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Make a House Shaped Mailbox – a Lowe’s Creative Idea

June is almost here (although it felt like summer this weekend) and more people are spending time outside sprucing up their yards and improving their curb appeal. As you drive down my street you are greeted by beautiful lawns, flowers, and {screech!}my peeling mailbox.

{Insert sad frown here.} My mom and I painted this mailbox shortly after we moved into the house. We had a lot of fun painting it together and I took all the necessary precautions of priming it and sealing it with polyurethane. But sadly we made the mistake of painting a few cute bumblebees on the top. Within a week of installing the mailbox I went to retrieve my mail only to find the bees had been pecked off the box. “What the…?”

I’m fairly certain a bird had just perched on top of my mailbox and was ready to partake in a buffet of bumblebees. After the paint had been chipped, it allowed water to seep underneath and slowly over the course of a few years we have the sad looking mess of a mailbox show here:

I wanted a unique mailbox that looked like a mini-me of our house. Plus, I wanted it to be tall enough to accomodate a priority mail box. So, I set about building my own custom mailbox and now you can too!

Now, before you jump up and ask if my custom mailbox is approved by the Postmaster General, the answer is yes. But, to be sure, I’d take your mailbox built (but not painted yet) to your mail distribution office and get your postmaster’s approval. Our postmaster told me that as long as it had a flag, an easily operated door, and it keeps the mail dry it should be approved.

There are actually more regulations on the mail box post than there is on the box, but I’ll go over that later this week.

Ready to get started?! Me too!

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Instructions :

Cut lumber to these dimensions (use a miter saw for the quickest and most accurate cuts):

2 – 1″ x 12″ x 19″

1 – 1″ x 8″ x 19″

2 – 1″ x 8″ x 21″

Rip the edge of the two 1″ x 12″ x 19″ boards at a 45˚ angle. (Best achieved on a table saw.)

Spread a thin line of Gorilla Glue onto the two side edges of the 1″ x 8″ x 19″ board (mailbox base).

Raise the base up (approximately 3/4″) by resting it on another board. Clamp the two sides to the base.

Pre-drill and drive a few deck screws through the sides of the 1″ x 12″ x 19″ sides and into the 1″ x 8″ base of the mailbox.

Dry fit the two 1″ x 8″ x 21″ boards together as show below:

This will create the roof. But, one side of the roof will be longer by approximately 3/4″ (the width of the board). Cut off the excess width from the lower board.

As you did with the sides, add a thin line of Gorilla glue. Pre-drill and fasten the roof pieces together using deck screws.

Before you attach the roof, lay the mailbox upright on its side and trace the front and back openings onto your leftover 1″ x 8″ boards.

Cut along the pencil marks (can be cut on the miter saw.)

Clamp both ends between the mailbox sides. Pre-drill and attach ONLY the back of the mailbox, using deck screws.

Attaching the Roof:

Center the roof onto the walls of the mailbox. Use a pencil lined up with the wall to make a mark onto the roof. Repeat on the opposite side and draw a line connecting the two marks. This will be your guide for inserting the screws.

Secure the roof to the walls by pre-drilling and driving three screws per side through the roof.
Handy hint: It is easier to start drilling at a 90˚ perpendicular angle from the roof and then tilt it straight down (plumb) with the walls.

Caulk all the seams of the mailbox. Fill any screw holes with wood putty.

After the putty dries sand down the entire mailbox.

Dry fit the front door.You will probably need to sand down the sides until it fits loosely. You may also need to countersink the hinges into the floor of the mailbox for a cleaner look.

Handy Hint: Add a cup hook to the outside of the door so you can pull the door back out.

Attach the door to the mailbox by installing the hinges.

 Installing the Flag:

Cut an inch and a half off the fat end of the wood shim.

Drill a hole through the shim and the paint scraper large enough to feed the bolt through.

Drill a pilot hole through the right side of the mailbox. Then attach the flag by threading the pieces onto the bolt in this order:

  1. washer
  2. paint scraper
  3. washer
  4. composite shim
  5. mailbox wall
  6. nut

Tighten the nut until the flag is secure but can be raised or lowered without extreme force.

Adding hardware:

Position the magnetic catch 1 3/4″ back from the edge of the roof. Screw in the mounting screws.

Attach the metal plate to the door where the catch will strike when the door is closed.

