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Post Hoc — Analysing UK OSM Postbox Data

OpenStreetMap records the location of postboxes using the amenity=post_box tag. The Post Hoc tool provides statistics, reports and maps to compare the data in OpenStreetMap with data from Royal Mail. The Royal Mail Post Box data comes an FOI request. For further information, please see the Technical Details page.

Summary Statistics

Source Boxes Percent Updated
Royal Mail list 115485   2013‑11‑11
OSM 86449 74.9% 2024‑03‑13
OSM (matched refs) 72702 63.0% 2024‑03‑13

View history graphs.

Progress Maps and Comparison Reports

OSM Post Box Progress
View the progress of mapping all post boxes by postal area and then district. At district level a map shows a comparison between official location data from Royal Mail and current OSM data. Discrepencies are highlighted for ground surveys. Note that the official locations are © Royal Mail, and we do not have permission to use them in OSM.
OSM Reference Issues
Results of various checks on the values in 'ref' fields of post box nodes on OpenStreetMap.
OSM Collection Times Issues
Postboxes with possible errors in the collection_times key.
OSM Royal Cypher Issues
Postboxes with possible errors in the royal_cypher key.
OSM Box Type Report
Report on usage of tags to describe box types.
OSM Operator Report
Report on usage of tags to describe the operator of the box.
OSM Tag Keys Report
List of all keys used on post box nodes, ordered by number of occurrences.
OSM Tag Lists
Various reports listing postboxes with specific tags defined:

Post Box League Tables

Top postal districts and users by updates to post box nodes in last 7 days.

# District Updates
1. E16 24
2. SN4 15
3. E15 14
4. NR31 10
5. EC3V 6
6. DN37 5
7. CM4 5
# Username Updates %Ref'd
1. john paul jones & gringo 42 98%
2. eastender 41 100%
3. RaccoonFederation 31 6%
4. ENHD 23 96%
5. BarryMyles 13 100%
6. Coupaman 11 100%
7. fitzsimons 10 100%

Top postal districts and users by updates to post box nodes in last 28 days.

# District Updates
1. TN37 35
2. SN4 33
3. TR7 32
4. E15 31
5. E16 26
6. E3 26
7. E7 20
8. E9 17
9. ME7 17
10. TN34 16
11. PL25 16
12. CF72 14
13. E4 14
14. TN38 13
# Username Updates %Ref'd
1. RaccoonFederation 186 28%
2. eastender 152 100%
3. john paul jones & gringo 86 99%
4. JodaStephen 80 98%
5. Yorvik Prestigitator 73 60%
6. chris_debian 68 100%
7. BarryMyles 48 100%
8. Falsernet 46 85%
9. AntV 44 100%
10. PerthPerthshire 43 49%
11. ENHD 42 98%
12. Nathan_A_RF 29 93%
13. Robert Whittaker 25 96%
14. fitzsimons 23 100%

Copyright Warning: There is no permission from Royal Mail to use the box locations and reference numbers in their data in OpenStreetMap. So the data may not be used directly. However, you may find the comparisons helpful in suggesting places you would like to survey in the hope of finding missing post boxes to add.

Data derived from OpenStreetMap data, © OpenStreetMap Contributors, licensed under Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL). XAPI courtesy of Overpass API.