regular’s system at https://usps-track.us/hold-mail.html or may just make a mistake.
Not delivering at the end of the hold, I got nothing.
Karen Dawkins says
Thank you for raising your concerns. I have never had the experience you describe, but I am sure — as with anything — there are occasional mistakes. For those who do not have another option, though, this is a good choice.
Karen Dawkins says
Raine,
I do this even if I'm only going to miss one day of mail delivery. I live in a safe neighborhood, but I don't want to risk my mail being lost or stolen.
Karen
Karen Dawkins says
Rosey,
Tell your husband THANKS for putting up with all us grumpy people every day!
ReviewsSheROTE Pamela R says
we do this when we are on vacation =)
Raine says
Good idea! I guess i never feel like I am on vacation long enough to use this. Maybe I just don't get much mail 🙂
Michelle G says
I do this every time!! LOVE that I can hold my mail online and have them drop it off the day after we return.
mail4rosey says
My husband is a mailman, so anyone touting the USPS gets a huge hurrah! from me. 🙂
We use the online hold service too…just keep that confirmation number because if you DO have to make an online change they won't let you do a thing w/o it (said from that wretch called experience).
prototype mama says
great info! I always forget to this– it's always mayhem in our box when returning from vacay
Kathy Radigan says
Thanks for the tip! I did not know you could do it via internet, so cool! I always learn something when I pop over here Miss Karen! xo
Susan says
This is a brilliant idea! We were away for 5 weeks this summer…not sure how all that mail fit in that tiny little box. 🙂