If you’ve ever been waiting for something important to come through in the mail, you’ll know the frustration of checking your mailbox every hour only to find it empty.
A mailbox alert system will let you know exactly when your mail arrives so that you don’t have to constantly monitor it all day. Removing your mail from the box quickly also helps to prevent theft of your mail and could prevent identity theft as well.
Today we’ll look at some of the best mailbox alert options available.
We won’t be covering old school “physical flag” type mailbox alert systems as they still leave you checking the box through your window constantly.
In today’s world the best mailbox alert system is one that notifies you with an audible alarm and flashing light inside your house.
Alert systems that notify your phone are even better. Don’t be surprised when you see some door alarms on this list as they actually work very well to detect your mailbox door opening.
Here are some of our favorite mailbox alarm/alert systems:
Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
SELECT Mail Chime Alert System
This is a good mailbox alert system that will get the job done without any hubs or routers. Of course, since it doesn’t connect to anything with internet access, you won’t be getting alerts on your phone.
The sensor will trigger the receiver within 300 feet which should be sufficient for most houses. The receiver will alert you audibly and visually when the sensor is triggered.
It’s very easy to install with the help of the 3M adhesive strip on the back of the sensor.
The sensor requires 2 X AAA batteries which you’ll have to buy separately. The receiver uses a 6V DC power supply included in the box.
See the current pricing on Amazon.
MySpool Mailbox Alert System
This system is one of our favorites because you don’t require your own smart hub to receive alerts to your phone, just connect the hub included in the package to your router.
You’ll get email and text message alerts whenever your mailbox is opened.
The MySpool has a range of 200 feet from the sensor to the receiver, adequate for most homeowners but could be too short for some. The sensor for the mailbox is weatherproof so you don’t have to worry about it being exposed to the weather all day and night.
The sensor on the mailbox uses 3 X AAA batteries which are included and the HUB uses an A/C outlet in your home.
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Mail Chime MAIL-1200 Wireless Mail Alert System
The Mail Chime communicates within 300 feet and works with all types of standard mailboxes.
The receiver alerts you audibly and visually when mail is delivered. It doesn’t connect to any hub or router so you won’t get notifications to your phone but in many cases, that’s not necessary.
The notification light on the receiver will remain lit until you reset it so it won’t matter if you missed the audible alert. Also, you will still receive audible alerts every time the box is opened even after the light has indicated the first open.
The sensor uses a CR123A battery and the receiver plugs into a power outlet inside.
Check out the current price on Amazon.
SinMan Mailbox WiFi Chime Alert System
The SinMan Mailbox WiFi Chime Alert System alert system takes first place for size and convenience. It only needs to connect to your WiFi to function.
Since the communication is WiFi only, it’s limited to 150 feet but you can use a WiFi repeater for longer distances.
You can get instant notifications to your phone no matter where you are. Because the sensor is so small, it will work for almost any type of mailbox.
It uses a CR123A battery which is not included.
Click here to view the product on Amazon.
Z-Wave Tilt Sensor
This tilt sensor is natively compatible with SmartThings and also compatible with most smart home systems that use Z-Wave like the Vera Edge, Plus, and Lite, the HomeSeer, D-Link, and others.
All you need to do is place this sensor inside your mailbox lid so that it tilts when the lid is opened. After you’ve connected it with your smart home system you’ll start receiving alerts whenever the mailbox is opened.
WSDCam Wireless Door Open Chime 900-FT Range
This is a well-priced option with decent features like a 900-foot communication range.
It doesn’t connect to a hub or to WiFi so it will only notify you audibly and visually on the receiver itself when you at home.
It’s really loud as well with a max volume of 113dB but can be set all the way down to 25dB if you desire.
BY ONE Door Contact Sensor
The BY ONE contact sensor alarm system is another really affordable option that will let you know when your mail has arrived.
The useful feature that stands out with this contact sensor is the water resistance so you don’t have to worry about it being out in the rain at times.
No hubs or routers required as this system will only alert you via the receiver with an audible and visual alarm.
HomeSeer HS-DS100 Sensor
This contact sensor is similar to the Z-Wave tilt sensor in that it also uses Z-Wave to communicate.
Unfortunately, the installation isn’t as easy as the tilt sensor but it will get the job done in the same way.
Connect this sensor to your existing Z-Wave smart home system and start receiving alerts when your mailbox is opened.
The great news is that these sensors use inexpensive AAA batteries which can easily be replaced when the ones included are flat.
Sengled Smart Contact Sensor
This contact sensor works with and requires Alexa, Google Assistant, or Samsung SmartThings. It’s a peel off and stick installation so it couldn’t be easier.
Once you’ve installed one of these onto your mailbox you’ll be notified as soon as it’s opened by anyone.
WSDCam Wireless Door Open Chime 600-FT Range
This is an affordable mailbox alert solution, with a communication range of 600-feet suitable for most residential mailbox distances. It even has a magnetic strip for the sensor to stick onto metal like a mailbox.
Just like the dedicated mailbox alarms, this receiver also alerts you with an audible alarm and flashing light. The sensor takes a AAA battery which is cheap and easy to replace. The receiver plugs into your power outlet and doesn’t use batteries.
The only downfall to this system is that it doesn’t have a way to notify you after the mailbox has been opened, only while it’s being opened so if you missed the alert, you won’t know that it ever happened after the fact.
Conclusion: Mailbox Alert Systems
Our recommendation would be one dedicated mailbox alarm system in this article because they’re specifically designed for alerting you when there’s mail.
They will notify you by keeping the LED light lit so that you know there is mail even if you didn’t hear the alert whenever it happened. Extra precautions are made to protect against liquid and other environmental damage.
The Z-Wave tilt sensor is very effective in alerting you about your mailbox being opened and closed because the notification will be on your phone until you dismiss it and the fact that you can stick it on the inside door of your mailbox protects it well from the weather.
Having said this, the other sensors on this list that are originally intended for alerting you when doors and windows are opened also get the job done and normally have smartphone alerts as well since they integrate with your smart home system.
If you’re having trouble receiving alerts to your receiver, you may have to install the sensor on the outside of the mailbox, especially if it’s made of steel.
With a wide selection of mailbox alarm/alert systems on the market, it really just depends on what will work best for your mailbox design and your front yard size.
Measure the distance from where you plan to put the receiver to the mailbox and make sure to choose an alert system capable of reaching that distance.
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