Center the drawer pull onto the front of the mailbox door. Predrill holes for the mounting screws. Install the pull.

And now your mailbox is ready for painting! Check back this week for the tutorial on painting the mailbox.

Isn’t it cute? A little miniature of our home.

And lookey here! A priority box fits perfectly inside!

I’m so thrilled with the new mailbox, it is a big improvement over “the flake”.

Disclosure: I have partnered with Lowe’s as a Lowe’s Creative Influencer. I was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to complete my project. The tutorial, photos and opinions expressed in this post are my own. I was not told what to write. #LowesCreator

/157 Comments/by
157 replies
  1. Carrie says:

    I made this and painted as a barn. I used 1/4” plywood to make shingles and for the bottom shingle used the scroll saw for a scalloped edge. Before attaching the shingles used polyurethane on both sides. After painted I used outdoor polyurethane everywhere to make it last as long as possible. I’m making another for myself, this time using cedar. Wish I could attach photos.

    Reply
  2. Duncan says:

    The instructions indicate two 1X8X8″ pine boards. I couldn’t figure out where they went until I realized they must be the from and back sections. In that case shouldn’t they be more like 18″?

    Reply
  3. Emily Hawthorne says:

    Such a cute house! I’m about to make a similar one for my house, complete with shingles on top. When you say the wood has started to rot where it was too close to the post, do you mean at the back or on the bottom piece that sits on the post? Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Mike says:

    I know this is an old post, but how has the mailbox held up to the outdoor elements being that it was made of pine? You didn’t mention much of the “finishing” process and I’m curious if I should make a mailbox out of pine or something else? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Brittany Bailey says:

      Hey Mike, the wood has started to rot where it was too close to the post. Two things I’d do different are to use pressure-treated wood and add shingles to the top. Then it would weather better. Thanks for asking.

      Reply
  5. Deirdre says:

    Hey B:

    I just sent you our photo permissions document so we can make sure we credit your site properly for the images. Just respond to the questions and email back. Sorry for all the comments!

    Deirdre @ houselogic

    Reply
  8. Janice says:

    I love it! I wish we had the drive-up mailboxes on our street as with the walking mailmen, I think a mini-me house mailbox would look odd actually on our house itself.

    Reply
  10. Suzanne B says:

    I think the lemonade stand is cute in the creative design magazine. I used an idea from the magazine a few years ago to organize my laundry closet. Yes, I only get a closet- not a beautifully organized room like you recently did.

    Reply
  12. Colleen says:

    I love your mailbox! We have a plain ol’ black one and I was just looking at Lowe’s to replace it with something snazzier. Yours is so unique and clever, I think I need to try making one like my house!

    Reply
  13. Suzanne B says:

    I just love the mailbox! I just spray painted mine- orb. I think that I need to paint my post white it looks great on yours, maybe tomorrow if it doesn’t rain. Would love the gift card to my favorite store. Have a great weekend, Brittany.

    Reply
  14. Alisa says:

    I love your mailbox! Our current mailbox is mounted on a metal ornamental windmill, and I would love to use your idea to make one that looks like an old red barn. I LOVE getting my Lowe’s magazine…I never throw them away. And of this moment, I am following you on Pinterest. LOL! Thanks for the great tutorial!

    Reply
  21. Destiny says:

    I love your mailbox. Unfortunately, I won’t be making as our mailbox attaches to the house & I don’t have the appropriate tools to make it anyway. 🙁

    Reply
  24. David Gossett says:

    I really like the incredible details that you posted. One of the best DIY articles I have read. I would love to win and fix things up for my hardworking and grateful wife 🙂

    [email protected]

    Reply
  32. Carolsue says:

    I love your mailbox. Makes me wish we HAD a mailbox! The mailman delivers mail to the door here, so all I have is an ugly black metal mailbox that hangs on the wall.
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

    Reply
  34. Anna says:

    I just tried something from Lowe’s Creative Ideas- I stenciled curtains using the stick-on felt- it was great (and cheap!)

    Reply
  35. Anna says:

    i love the mailbox! Sadly, we live on a rural route and that gorgeous mailbox would be too enticing for the kids that play mailbox baseball periodically! (hence the ugly green rubbermaid mailbox)

    Reply
  44. LaVera Fish says:

    Oh, and I am following you on Pinterest too. I love your boards! That is where I first saw the mailbox house. 🙂

    Reply
  45. LaVera Fish says:

    I love your mailbox! My husband and I are about to close on our very first home and I am really excited to try projects like this!

