Across the world, the post and parcel industry, via UK Postbox services and throughout the resources on this website, you may see both 'mail' and 'post' referred to.
'Mail' and 'post' essentially mean the same thing - letters, parcels, and general delivery services, but the key difference is in how they’re used regionally and contextually.
And why does UK Postbox refer to both?
Firstly, let's look at the terminology in our key regions.
In the UK, 'post' is the more commonly used word in everyday conversation. For example, people say things like 'The post has arrived' or 'I’m going to the post office.' It feels natural and familiar.
'Mail' is still used in the UK but more often in formal, commercial, or technical settings: like 'Royal Mail', 'junk mail', or 'mail forwarding'. It’s often used in business contexts such as hybrid mail services or digital mailrooms.
In the US, 'mail' is the default term. Americans say 'I’m mailing a letter' or 'Did the mail come today?' The word 'post' is mostly used in specific terms like 'post office', 'postal service' or 'postage'.
Digitally, 'mail' has extended into 'email' short for electronic mail. 'Post' has developed a different digital meaning, like publishing content online (social media posts, blog posts, etc.). These two are not interchangeable.
From a branding or business perspective, especially in the UK:
• Use 'post' when speaking to general customers or in casual contexts.
• Use 'mail' in professional, technical, or product-related language for example, 'mail scanning', 'mail forwarding', or 'online mail management'.
For a business like UK Postbox, both terms are valid, but 'mail' often makes more sense when describing digital services. 'Post' works well in customer-facing content to keep things natural and relatable.
In Australia, the terms 'mail' and 'post' are both used, but there are some common conventions:
Examples:
Mailbox - A box where mail is received or collected
Mail carrier/mailman - The worker who delivers the mail
Snail mail - Physical mail sent through the postal system
Mail service - An organisation that handles delivery
Mailroom - Traditional mailrooms where businesses physically manage their post.
Post Office - The government or national delivery service location
Postman/postwoman - The person who delivers post
Posting a letter - Sending a letter through the postal service
Postal service - The broader mail delivery system
As we have a global customer base and provide a range of services, we use both interchangeably, across the below examples:
This is the umbrella term for our mail related services, when managing letters and parcels for individuals, businesses and organisations. This covers everything except our addresses (virtual addresses, PO Box, returns addresses) and our specialist solutions (digital mailroom, virtual office, software integrations).
A photo or scan will then be taken of your envelope or parcel before being uploaded digitally to your account. You can then log in and view what’s arrived and take additional actions such as asking for a letter to be opened and scanned.
Forward your letters to any location worldwide using our platform. Select a destination, choose a postage option, and we’ll handle the rest. Learn more about our letter forwarding service.
Forward parcels from our facility to your home address or anywhere else across the world. Combine multiple parcels, store them free for 30 days, and manage everything via our platform. Learn more about our parcel forwarding service.
We provide a digital mailroom service. Digital mailrooms are an alternative to traditional mailrooms that require businesses to physically manage their post. we handle this process for you, allowing you to automate the way your company manages its mail.
Our software enables you to manage your mail online. See our Account Tour for a sweep across our platform:
We provide a free PO Box in Dorset or you can choose our paid London based address. Low cost, completely private, flexible mail plans, get up and running in minutes. Perfect for individuals, families and UK businesses - a smarter post office box.
When in the process of starting up a Sole Proprietorship business, there are many advantages to be gained from our services, both in the preliminary stages of your business and once everything has been set up.
In this blog article, we explore the rules and regulations regarding the posting of liquids, the restrictions that may apply, and what you should do when looking to post Food, Drink & other Perishables.
Simply upload your letter into our platform, provide a delivery address, select a postage option and we’ll post your mail from our UK mail sorting facility. The postage options include the most popular Royal Mail Standard Delivery 1st and 2nd class options and also the Signed For option for important, urgent letters and documents.
Send letters in the UK from anywhere in the world using our online letter mailing service. This is suitable for personal users sending individual letters and especially beneficial for companies with high capacity sending needs. Learn more about our send letters online service.
As found within our online software and as a resource tool on our website, the shipping calculator displays the costs of forwarding your letters and parcels via the leading shipping partners.
