A mailbox and house numbers that are easy to find
Quick answer
House numbers should be large, high contrast and visible from the street, especially on hillside homes set back from the curb. Mailbox posts need a solid footing and should follow postal guidelines for height and placement.
On Monterey Park's hills, many homes sit above or below the street, which can make them hard to find. Clear numbers help visitors, delivery drivers and emergency responders.
House numbers
Choose numbers at least 4 inches tall in a color that contrasts with the wall. Place them where headlights or a porch light hit them.
Mounting on stucco
We use masonry anchors and seal holes against water.
Mailbox posts
Posts need a solid footing, often set in concrete. The postal service has guidelines for height and distance from the curb.
Before digging, call 811 to have underground utilities marked.
Wall-mounted mailboxes
Many hillside homes use wall-mounted boxes near the door.
Numbers at night
Reflective or backlit house numbers are easiest to see at night. Solar-lit numbers are an easy upgrade.
Curb painting
Painted curb numbers help, but they fade. Wall-mounted numbers last longer.
Locking mailboxes
Locking mailboxes protect against mail theft and are popular.
Style
Modern house numbers in black or brushed metal suit mid-century homes.
Mailbox height and placement
The Postal Service sets guidelines for curbside mailboxes. The bottom of the box or the mail slot should be about 41 to 45 inches above the road surface, and the front of the box should sit about 6 to 8 inches back from the curb. Check with your local post office before moving a box, since carriers need to reach it from the vehicle. Wall-mounted boxes and mail slots on the house have their own standards.
Choosing a mailbox
Look for a USPS-approved box. Locking boxes help reduce mail theft. Larger boxes and parcel boxes help with package deliveries.
On hillside streets where the box may be on a slope or retaining wall, wall-mounted or post-mounted boxes are common. A post should be sturdy but not so rigid that it causes serious damage if a car hits it.
Setting a post
Our steps:
- Call 811 to have underground utilities marked before digging
- Dig a hole about two feet deep
- Set the post and check plumb on two sides
- Pack gravel and soil, or set in concrete
- Mount the box at the right height
On slopes, the post may need a longer embedment. If the ground is rocky or close to a retaining wall, a surface-mounted base bolted to concrete may be easier.
House numbers
Numbers should be visible from the street, day and night. Many cities, including those around the San Gabriel Valley, follow fire code standards calling for numbers at least four inches tall, contrasting with the background. Lighted or reflective numbers help emergency responders, especially on hillside streets where homes sit above or below the road.
Place numbers near the front door or on a mailbox, wall or post visible from the street.
Mounting on stucco and siding
Floating numbers with standoffs need solid anchors. On stucco, we drill carefully and use sealant so water does not get behind the finish. For wood siding, numbers fasten into solid wood.
Combine with lighting
A porch light near the numbers makes them visible at night. For door hardware upgrades at the same time, see replacing door locks and knobs.
Mail theft
Mail theft is a concern in many neighborhoods. A locking mailbox with a slot sized to accept letters but not let hands reach in makes it harder. Parcel lockers or secure delivery boxes help with packages.
Wall-mounted locking boxes near the front door are an option where curbside delivery is not used. Check with the post office that a locking box style is approved for your route. Collect mail promptly and use the Postal Service hold service when traveling.
Replacing an old post
Wood posts rot at the ground line. A post that leans or wobbles can usually be pulled and replaced with pressure-treated wood, a metal post, or a decorative post sleeve. Removing old concrete footings takes some digging. Once out, set the new post in a gravel base for drainage.
Matching your home
Mailbox, house numbers, porch light and door hardware look best when they work together. Simple modern numbers and a clean box suit mid-century homes. Ornate styles suit Spanish and Mediterranean homes. Finishes like black, bronze and brushed metal hold up well outdoors.
Street addresses on hillside lots
Some hillside homes sit well above or below the street, with long driveways or stairs. Numbers on the house itself may not be visible from the road. A number sign at the driveway entrance, on the mailbox post or on a lit column helps delivery drivers and emergency crews.
Reflective numbers on both sides of the mailbox are a simple fix. If several homes share a driveway, a sign with all the numbers and arrows helps.
Working with HOAs
Some neighborhoods have rules about mailbox style, post color and number placement. Check before buying.
Lighting the numbers
Solar-lit address plaques charge during the day and glow at night without wiring. Hardwired lights near the numbers, such as a porch light on a dusk-to-dawn sensor, are more reliable year round. Keep shrubs and trees trimmed so they do not cover the numbers as they grow.
Wall-mount boxes
A wall-mounted box by the door should hang where the carrier can reach it easily, without stepping over plants or steps. Fasten it into framing or with sealed anchors in stucco.
What our install involves
We install numbers, mailboxes and posts, level and secure them. See mailbox and house numbers.
After mailbox installs near Atlantic Boulevard, we stop at NBC Seafood for lunch.
Want us to handle it?
Call or text (626) 684-3505, Mon–Sat, 8:30 AM–7 PM. Send a photo and we will give you an upfront quote.
Call or text (626) 684-3505