    Reply
  51. Rae says:

    We’d be most likely to make the wire trellis towers from Lowe’s website. They may just be the solution we were hunting for!

    Reply
  57. Natalie Bickham says:

    LOVE this mailbox! Unfortunately, our HOA has restrictions on mailboxes (as in, every single mailbox in my neightborhood is EXACTLY the same). Which is no fun. But they don’t have any restrictions on building a planter around the post!

    Reply
  63. gloria says:

    Luv your mailbox! I wouldn’t mind attempting this project so I would have the coolest mailbox on the block!

    Reply
  64. Sharon says:

    I LOVE your mailbox! It’s a great idea! Although we have a HUGE old metal mailbox that I’ve always liked…I’m now thinking I’d love one to match our old farmhouse!! Great job!!

    Reply
  77. Stephanie says:

    I love your mailbox! Sadly we have a clutterbox for our street so I can’t make one but someday I will make my own cute mailbox:)

    Reply
  79. Hannah says:

    Just love the mailbox. Can’t wait to see the tutorial on how you painted yours. I just signed up for Lowe’s Creative Ideas Magazine.

    Reply
  87. Stephanie says:

    I love your mailbox and I’m very inspired! We’re in the process of buying a house, and I was noticing how rough the mailbox there looks. I just might have my first project for the new house! And, of course, I could certainly use that $100 Lowe’s gift card to help with new house stuff.

    Reply
  88. seansmom says:

    LOVE you “new house”.. :>) Bet it brings a smile to your mailman’s face.
    I plan on making a nice, big mailbox one of these days, but for the time being, I found an extra, extra large regular one. Like you, I get packages and since our mailbox is a LOOOONNGG way down the drive from the house, I wanted something that would accommodate big boxes. This one will fit the square priority boxes. It’s very boring looking, but for the time being, it works.
    When I asked at the post office about boxes, all they said was, that as long as the box was at least 44 inches off the ground, I could pretty much do as I liked. Of course, we live in a smaller, rural area, so things tend to be a bit “relaxed” around here.

    Reply
  94. Kathi says:

    I absolutely adore your mailbox and would attempt to build one right away but, unfortunately, it would send my HOA into a tizzy. But maybe that would be a good thing…;o)

    I like the Lowe’s Creative Ideas bedside table recharging station and I subscribed to the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Magazine!

    I also follow you on Pinterest!

    Reply
  99. Cherie Harris says:

    I love your mailbox!!! My mailbox is pretty pathetic in comparison to your work of art. You can’t even tell what color my flag used to be…the hot Florida sun has faded it an icky shade of brown.

    Reply
  117. Melissa says:

    LOVE the mailbox! I came across this on pinterest and just HAD to check it out!!! I’m thinking of making one of my own but making it look like an old farm house with the use of some old weathered wood…was thinking of doing a mini board and batten!!

    Reply
  120. Belinda C. says:

    From what I saw on the great projects on Lowe’s Creative Ideas site, I would have to start with something for beginners…..so probably the Address for Success. =) But I would really love to make a mailbox like yours….with the help of my Step-Father, of course. =)

    Reply
  124. SheilaG @ Plum Doodles says:

    Very clever to use the putty knife for a flag! Your mailbox is beautiful, love all the painting details. You are causing me a little torment, though. Our hoa stifles all creativity in the outdoors. We have a certain mailbox and even a certain flag we can use. And yes, only a certain brand and color of paint for it! Should I risk yet another hoa letter…? I really want to move out into the country where my mailbox can be purple if I want. And my front door.

    Reply
  125. Kris says:

    I think your mail box is cute but, it would have to be redesigned for our house. Our mailbox is mounted to the front of the house.

    Reply
  137. Erin says:

    I love the critter keeper project idea from Lowes. My boys love to see things up close and personal that we can find, they just don’t always like touching them.

    Reply
  142. Jennifer S says:

    I LOVE the mailbox! I’ve seen some house mailboxes lately and I’m very jealous. Our current mailbox is in dire need of some help. Maybe I’ll show this tutorial to my hubby.

    Reply
  143. Lyndsay says:

    I love your mailbox! And, I also really like the door color you chose! I can’t wait to see the results. 🙂

    Reply

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