That red flag is actually a green flag for mail carriers ... but you still may want to think twice about using it
Here’s What It Means When a Red Flag Is Up on a Mailbox
Published on Nov. 20, 2024
Pop quiz: What’s been around for 110 years, virtually unchanged from its original form, is still immediately recognizable and isn’t a whoopee cushion? (Yes, people have been laughing at rubberized fart jokes for over a century.) The answer: The red flag on the side of the mailbox.
You may not have one anymore—most people don’t these days—but chances are, you’ve seen them around, especially if you live in certain suburban or rural areas. That said, if you don’t live in one of these areas and you’re under about 40 years old, you might scratch your head when you see a raised red flag on a mailbox.
What does this little red flag mean, and what does it signal to your mail carrier? Read on to find out and to learn why you might actually want to avoid using it.
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What does it mean when a red flag is up on a mailbox?
When the red mailbox flag is in the “up” position, it alerts your mail carrier that you have placed outgoing mail in the mailbox that they need to pick up. It’s a way of communicating quickly and easily with your mail carrier.
But wait—don’t they just look in your mailbox every time anyhow? What’s the point of the red flag? It’s true that your mail carrier will look for outgoing mail before they put your incoming mail into your mailbox, regardless of whether the red flag is up or not. But if they don’t have mail to deliver to you and your flag is down, then they just skip your house. That’s why the red flag is still useful, says Philip Bogenberger, a communications specialist for the U.S. Postal Service.
“Letter carriers can pick up mail as they make their deliveries if the flag is up,” he explains. “However, carriers are not required to check mailboxes for outgoing mail that do not have flags up if they do not have deliveries for that address that day.”
What’s the history of red flags on mailboxes?
Regardless of shape, height, mounting or position, if you have a single-home freestanding mailbox, you most likely have a red flag attached. This is because they were once a requirement if you wanted mail delivery. In 1901, the U.S. Postal Service instituted mandatory mailboxes with a specific list of design requirements—including “a flag or similar … signal when mail is inside.” This was for mail carrier safety and clarity; sometimes, it was hard to tell the chicken coop from the mailbox.
Consumers were confused about what would pass for a real mailbox. So in 1915, postal-service employee Roy Joroleman came up with the mailbox design we all love and recognize today: the metal tunnel with the arched top, rounded sides and flat front, back and bottom—and the red flag on the side. Joroleman did not patent his design, and very little has changed over the past century of mail delivery because it simply gets the job done.
Why might you want to think twice about using the red flag if your mailbox has one?
There’s one big reason why you might want to avoid using your red flag: thieves. Not only does the red flag alert your mail carrier that there’s outgoing mail, but it also alerts any bad actors in the area looking to steal checks, packages or personal information.
“This is one reason why customers are not required to use the flag, not to mention that not all mailboxes have one,” Bogenberger says. “The security and sanctity of the mail is of paramount importance for the Postal Service.”
How can you keep your mail safe if you’re worried?
Most of the time, your mail is reasonably safe when placed in your mailbox, but for added security you can invest in a locking mailbox (talk to your post office about how that works in your neighborhood) or rent a P.O. Box. Or if you’re mailing something valuable—like a birthday card with cash, a gift card or a package—it’s safer to take it to a secure large blue metal mailbox or directly to the post office.
If you do get something stolen from your mailbox, report it right away to the U.S. Postal Service. Bogenberger says that mail theft is a federal crime, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which is the law-enforcement arm of the Postal Service, investigates crimes involving the mail, including mail theft.
Sources:
- Philip Bogenberger, communications specialist for the U.S. Postal Service; email interview, Nov. 12, 2024
- U.S. Postal Service: “Mail Collection Boxes: A Brief History”
- 99% Invisible: “Open-Source Icon: Rural America’s Classic Metal Mailbox-with-Flag Design”
