A parcel that does not fit through the letterbox often ends up with the neighbours or at a pickup point. With a parcel mailbox or parcel locker you receive deliveries yourself, even when you are not at home. We set out the differences and show where the parcel mailboxes fit.
A parcel mailbox is a mailbox with an extra, more spacious compartment that also fits smaller parcels. It stands in the same place as a regular mailbox, on the facade or by the driveway, and keeps post and parcels together in one spot. Parcel mailboxes work with a separate parcel compartment next to the regular letter compartment, so that letters and parcels do not get in each other's way.
A parcel locker is a separate, often larger housing that serves only parcels. Sometimes it is a separate box next to the door, sometimes a smart locker with a code or app. Such a locker offers more volume, but also takes up more space and stands apart from your mailbox. Anyone who wants post and parcels at one tidy point will sooner choose a parcel mailbox. Anyone who mainly expects larger or multiple parcels will sooner look at a locker.
Important to know: no solution is completely theft-proof or guaranteed waterproof. A parcel mailbox with a sturdy housing, a well-sealing lid and a solid lock does raise the threshold and keeps parcels out of sight. So look at material, closure and placement, not just at the promise on the box.
If you regularly receive parcels that just do not fit through the mailbox, then a parcel mailbox with a parcel compartment is the logical choice. Parcel mailboxes are made of aluminium and available in more than 2000 RAL colours, so that the whole blends in with the facade or the joinery. Models with a combination lock allow your delivery person to open and close the parcel compartment, while your own compartment remains locked.
If you often have large parcels, multiple deliveries per week or want a separate, lockable box for parcels only, then a parcel locker offers more space. In that case, pay attention to where it stands: with a locker on the street side, visibility of the insertion point is more important, while a locker closer to the door is less noticeable. In both cases the same applies: a fixed, level installation and a spot that remains accessible to the delivery person make the difference in daily use.
Still in doubt? See how such a parcel compartment works in practice, from insertion to emptying, and how a smart mailbox with a code makes delivery easier. That way you can immediately see whether your parcels fit inside.
A parcel mailbox or parcel locker stands out, so the finish counts. Choose a sleek, clean design and powder-coated aluminium, which is resistant to weather and wind and requires little maintenance. Choose a colour that returns in the facade, the front door or the joinery, or go for a calm contrast instead. Because the mailboxes are available in many RAL colours, you match the whole to the architecture instead of making it a separate element.
For the placement, it is best to take into account the height at which the delivery person works and the free space around the parcel compartment. A parcel must be able to go in and out of the compartment smoothly, even with a box that just fits. For exact dimensions and regulations, for example around installation on the public road, you should inquire with bpost or with a recognised sales point. They know the rules that apply to your situation.
A parcel mailbox therefore does not simply replace your mailbox: it adds a function. Anyone who wants to bundle post and parcels in one place chooses a model with a parcel compartment. Anyone who mainly needs volume looks at a locker. In both cases the same applies: the better the solution fits your facade and your deliveries, the fewer parcels end up beside it.
Further reading: How does it work? · Parcel mailbox · Smart mailbox
A parcel mailbox is a letterbox with an extra parcel compartment, so that post and parcels come together in one place. A parcel locker is a separate, often larger box that is only for parcels. The parcel mailboxes combine a regular letter compartment with a separate parcel compartment, in aluminium and many RAL colours.
Frequently asked questions
Go through the selection guide or find a recognised sales point in your area.