Step2 Express Parcel Delivery Box review: a big, simple porch drop box

Step2 Express Parcel Delivery Box at a glance

First impressions of the Step2 Express

For years my porch routine went like this: a delivery notification pops up, and I start wondering where the driver left it this time.

Sometimes it was tucked behind a planter. Sometimes it was sitting on the top step in full view of the street, or soaking up a passing shower.

The Step2 Express Parcel Delivery Box is Step2's answer to that problem, and it's refreshingly low-tech.

It's a big resin box with a lid. Drivers lift the lid, drop the parcel in and put the lid back.

That's it. No app, no code, no batteries.

My first reaction when I unboxed it was that it's bigger than I expected.

It stands about 31 inches tall, which puts the lid at a comfortable height for dropping a box in without bending much.

My second reaction was relief that there was nothing to build.

I took it out of the packaging, set it next to the front door and it was ready for its first delivery.

After living with it, I'd describe it as the parcel version of a good doormat: simple, a little boring and something you quickly wonder how you managed without.

The black version looks tidy next to the front door, and drivers can spot it from the path.

What the Step2 Express actually is

The Step2 Express is a freestanding package delivery box, sometimes called a parcel drop box.

It sits on your porch, stoop or by the driveway and gives drivers a covered, out-of-sight place to leave packages when you're not home.

Step2 is better known for kids' playhouses and outdoor toys, and you can see that background in how it's made.

The body is molded from the same kind of thick, weather-resistant resin the brand uses for outdoor products that sit in the yard all year.

Inside there's one big compartment with a listed capacity of 37.6 gallons.

The outside measures roughly 31 inches high, 18 inches wide and 23 inches deep, according to retail listings.

The lid lifts off completely, and it's shaped with an overhang and a slope so water runs off instead of pooling.

What it doesn't have is just as important.

There's no lock, no latch, no one-way drop chute and no smart features.

That's a deliberate trade-off. It makes the box effortless for every driver to use, but it also means the box relies on concealment rather than locks.

It comes in two finishes, black and mocha, and the model number on the mocha version is 583099.

Step2 Express design and setup

Setup is where the Step2 Express earns its first easy win.

There's no assembly at all. No screws, no panels to snap together and no instruction sheet to puzzle over.

I unpacked it, carried it to the porch and it was done.

The hardest part was deciding where to put it.

Because the footprint is about 18 by 23 inches, it takes up real floor space, so measure your porch before you buy.

I wanted it close enough to the door that drivers would see it immediately, but not so close that it blocked the door swing or the path to the steps.

Right beside the door, against the wall, turned out to be the sweet spot.

The molded 'Deliveries' label on the front panel does a lot of quiet work here.

It tells drivers what the box is for without you having to leave a note.

It also helps to add a line to your delivery instructions asking drivers to use the box, so it becomes a habit for everyone.

The lid is wide and lifts straight off, so there's no hinge to snap and no awkward angle to work around.

Put it back on and it settles into place over the body, with an overhang that sheds rain away from the opening.

The lid comes off completely, so dropping in a stack of boxes is quick for drivers and for me.

Capacity: how much fits in the Step2 Express?

Capacity is the Step2 Express's biggest strength, and I'd score it 9 out of 10.

The 37.6-gallon interior is spacious enough for several parcels at once.

Most of my deliveries are the usual mix: shoe boxes, small and medium shipping boxes, padded mailers and the odd grocery top-up.

On a normal day, everything went straight in with room to spare.

Even on busier days, with drops from more than one carrier, the box kept up.

Mailers and soft packs are especially easy, because they squash into the gaps between boxes.

Where it runs out of room is with genuinely bulky items.

A large appliance box, a flat-packed piece of furniture or a case of bottled water is simply too big, and drivers will leave those next to the box as usual.

That's true of nearly every porch delivery box, so I don't count it as a real flaw.

My advice is to empty it every evening.

A box that's still full from yesterday is a box today's driver can't use, and that's how parcels end up stacked on the lid.

Parcels left on the lid are exposed, so empty the box regularly and keep the inside free for the next drop.

Weather protection: does it keep parcels dry?

Keeping deliveries dry was the main reason I wanted a box like this, and the Step2 Express handles it well.

I'd give weather protection 9 out of 10.

The durable resin body and overhanging lid shield parcels from rain, snow, dust and direct sunlight.

That sounds basic, but cardboard boxes left on an open porch are surprisingly fragile.

A single shower can soften a box enough that it collapses when you pick it up, and labels can smudge.

With the box closed, my deliveries came out dry and clean.

Sun protection is the underrated part.

Anything temperature-sensitive, from candles to vitamins to snacks, fares better in the shade of a closed box than baking on a sunny step.

It isn't a sealed safe, though.

In wind-driven rain, some water can still find its way in around the lid, so I wouldn't call it guaranteed waterproof.

For anything that must stay completely dry, ask the sender to bag it or bring it inside quickly.

For ordinary rain and snow, it does exactly what I wanted.

Security: what the Step2 Express can and can't do

This is the section I'd read most carefully before buying.

Security is the Step2 Express's weakest area, and I score it 6 out of 10.

The box does one thing well: it hides your parcels.

From the street, a package sitting on a porch is an open invitation. A closed box with nothing visible is much less tempting to someone walking by.

That alone discourages a lot of opportunistic theft, which is the most common kind.

But there's no built-in lock or latch.

Anyone who walks up to your door can lift the lid and help themselves.

And because the box isn't anchored, a determined thief could, in theory, carry the whole thing off.

So I'd treat it as a concealment box, not a vault.

I use it for everyday parcels: clothes, household refills, books and the general flow of online shopping.

For anything expensive, like a phone, a laptop or a prescription, I'd still pick it up from a locker or schedule it for when I'm home.

