Mail Slots

Choosing a Mail Slot for an Entry Door

Mail slots are installed through a door or panel so letters and small mail can pass directly to the interior. The visible exterior plate is only one part of the installation. Depending on the design, the assembly may also use an interior flap, back plate, sleeve, hood, or separate trim component, so check exactly what is included with each product.

For replacement work, measure the existing door cutout as well as the overall exterior plate. The opening width and height, screw spacing, door thickness, and available interior clearance determine whether a new mail slot can reuse the existing preparation. A plate that covers the old opening can still require a different cutout or mounting pattern.

Sleeves and interior hoods can help finish the opening through the door and manage the path of incoming mail, but these accessories are not universally interchangeable. Match them to the compatible mail slot or letter plate and verify the door thickness range. Finish can then be coordinated with nearby entry hardware such as knobs, levers, handlesets, kick plates, and door knockers.

A mail slot creates an opening through the door, so installation location and door construction matter. Review the door manufacturer’s requirements before cutting a new opening, particularly on fire-rated, insulated, security, or specialty doors. Where weather exposure is a concern, also review the product’s flap, seal, and installation details for the intended exterior application.