PO Boxes and Special Addresses: What to Use So Next Day Checks Stay on Track

Reality check.

If you need checks fast, the address matters as much as the shipping speed—especially for fast checks on a tight deadline.

PO boxes and special delivery setups are where FedEx shipments can go sideways.

This guide shows what to use instead.

Why some addresses cause delivery problems

FedEx delivery is built for physical handoff.

A PO box lives inside a post office.
A mailroom may require a business name.
A mailbox center may require a special box number format.

Bottom line.
If a driver cannot reach a real door, or the building cannot route it, your delivery can stall.

The simplest fix: use a street address or pick it up

If you have a clean business street address, use it.

If you do not, pickup can be the cleanest option.

FedEx explains how pickup works, including what you need to bring and how long they hold a package, on its page about Hold at Location.

When pickup is your best move

Use pickup if any of these are true:

• Your building has unpredictable receiving hours
• You are sending to a shared lobby or a construction site
• You only have a PO box, not a street address

PO boxes: what works, what usually does not

With FedEx express services, a PO box is usually a dead end because it is not a physical delivery point a courier can access.

Some USPS Post Offices offer a feature called Street Addressing for certain Premium PO Box customers, which provides a street style format for that PO Box, as described by USPS PostalPro in its overview of the Street Addressing option.

What this means for a rush check order shipped by FedEx:

• Best case: use a real business street address with a suite or unit
• If you only have a PO box: Street Addressing may be available in some areas, but it is not universal
• When timing matters most: a FedEx pickup option is usually the simplest workaround

Mailbox centers and PMB addresses

If you ship to a mailbox rental location, the address format matters.

USPS Publication 28 explains that mail sent to a commercial mail receiving agency must include either the PMB identifier or the # sign followed by the mailbox number, on its section about Private Mailbox Addresses.

Quick rule.
If the address looks like a street address but also has a box number, make sure the box number is labeled correctly.

Military addresses APO, FPO, DPO

Military style addresses are not standard street deliveries.

USPS explains that APO, FPO, and DPO addresses are part of its Military and Diplomatic Mail program on its page about Military and Diplomatic Mail.

If your shipment is FedEx only, the safer move is a stateside business street address or pickup.

Special delivery setups that can trip you up

These are not bad addresses.
They are just easy to mess up.

Watch out for:

• Large office buildings with shared receiving
• Suites that are missing or buried in a note
• Buildings that require a business name to route deliveries

Keep it boring:
Business name, recipient, street, suite, city, state, ZIP, phone.

How this protects next day check delivery

Fast delivery needs two things.

Speed on the carrier side.
And zero confusion on the address side.

ChecksNextDay.com spells out timing expectations and late window options in its FAQ. (This page does not list carrier exceptions for PO boxes, so the address advice above stays FedEx-first.)

Quick decision table

FAQ

1) Why do PO boxes cause trouble for fast delivery?

A PO box is not a physical door a driver can deliver to. If your shipment needs a real handoff, use a street address or pickup so the delivery path is simple.

2) What should I use if I only have a PO box?

Start with a street address if you have one. If you do not, pickup can keep the shipment moving, and Street Addressing may help in some areas if your post office supports it.

3) How do I format a mailbox center address?

Make sure the box number is labeled correctly, not hidden or written like a suite when it is not. Use PMB or the # sign plus the number, then keep the rest of the address clean.

4) Are military addresses a good fit for FedEx only shipping?

Not usually. APO, FPO, and DPO are part of the USPS military mail system, so FedEx only shipments are safer when they go to a stateside street address or pickup.

5) How do I keep next day checks on schedule if I am ordering late?

Follow the site’s timing rules: place your order before the 2:00pm ET cutoff when you can, and use the after-hours/late-window option (upcharge) on certain days if you miss it. Avoid anything that pauses processing—like proof or logo approvals—and remember some customizations can limit overnight speed.