Most Vsons post-mounted mailbox installations take 45–60 minutes. You need a post hole, quick-setting concrete, and basic tools. All mounting hardware ships with your mailbox.

This guide covers post-mounted (curbside) installation. If you have a wall-mounted model, see the wall-mounted installation instructions.

What You'll Need

Tools

Post hole digger or power auger
4-foot level
Drill with bits
Wrench or socket set
Measuring tape
Shovel

Materials

Vsons post (aluminum or stainless steel, sold separately)
50 lb bag of quick-setting concrete mix
Gravel for drainage (recommended — a few shovelfuls)
All mailbox mounting hardware (included)

Time: 45–60 minutes | Difficulty: Beginner | Material cost: ~$30–50 USD

Step 1: Choose the Location

Position your mailbox where your mail carrier can reach it from the road without leaving their vehicle. USPS requires:

6–8 inches from the face of the curb (or edge of the road if no curb)
Bottom of mailbox 41–45 inches from the ground
Mailbox face parallel to the road
Door opening toward oncoming traffic

Check with your local post office or municipality before digging — HOA rules or local bylaws may specify exact placement. See our full USPS mailbox requirements guide if you're unsure.

Step 2: Dig the Post Hole

The hole needs to go below your local frost line to prevent heaving in winter. Standard specs:

Diameter: 8–10 inches
Depth: 24–30 inches in mild climates; 36 inches in freeze-thaw zones

Add 2–3 inches of gravel at the bottom before setting the post. This keeps water draining away from the base and extends the life of the post significantly — especially important for aluminum posts in wet climates.

Don't know your frost line? Search "[your city] frost depth" — it takes 30 seconds and saves you a re-pour later.

Step 3: Set the Post

Drop the post into the hole and level it before any concrete goes in. This is the most important step — you can't fix a leaning post after the concrete cures.

Set the post in the hole
Hold a level against one side — adjust until it reads plumb
Rotate 90° and level the adjacent side
Brace the post with a stake or have someone hold it steady

Vsons aluminum and stainless posts are pre-drilled for the mailbox mounting bracket. Confirm the mounting holes face the road before you pour.

Step 4: Pour the Concrete

Mix concrete per package instructions — or pour dry mix directly into the hole and add water (works fine for quick-set products)
Fill to 2 inches below ground level — not flush with the surface
Check your level again as you pour and make small corrections
Run a stick through the wet concrete to release air pockets
Slope the top surface away from the post so water sheds outward

Curing time: Wait 24–48 hours before mounting the mailbox. Quick-set concrete reaches working strength in 20–40 minutes but needs a full cure before load is applied.

Step 5: Mount the Mailbox

Once the concrete is cured:

Measure up from the ground and mark 41–45 inches on the post — this is where the bottom of the mailbox will sit
Align the mounting bracket with your mark
Pre-drill pilot holes if the post material requires it (stainless posts do)
Attach the mailbox using the included hardware
Tighten firmly — snug, not stripped

Before you're done, confirm: mailbox faces the road, door opens away from traffic, and the unit is level across the top.

Step 6: Final Check

Mailbox is level
Height is 41–45 inches from ground to mailbox bottom
Door opens and closes cleanly
If you have a locking model: test both keys before you go inside
Flag raises, lowers, and stays in position
All hardware is tight
Post is vertical — check one more time

Maintenance

Vsons mailboxes are aluminum or stainless steel — they don't rot, rust, or require sealing. Annual maintenance is minimal:

Rinse with water once or twice a year to clear salt or debris
Lubricate door hinges and lock cylinder with a dry lubricant (WD-40 or similar) annually
Check that mounting screws haven't loosened — hand-tighten if needed
Inspect the concrete base for cracks after a hard winter

If you used a wooden post from a hardware store rather than a Vsons post, seal it every 2–3 years and inspect annually for rot at the base.

Troubleshooting

Post is leaning

Concrete wasn't fully cured before load was applied, or the hole wasn't deep enough for your frost line. Re-set: dig out the concrete, dig deeper, and re-pour. Let it cure the full 48 hours this time.

Mailbox door won't close properly

The mounting is off-level. Loosen the mounting hardware slightly, level the mailbox, and re-tighten.

Mail carrier skipped the box

Most likely a placement issue — too far from the curb, wrong height, or door opening the wrong direction. Review the USPS requirements in Step 1 and re-position if needed. Your local post office can confirm exact specs for your route.

Post wobbles after concrete cure

The hole wasn't wide enough to give the concrete enough grip. Add a second pour around the base, extending the diameter, and allow a full cure.

Ready to Install?

If you don't have your mailbox yet, browse our full collection of modern post-mounted mailboxes — all ship with mounting hardware and match Vsons aluminum and stainless posts.

Questions? Email support@vsons.com — we respond next business day.

How to Install a Post-Mounted Mailbox