Package Delivery Instructions: What to Write for Amazon, UPS, FedEx & USPS

Good package delivery instructions tell the driver exactly where to leave the package without making the location difficult, unsafe, or time-consuming to find.

A useful instruction usually follows this simple formula:

Please leave packages at [exact location], beside or behind [visible landmark]. [Necessary placement or access detail]. Do not leave them at [location to avoid].

For example:

“Please leave packages at the covered side door on the driveway side of the house, beside the blue bench. Do not leave them at the garage door.”

That gives the driver a specific destination, a visual clue, and a clear placement request. It is much more useful than a vague note such as “hide package” or “leave around back.”

Delivery instructions can make your preferred location easier to understand, but they are requests—not guarantees. Carrier rules, safety conditions, package size, signature requirements, access problems, and driver discretion can affect where an eligible package is left.

Carrier tools and policies can change. The carrier information below was reviewed on September 16, 2026.

What Should Package Delivery Instructions Say?

The most effective instructions contain only the details a driver needs at the point of delivery. Aim for one clear location and one simple action.

1. Name one exact drop-off location

Avoid general directions such as “on the side,” “around back,” or “somewhere hidden.” Specify the actual door, porch, box, office, or covered area you want used.

Useful locations might include:

• The covered side door
• The rear porch, when it is safely and directly accessible
• The apartment office or staffed front desk
• A designated package delivery box
• A marked drop-off area beside the front door
• A covered spot behind a porch column

2. Add a landmark the driver can recognize quickly

A visible landmark helps distinguish your intended location from other doors, boxes, porches, or entrances.

Examples include:

• “Beside the blue bench”
• “Behind the large planter to the left of the front door”
• “Inside the gray delivery box beside the porch steps”
• “At the side door facing the driveway”
• “With the front-desk staff in the main lobby”

Choose a permanent or dependable landmark. Seasonal decorations and movable objects can make old instructions confusing.

3. Include only necessary access or placement details

If the driver needs an entry code, callbox number, building name, or simple box instruction, include it in the carrier or retailer’s designated delivery field. Do not add unrelated explanations or sensitive information the driver does not need.

For a package box, explain the one action required:

“Please place packages inside the gray delivery box beside the front steps and close the lid.”

4. Identify the correct location before naming the wrong one

“Do not leave at garage” tells the driver what to avoid but not where the package should go. Give the correct destination first, followed by the location to avoid if that distinction is necessary.

“Please leave packages at the covered side door beside the blue bench. Do not leave them at the garage door.”

Good and Bad Delivery Instructions: Side-by-Side Examples

The best wording is specific enough to prevent confusion but short enough to understand quickly.

Situation	Vague or ineffective	Clearer instruction
Less-visible porch location	“Hide the package.”	“Please leave packages behind the large planter to the left of the front door, out of street view.”
Covered side door	“Use side door.”	“Please leave packages at the covered side door on the driveway side of the house.”
Package delivery box	“Put it in the box.”	“Please place packages inside the gray delivery box to the right of the front steps and close the lid.”
Wrong-door problem	“Not at garage.”	“Please leave packages at the front porch beside the black chair. Do not leave them at the garage door.”
Apartment building	“Bring it inside.”	“Please deliver to the staffed front desk in the main lobby. Do not leave packages outside the building entrance.”
Gated property	“Come through gate.”	“Use the pedestrian gate beside the driveway. Enter the access code provided in this delivery field, then leave the package at the covered side door.”
Weather protection	“Keep it dry.”	“Please leave packages under the covered porch, behind the white column to the right of the front door.”

Only request a location that the driver can reach safely and without entering a private interior space. A hiding place that requires climbing over an obstacle, opening an unsafe gate, navigating an aggressive animal, or walking through an unlit area is unlikely to be practical.

Amazon Delivery Instructions: What to Write and Where to Add Them

Amazon customers can manage delivery instructions for a saved address through Your Account > Your Addresses and then select Add delivery instructions for the appropriate address. For an eligible Amazon Logistics shipment, the progress-tracking page may also offer a Provide Delivery Instructions option.

Amazon delivery instructions should identify the location using features that are visible as the driver approaches the property.

Amazon instruction example

“Please leave packages at the covered side porch on the driveway side of the house, behind the blue planter.”

