If you’ve ever searched “PO Box Philadelphia”, "PO box near me”, or “where can I send packages to pick up”, you’re probably trying to solve one of these problems: missed deliveries, stolen packages, apartment lobby chaos, or couriers who won’t leave a box without a signature.
In Philadelphia, those concerns are very real, reported package theft incidents totaled 3,680 cases in 2024, and local reporting also cites an estimated $450 million in losses in the city in 2024. (Axios)
Let us take a look at what a PO box can (and can’t) do for you in Philly, and compare it with options like mailbox service, delivery lockers near me, parcel lockers near me, and a package receiving service in Philadelphia.
Enjoy your first month free and experience how effortless it can be to keep your packages safe, secure, and worry-free with package receiving services in Philadelphia by Stowfly.
Online shopping is booming everywhere, but porch piracy is a nationwide problem, USPS OIG estimates at least 58 million packages were stolen in 2024. (uspsoig.gov) In a dense city like Philadelphia, rowhomes, walk-ups, shared stoops, high foot traffic, packages left unattended are an easy target.
Even when theft trends fluctuate year to year, the day-to-day reality is: if you are not home when the driver arrives, your delivery is more likely to be delayed, returned, or misplaced.
That’s why people search for:
A USPS PO Box is a secure, numbered mailbox inside a post office where USPS holds your mail until you pick it up. (USPS )
USPS offers five standard PO Box sizes, though not every post office has every size. The official size dimensions include:
What that means in practice: most PO Boxes are great for letters and small parcels, but many ecommerce orders won’t fit inside the box itself.
Yes, sometimes.
Here is what you should know:
USPS deliveries to your PO Box
USPS can place items into your PO Box if they fit or hold them for pickup/parcel locker access at the post office. USPS also highlights that if you keep your signature on file, it can reduce waiting/line time for signed items. (USPS)
UPS, FedEx, and large Amazon packages
This is where many people get stuck. A traditional USPS PO Box address often doesn’t work for FedEx or UPS shipments, and large parcels may still require counter pickup. If your main issue is FedEx lost packages, UPS stolen packages, USPS missing packages, or Amazon missing packages, you’ll want to consider alternatives built for all carriers.
If your goal is reliable package receiving, these are the main options:
1) USPS PO Box (Secure Mail + Basic Privacy)
Choose this if you mainly need:
USPS lets you reserve and manage PO Boxes online, and you can also be waitlisted if a size/location isn’t available. (USPS)
2) Delivery Lockers near you (Fast, Self-Serve Pickup)
Amazon Locker is a popular option for preventing porch theft because your package goes into a secure locker and you pick it up with a code. Amazon explains how locker pickup works and positions it as a free, secure alternative to home delivery. (About Amazon)
If you’re specifically searching “delivery lockers near me” or “package lockers near me” in Philadelphia, you’ll likely find multiple locker/counter points across neighborhoods. (lockermap.com)
Downside: lockers can have size limits and pickup windows, and they don’t cover every retailer or carrier.
3) Package Receiving Service / Package Holding Service (All Carriers + Bigger Packages)
This is often the most practical solution if you want:
If your pain point is frequent exceptions, USPS missing packages, FedEx lost packages, or UPS stolen packages, then a dedicated package receiving service in Philadelphia can reduce the “delivered but not received” headache by ensuring parcels are accepted, stored, and handed over securely.
Philadelphia’s package theft problem is large enough to show up in city-level reporting: 3,680 reported incidents in 2024, and estimates tied to USPS OIG research cite ~$450 million in value lost in Philadelphia in 2024 (Axios), which helps explain why so many people have shifted toward lockers, holds, and package pickup points. (uspsoig.gov)
Pick a USPS PO Box if you want:
Pick delivery lockers / parcel lockers if you want:
Pick a package receiving service in Philadelphia if you want:
If you are looking for a reliable place for package pickup in Philadelphia. Stowfly is a package receiving service that accepts and holds your deliveries for pickup, so you can receive packages near you without worrying about porch pirates, missing packages, and lost packages in Philadelphia.
If you are tired of packages being marked “delivered” and then disappearing, sending important orders to a staffed Stowfly pickup location removes the biggest risk of leaving boxes unattended outside your home.
Stowfly has a large network of partner pickup points across major U.S. metro areas.
You simply pick a nearby Stowfly partner spot (usually a trusted local business) and use it as an alternate delivery address. When your order arrives, the location receives it, checks it in, and keeps it stored securely until you come by. Pickup is verified with a unique PIN that is generated for you, so the handoff is secure and straightforward.
Package receiving services are also built for real-life schedules: many locations have longer hours than typical offices, and you can choose a subscription option based on how often you order.
An added bonus: you can keep your home address off shipping labels, which helps with privacy and can make deliveries and returns smoother.
More details about Mailbox for rent in NYC, best options and how to choose the right one in this blog.