If security is your top priority, a lockable parcel box with a one-way drop chute is a better fit, even though it's usually more expensive and slower for drivers to use.

A carrier sign on the front makes the box’s purpose obvious, but it doesn’t add a lock.

Durability and wind

The weather-resistant plastic body feels made for outdoor life, and I'd score durability 9 out of 10.

There's nothing to rust, nothing to paint and no finish to flake off.

Maintenance is limited to an occasional wipe-down with a damp cloth to clear dust, pollen and the odd spider web.

The one thing to watch is wind.

An empty plastic box with a lift-off lid is light, and in a strong gust the lid can lift or the box can shift.

The fix is simple: add some weight inside.

A couple of pavers, a sandbag or a heavy flat stone at the bottom keeps the box planted, and it still leaves plenty of room for parcels.

If your porch is fully exposed to wind, I'd do this on day one rather than wait for the lid to end up in the yard.

Daily use: is it easy for drivers and for you?

Ease of use is where the Step2 Express scores a perfect 10 from me.

For drivers, there's nothing to learn.

They see the 'Deliveries' label, lift the lid, drop the parcel and move on to the next stop.

No keypad, no code to remember and no narrow slot that a slightly too big box won't fit through.

That matters more than it sounds, because a parcel box only works if drivers actually use it.

Complicated lockers and slots often get ignored, and the package ends up on the doormat anyway.

For me, retrieving parcels is just as easy.

I lift the lid, take everything out and set the lid back down.

The roughly 31-inch height means I don't have to crouch, and I can reach the bottom of the box without leaning in too far.

Shorter family members may need to reach a bit for small mailers at the very bottom, but that's a minor point.

The overall effect is that deliveries stop being something I worry about during the day.

I know where they'll be, and I know they'll be out of sight and out of the rain.

The molded “Deliveries” label tells every driver what the box is for.

Appearance: will it look good on your porch?

I didn't expect to care much about how a parcel box looks, but it sits right next to the front door, so it does matter.

The Step2 Express has an understated, traditional design, with a raised panel on the front, a molded label and a sloped lid.

It looks more like a piece of porch furniture than a plastic storage tub.

Both finishes blend in well with most home exteriors.

Black looks crisp against white siding, gray stucco or modern stone, while mocha suits brick, stone and warmer color schemes.

I'd score appearance 9 out of 10.

It isn't a design statement, and up close you can tell it's plastic, but it doesn't look cheap or out of place.

Some owners raise it on a post or a stone base by the driveway, which makes it even easier for drivers to spot.

Raised near the driveway, the box is easy for drivers to find, even without walking up to the door.

Other ways to use it

The Step2 Express isn't only useful when a parcel arrives, and I'd score its versatility 9 out of 10.

It works well for grocery deliveries when you're not home, as long as nothing needs to stay cold for long.

A small cooler bag inside the box buys you extra time on mild days.

It's also handy for swaps with neighbors and friends.

Someone can drop off a borrowed tool or pick up a dish without you having to be there.

In quieter weeks, it can hold garden accessories, outdoor cushions, kids' chalk or the dog's walking gear.

Just remember to keep enough space free for the next delivery.

Is the Step2 Express worth the money?

The Step2 Express usually sells for somewhere around $60 to $70, and it goes on sale from time to time.

I'd score its value 9 out of 10.

For that price, you get a large, ready-to-use box that keeps every ordinary delivery dry and out of sight.

Compare that with the cost of a single ruined or missing package, and it doesn't take long to pay for itself.

The value is lower if what you really need is a lockable parcel safe.

In that case, you're paying for concealment and weather protection, not security, and you'd be better off saving up for a locking model.

For households that receive frequent everyday deliveries, though, it's one of the better-value porch upgrades I've tried.

Prices change often, so check the current price on Amazon before you buy.

Step2 Express Parcel Delivery Box specifications

From retail listings and the Amazon listing.

Step2 Express vs a locking parcel box vs a deck box

Most people choosing a porch parcel box end up weighing the same three options. Here's how the Step2 Express stacks up against the other two types.

Alternatives to the Step2 Express

If the lack of a lock or the size of the Step2 Express puts you off, there are a few other routes.

A lockable parcel box with a one-way drop chute is the best choice for valuable deliveries.

Drivers drop parcels in through a hatch and only you can open the locked door, but these boxes usually cost more, take up similar space and can be fussier for drivers.

If your porch is small, a wall-mounted or slim parcel locker saves floor space, at the cost of capacity.

And if you mainly want somewhere to hide parcels and store cushions, a regular outdoor deck box can work, though it won't be labeled for drivers.

For most homes with steady, everyday deliveries, I still think the Step2 Express hits the best balance of price, capacity and simplicity.

How I tested and scored the Step2 Express

I used the Step2 Express Parcel Delivery Box the way it's meant to be used: on the porch next to my front door, receiving everyday deliveries from different carriers.

Along the way I rated it on eight criteria, each scored out of 10.

• Capacity (9.0): how many everyday parcels it holds at once.
• Weather protection (9.0): how well it keeps rain, snow, dust and sun off deliveries.
• Security (6.0): how well it discourages theft.
• Durability (9.0): how well the body holds up outdoors, including in wind.
• Ease of use (10): setup, plus how easy it is for drivers and for me.
• Appearance (9.0): how well it blends in with a home exterior.
• Versatility (9.0): how useful it is beyond parcels.
• Value for money (9.0): what you get for the price.

The overall score of 8.5 is an editorial rating. I gave security more weight than the other criteria, because it's the biggest reason to choose a different box. I also checked the published specifications and retail listings. BrasQ editor-in-chief Ryan Mitchell reviewed the facts and figures before publication.