Important: Amazon states that delivery instructions entered through an Amazon account are temporarily visible to delivery partners handling the shipment through Amazon Logistics. If an Amazon order is being delivered by UPS, FedEx, or USPS, manage the delivery through that carrier’s own system when the option is available.

See Amazon Customer Service for current address and delivery-preference information.

UPS Delivery Instructions: What to Write and Where to Add Them

UPS My Choice allows members to manage incoming UPS deliveries and tell the driver where at the home to leave an eligible package. UPS currently offers a free membership level, although some delivery changes and premium options may carry fees.

Use My Choice to review the available delivery preferences or manage an eligible incoming package. Describe one recognizable location rather than giving the driver several alternatives.

UPS instruction example

“Please leave packages at the covered side door beside the white bench. The side door faces the driveway.”

Not every UPS package can be changed. UPS says a shipper may restrict delivery changes, and some shipments—such as certain high-value items or imports—may not be eligible. A placement note also cannot override a required signature or another service requirement.

FedEx Delivery Instructions: What to Write and Where to Add Them

FedEx Delivery Manager lets residential customers add comments that help a driver find or access the home and specify where packages should be placed.

FedEx says saved delivery instructions can apply to future FedEx deliveries to the address. That makes it especially important to remove or update instructions when a gate code, package box, landmark, or preferred location changes.

FedEx instruction example

“Please leave packages under the covered front porch, behind the brick column on the left.”

Add or update the instruction early. FedEx says delivery instructions may take up to 24 hours to appear in its systems. It also states that following the instruction remains subject to driver discretion based on safety and other contributing factors. Some shippers can restrict the options available for a particular shipment.

USPS Delivery Instructions: What to Write and When the Option Appears

USPS handles delivery instructions differently. The service is tied to an eligible tracked mailpiece rather than a permanent instruction that automatically controls every future package sent to the address.

To check a package:

1. Enter the tracking number on USPS.com.
2. Look for Delivery Instructions beneath the tracking status.
3. Sign in to a USPS.com account.
4. Follow the prompts to confirm eligibility and select the available delivery option.

For an eligible item that does not fit in the mailbox, USPS may offer locations including the front door, back door, side door, porch, garage, a qualifying neighbor, or an “Other” location that requires additional instructions.

USPS instruction example

“Leave on the covered side porch beside the blue bench.”

If the Delivery Instructions link does not appear, the shipment or address is not eligible. Common exclusions include items that are already out for delivery or delivered, shipments requiring a signature, international mailpieces, shipments insured for $500 or more, and addresses with certain active hold or forwarding requests.

USPS also says a submitted Delivery Instructions request is final and cannot be canceled, so review the requested location carefully before submitting it. See USPS Delivery Instructions — The Basics for the complete eligibility rules and current options.

Can You Use the Same Instructions for Every Carrier?

You can reuse the same core sentence, but you may need to enter it separately with each retailer or carrier.

Service	Where instructions are managed	How broadly they apply
Amazon	Saved address or eligible Amazon Logistics tracking page	Amazon Logistics deliveries; do not assume other carriers receive the note
UPS	UPS My Choice or an eligible package’s delivery-management options	Eligible UPS deliveries, subject to shipment restrictions
FedEx	FedEx Delivery Manager	Saved instructions can apply to future FedEx deliveries at the address
USPS	The tracking page for an eligible mailpiece	The individual eligible USPS mailpiece

Start with one consistent location whenever possible. Changing the preferred spot from carrier to carrier can make your household routine harder to manage and may leave packages scattered around the property.

Package-Box and Designated Drop-Zone Instructions

A package box is helpful only when the driver can find it, recognize its purpose, and understand how to place the package inside. Your instruction should identify the box by its color and location, then state the one action the driver should take.

“Please place packages inside the gray delivery box to the right of the porch steps and close the lid.”

Avoid giving a driver a long operating procedure. If the box requires several steps, a complicated lock sequence, or an access method that changes with every order, confirm that the process is realistic for the carriers serving your home.

If your instructions are clear but packages still end up beside the box, see how to get delivery drivers to use your package box for help checking placement, visibility, and access.

If you are still deciding whether a delivery box fits your household, see Package Lock Boxes for Deliveries.

Make the physical location match the written instruction

The driver should be able to arrive, recognize the landmark named in the note, and identify the correct placement point without guessing. Remove outdated signs and avoid marking two different areas as the preferred drop-off location.

