How to choose a letterbox: material, dimensions and position

For a detached house with a gate or low wall, a wall-mounted or through-the-wall letterbox in aluminium or stainless steel is the best choice, as it withstands rain without rusting. For an apartment block you need a multi-compartment letterbox bank, with name plates. Before choosing, look at the slot: in the collection the letter opening ranges from 170 to 320 mm wide, and only the widest let large envelopes or magazines in without bending them.

The types

• Wall-mounted or fence-mounted letterboxes: the most common, in painted galvanised sheet, aluminium, stainless steel or wrought iron, such as the aluminium letterbox or the stainless steel letterbox with opening roof.
• Through-the-wall letterboxes: fitted into the wall or the gate, with the mail compartment opening from the inside.
• Letterbox banks: several letterboxes side by side for apartment blocks, including modular ones, such as the letterbox banks.
• Letterboxes with intercom: the intercom is built into the body of the letterbox, as in the open AIR model.
• Magazine letterboxes: larger capacity, for newspapers and magazines, such as the Giove magazine letterboxes.
• Name plates, plaques and house numbers: name plates for intercoms and letterboxes (also in packs of 240 pieces, suited to those who use a lot of them), plaques and letters for house numbers.

How to choose by job

The features to look at

• Material: aluminium, stainless steel and brass stand up well outdoors; galvanised steel or powder-coated sheet metal are fine if the coating is not damaged; wrought iron looks decorative but needs more care; polycarbonate does not rust.
• Dimensions: from about 220 x 310 mm to over 490 x 520 mm for the large models, with depths from 70 to 250 mm. Choose according to the space and the type of mail.
• Letter opening: an unfolded A4 envelope measures 297 mm on its long side, so only the widest slots, close to 320 mm, will take it.
• Finish and colour: satin, polished, burnished, anodised, painted; black, grey, white, green, rust and others. Choose a finish that matches the gate and the façade.
• Lock: check that the letterbox locks with a key and that the lock is sturdy.

Common mistakes

• Slot too narrow: the mail gets stuck or has to be folded.
• Letterbox with no protection from rain: water gets in through the slot and ruins the mail. You need a roof or a sheltered position.
• Unsuitable wall plugs: the letterbox comes away from the wall. The fixing must be chosen to suit the type of wall.
• Mounting too high or too low: awkward for whoever collects the mail and for the postman.
• Forgetting the house number and name plate: without a clearly visible name and number the postman struggles to deliver.

Frequently asked questions

Which material lasts longest outdoors?

Aluminium and stainless steel, because they do not rust. Painted galvanised steel lasts as long as the paint stays intact.

How are the name plates filled in?

They are written or printed with the name and slipped into the name holder on the letterbox or intercom.

What height should it be mounted at?

At a comfortable height, with the slot sheltered from the rain.

Which slot should I choose for magazines?

A wide slot, close to 300 mm, or a magazine letterbox, which has a deeper compartment for newspapers and packets.

Through-the-wall or wall-mounted letterbox?

The through-the-wall type is fitted into the wall or the gate and you collect the mail from the inside, without leaving the house. The wall-mounted letterbox is the simplest solution if you do not want to cut into the fence.

The models are in the Letterboxes and House Numbers collection; for advice or a quotation, contact the AMES technicians.