Ease & Aesthetics: Numbering Your Cluster Mailboxes

Commercial cluster mailboxes or CBU mailboxes (cluster box units) are one of the most common mail delivery solutions for business centers and strip malls.

Residential Cluster Mailboxes are cluster box units utilized for residential use as condo mailboxes or Apartment Mailboxes in many high density housing complexes.

As more and more developers, builders, and architects are specifying and utilizing CBU cluster mailboxes for residential use, best practices are emerging for long-term tenant retention and administration.  Over the years, this blog has focused on CBU installation, décor, and architectural styles with regard to CBU mailbox units.

Yet one of the most overlooked aspects of cluster mailboxes is perhaps one of the most important as it affects the efficient and safe use of the mailboxes on an every day basis:  the numbering of the CBU mailbox tenant doors for easy identification.

You can customize each CBU mailbox with specific numbers for each mailbox upon ordering or receive it with standard numbering from 1 to the maximum number of units. When placing an order, follow best practices for numbering cluster mailboxes to ensure clarity and ease of use.

In this article, you’ll discover three best practices that will guide you as you place your next order for a CBU mailbox:

First, one must consider a tenant’s safety.

When tenant safety is considered, tenant retention is preserved (and so are profits).  Every tenant enjoys living in a community where he or she feels safe and secure. One way to ensure tenant security is counter-intuitive to most complex administrators and designers; the tendency of administrators and designers is to match the CBU mailbox unit numbers to the condominium or apartment numbers in the complex.  And while it seems like common sense to a builder who wants to make it easy for everyone to remember which mailbox goes with which apartment or condo unit, unfortunately it also makes sense to common thieves who can use these numbers to quickly target victims in the complex.

What would be the easy fix? Avoid matching the CBU mailbox numbers to the tenant unit numbers in your complex.

Second, one must consider a tenant’s ease-of-use.

Think of how many times a week, one must share their address with a vendor or associates.  Since the numbers should not match their apartment, condo, or business space, it is crucial that one considers not only how easy it is to remember the number but how simple it is to mark to one’s address hundreds of times a year.   While no tenant will ever thank you for creating an easy numbering system for cluster mailboxes, certainly one wants to avoid having tenants curse you each time they write out their address.

For a simple and easy-to-remember numbering system, use the standard numbers provided on each CBU cluster mailbox. Alternatively, choose alphabetic symbols (A-Z) to ensure only one letter or number is needed.

For large complexes requiring more than one CBU mailbox, the numbers for each cluster mailbox unit can be the same while the building numbers can change to create a unique address.

Third, one must consider a tenant’s desire to live or work in a pleasing aesthetic.

In other words, as you place your order for CBU cluster mailboxes consider the numbering or identification of the tenant mailbox doors as a part of the design elements.  Just like the right door pulls and door knobs can create a unique space in your kitchen or office, so can the right placards or engravings on your complex’s CBU mailboxes.

Tenants check their mail up to six times a week, making the experience a regular part of their routine. Enhance this experience by carefully choosing not only the color of the cluster mailbox units but also fine accessories like numbering.

Cluster mailbox units come standard with silver placards for tenant door identification. To make your CBU cluster mailboxes unique or to enhance their sophistication, you can choose to have the tenant door identification engraved. Fill the engraving with either white or black epoxy for a polished look.

If you choose custom engraving, be sure to choose contrasting colors to your CBU cluster mailbox.  Black units should specify the white filled engravings for optimum visibility.  Conversely, the sandstone and postal grey cluster mailbox units should specify the black filled engravings for best visibility.

Optimize Your Mail System with Thoughtfully Numbered CBU Mailboxes

Choosing the right cluster mailbox is about more than just security. It’s about convenience, efficiency, and aesthetics. By following best practices for numbering, you enhance tenant safety, simplify mail retrieval, and create a polished, professional look for your property. Whether for a residential complex or a commercial space, the right CBU mailboxes make daily mail collection seamless while reinforcing a sense of order and security.

📬 Upgrade your mail delivery system today! Explore our selection of high-quality, USPS-approved cluster mailboxes, or consult our experts for customized solutions. Visit our website or call 1-866-717-4943 to find the perfect CBU mailbox for your community or business. 🚀

Learn more about How to Customize Your Cluster Box Unit and your Cluster Box Mailboxes Configuration Options

Categorized in: Mailbox Tips & General Information