Why are post office mailboxes blue?

Question

I know it sounds like a stupid question, but I need to know!

Answer 1

Because they have to deal with disgruntled postal workers all day?

Answer 2

Because they keep losing market share to Fed-Ex, UPS, and the Internet!

Answer 3

I honestly have no idea.

(I strongly suspect, though, it's so firemen can tell them apart from the hydrants... ;-) )

Answer 4

I think it's because that's the color the government assigned to the post office.

Plus, blue is the most recognized on the streets. Because there's nothing on the sidewalk/street that matches with blue.

Answer 5

The mailboxes the Post Office puts on the street to recieve outgoing mail look very similar to trash cans.  Trash cans are either silver or khaki green or khaki tan ... the BLUE color is to alert people to the fact that it's okay to put outgoing mail into the boxes, but not garbage.  There are also ALWAYS the USPS logo on the sides, and the 'pick up times' on the 'lid' where you put the mail in.

Answer 6

That is a good question....I am going to have to find out. I tried to call my friend that works at the post office and he is not home but I will ask. I realize though that Canadian mailboxes are red.

Answer 7

Besides what Wake said, it was an updating process too.  U.S. mailboxes used to be army green.

Answer 8

In England and Australia they are red - it's a tradition, from the old 'pillarboxes' that were invented in Queen Victoria's time. They were always painted red.

I have left you a link about the history of US Mail - I hope you find a good answer there!

Answer 9

Mine's grey.

Answer 10

That is their logo. Just like coca cola has a red can they have blue mail boxes. It represents the sky that the logo is in. (the little bird airplane thing.)

Answer 11

Its because of the government colors.. The mail has to do with the government so all mail boxes are blue