If a consistent delivery area is already established but is easy to miss, the Delivery Drop Zone Decal — “Please Leave Packages Here” can visually identify the same location named in your online instructions. If the package box itself needs a clearer direction, the Package Box Delivery Decal — “Please Place All Packages Inside This Box” provides a simple point-of-delivery reminder.

A decal or sign should supplement a clear, accessible delivery setup. It does not guarantee that a carrier or driver will follow the requested placement.

Why Delivery Instructions May Not Be Followed

Even well-written instructions sometimes cannot be completed. Common reasons include:

• The instruction was entered through the wrong service. An Amazon note may not reach UPS, FedEx, or USPS when one of those carriers handles the shipment.
• The note was added too late. A package may already be loaded for delivery, and some systems need time to display an update.
• The instruction is vague. “Side door” is confusing when a property has more than one side entrance.
• The location is unsafe or inaccessible. A locked gate, loose animal, dark walkway, ice, construction, or another hazard can prevent access.
• The package does not fit. A full or undersized delivery box leaves the driver needing another safe location.
• The shipment has a service restriction. A required signature, shipper restriction, high-value shipment, or carrier eligibility rule may control the delivery.
• The saved instruction is outdated. A moved package box, changed access code, removed landmark, or seasonal obstruction can make an old note unusable.

If packages are repeatedly left in an exposed or unintended location, first confirm which company performed the final delivery. Then review the instructions saved with that carrier and make sure the location described online matches what the driver sees at the property.

Package Delivery Instructions Checklist

Before saving an instruction, check that it:

• Names one preferred delivery location
• Uses a visible, dependable landmark
• Explains only the action the driver needs to take
• Identifies the correct location before any location to avoid
• Does not request entry into an unsafe or private interior space
• Does not include unnecessary personal or security information
• Does not conflict with a signature or other shipment requirement
• Is entered through the retailer or carrier performing the delivery
• Matches any package box, decal, sign, or marked area at the home
• Is updated when the delivery setup changes

Test the wording on your next few ordinary deliveries. If drivers repeatedly hesitate or choose another location, the problem may be the physical setup rather than the sentence itself. The preferred area may need a clearer landmark, easier access, better lighting, or a more practical position.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do delivery drivers have to follow delivery instructions?

No. Delivery instructions communicate a preference, but they do not guarantee placement. The driver may need to use another location because of safety, access, weather, package size, signature requirements, shipper restrictions, or carrier rules. FedEx explicitly states that following delivery instructions is subject to driver discretion based on safety and other contributing factors.

Can I use the same delivery note for Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and USPS?

You can reuse the same core wording if you want every carrier to use the same location. However, enter the request through each applicable carrier or retailer. Amazon-account instructions are intended for Amazon Logistics deliveries, while USPS Delivery Instructions are tied to individual eligible mailpieces.

Can delivery instructions override a required signature?

No. Writing “leave at door” does not cancel a signature requirement. The carrier must follow the service requirements associated with the shipment.

Why does my USPS package not show Delivery Instructions?

The mailpiece or address may not be eligible. USPS lists several exclusions, including packages already out for delivery, signature-required shipments, certain insured items, international mailpieces, and addresses with some active hold or forwarding services.

Should I put delivery instructions in Address Line 2?

Use Address Line 2 for legitimate address information such as an apartment, suite, or unit number. Put package-placement directions in the retailer or carrier’s designated delivery-instructions field so they are not confused with the delivery address.

Should I use a physical sign or decal too?

A visible marker can be useful when it identifies the same location described in the online note. It is most helpful when the preferred area or package box is not immediately obvious. Keep the message short, place it at the actual delivery point, and do not treat it as a guarantee of carrier compliance.

Build a More Reliable Delivery Setup

Clear wording solves only one part of the problem. The requested location must also be accessible, recognizable, protected from weather, and less exposed than the place where packages would otherwise be left.

For help selecting and organizing that location, continue with the Secure Package Delivery Guide. You can also use the Home Delivery Security Checklist to review the rest of your delivery routine.

If you are not sure which part of your current setup needs attention first, the free 15-Minute Porch & Package Security Checkup can help you identify the most important weak points.

For a more detailed implementation process, the Complete Porch Pirate Protection Toolkit includes a Delivery Instructions Builder and Delivery Zone Planner to help you choose a workable location, create consistent wording, and record the setup you intend to use.