When you open a Private Box account, the total cost you pay all depends on the services you use. We’ll only charge you for the services that you use 🙂
Your plan will be charged monthly (or annually depending on your subscription), then any additional services you use will be charged to your Private Box account as well.
See Additional Services on our plans and prices page for the prices of all our services.
Below is further information on popular services which can have variable costs, such as scanning mail, forwarding mail, and mail storage.
Scanning Mail
If you have automatic mail scanning active on your account, you get the first 10 items (or 500 pages, whichever comes first) for free. After that, scanning fees described below are incurred.
For manual scan requests, or when you have reached the free auto scan limit, scanning is charged at $1.50NZD for the entire scan.
If you wanted a bound document scanned, like a magazine or something where we’d have to spend an amount of time separating pages so we can put it through the scanner, that item gets charged at $7.50NZD (per 15 pages). By default, large items like this will be scanned as the front cover only with a note to advise that only the cover is scanned. If you then want us to open and scan the contents you will need to contact our staff to request we do so.
Forwarding Mail
When forwarding your mail from your Private Box account, the cost based on our supplier’s postage rate plus our handling fee if one applies.
Postage
Postage is worked out based on the size and weight of the items being sent. When you choose to request mail forwarding, our system will attempt to provide a quote for postage based on the items you are requesting forwarded. Our system will take into account the postage type, and measurements if you are requesting the postage of a package.
Domestic Postage (Within New Zealand)
Standard Post – 3 day delivery target
Medium (DLE) envelopes – $2.90NZD
Large (C5) envelopes – $4.20NZD
Oversize envelopes – $5.50NZD
Courier – Next working day delivery target. PLEASE NOTE: All packages being sent within New Zealand must be sent via courier. There is no economy postage option available for domestic parcels.
Courier prices are calculated based on the size, weight and destination of the bundle of mail and packages. Our system will try to provide a postal estimate, but you can also check NZ Post’s domestic parcel rate finder calculator. Please note: There are some instances where the estimate may be a few dollars off, as the system cannot calculate the exact measurements of a consolidated package when multiple packages are shipped together. Our staff will always work to ensure that the consolidated packages are handled safely, and placed into the most compact packaging we can.
We will always try to remain as close to the cost provided in the estimate you are given – but there are occasions where this may not be possible. In those situations, if the price difference will be significant (more than $20.00NZD difference above the quote), our staff will get in touch before processing the postage to provide and discuss options.
Rural Delivery – $5.50NZD
International Postage
Australia & South Pacific Economy Air Mail – 3-10 working day delivery target
Medium (DLE) envelopes – $4.00NZD
Large (C5) envelopes – $4.70NZD
Oversize envelopes – $5.50NZD
Rest of World Economy Air Mail – 3-10 working day delivery target
Medium (DLE) envelopes – $4.70NZD
Large (C5) envelopes – $5.50NZD
Oversize envelopes – $7.60NZD
International Courier (EMS) – 2-6 working day delivery target
International Express Courier (DHL) – 1-5 working day delivery target
All courier prices are calculated based on the size, weight and destination of the package.
Our system will try to provide a postal estimate, but you can also check NZ Post’s international parcel rate finder calculator.
Please note: There are some instances where the estimate may be a few dollars off, as the system cannot calculate the exact measurements of a consolidated package when multiple packages are shipped together. Our staff will always work to ensure that the consolidated packages are handled safely, and placed into the most compact packaging we can.
We will always try to remain as close to the cost provided in the estimate you are given – but there are occasions where this may not be possible. In those situations, if the price difference will be significant (more than $20.00NZD difference above the quote), our staff will get in touch before processing the postage to provide and discuss options.
Mail Handling fees
Domestic (Within New Zealand)
Free
International
Free for Letters
$10.00NZD per parcel to cover costs and creation of customs declaration documents.
Additional Cover
When shipping packages internationally, it is important to correctly declare the value of the items being shipped. Additional cover will be required if the value of the package is over $2,000.00NZD in value. In those cases, the cost of additional cover for insurance is as below.
Economy Plus: $15.00NZD flat rate
Courier: 1.08% of the declared value
Express: 1.08% of the declared value
Postage pricing was last updated on 14 April 2026. These prices are subject to change based on NZ Post & DX Mail pricing.