Hppybiry 3 Inch Metal House Numbers, Black Metal Numbers and Letters, Outdoors Mailbox Numbers and House Numbers, Modern House Address Signs, Suitable for Houses, Apartments, Streets, Outdoors

Why I swapped my old address for these numbers

I replaced a set of faded vinyl stickers on my mailbox and added matching digits to a porch column to improve visibility from the street. I went with the Hppybiry numbers in the 3-inch size, black powder-coated metal. I wanted something that looked more polished than peel-and-stick, held up outdoors, and didn’t require specialty mounting hardware. After a few installs and a few weeks of weather, here’s how they stack up.

Build quality and finish

Out of the package, the metal plates feel adequately rigid for their size. They’re not as thick as cast metal numerals you’d find at a specialty shop, but they don’t feel flimsy either. Before installation there’s a slight flex if you try to bend them, which disappears once they’re fastened. The edges on my set were clean—no sharp burrs—and the black powder coat is even and satin-matte. The finish does a nice job hiding fingerprints and minor scuffs, and it looks more premium than glossy paint.

The font leans modern and clean, with good stroke weight for readability at 3 inches. If you prefer a chunky, traditional serif, this isn’t that; it’s more contemporary and understated, which worked well on my mailbox and porch post without drawing too much attention.

Weather resistance so far

These live outdoors in a spot that sees sun, rain, and road grime. The coating beaded water and wiped clean easily after a storm. No rust bleed at the edges or around the screw holes yet, and no fading I can detect. It’s early days for a true longevity verdict, but the powder coat appears well applied, and there’s no evidence of pinholes or thin spots that tend to fail first.

That said, the long-term durability often comes down to the fasteners and how they’re installed. More on that below.

Installation experience

The pre-drilled holes are a big time-saver and align well. Each character has holes positioned to keep it from twisting once mounted. The set includes small screws sized for wood or thin sheet metal. Here’s how installation played out on different surfaces:

• Wood porch post: I marked a centerline with painter’s tape, set spacing using a scrap of cardboard as a spacer, and pre-drilled pilot holes with a 1/16-inch bit. Hand-driving the screws snugged everything down without distorting the metal. The numbers sit flush and don’t rattle.

• Steel mailbox: For thin steel, I used a smaller pilot bit and backed the sheet from the inside with a small washer to prevent pull-through. No issues with alignment or finish marring.

• Masonry test board (for science): These screws are not for brick or stucco out of the box. If you’re mounting to masonry, plan on using wall plugs/anchors and appropriate masonry screws, or a combination of a small dab of exterior adhesive plus screws into anchors.

One caution: the included screws are on the brittle/soft side. On my first try into a particularly dense section of wood, I over-torqued and snapped one. Pilot holes and hand-driving help, but if you’re installing into hardwood, old framing, or anything that might bind, I’d upgrade to stainless steel screws in a matching size. Stainless has the bonus of resisting corrosion stains around the screw heads over time.

Alignment and spacing tips

Even small house numbers look sloppy if they wander. A few setup steps made a big difference:

• Use painter’s tape as a baseline and a vertical reference line.
• Make a quick paper or cardboard spacing jig—consistency beats eyeballing.
• Start screws just enough to allow minor adjustments before fully tightening.
• Step back 20–30 feet and check legibility before final torque.

Because these mount flush, minor surface irregularities telegraph through. On rough wood or textured surfaces, I used a tiny dab of exterior silicone behind each character to eliminate gaps and prevent rattling.

Visibility and legibility

At 3 inches tall with a bold, sans-serif style, these are easy to read at neighborhood speeds on a light-colored background. The black finish offers excellent contrast on white, gray, or natural wood. On dark siding or a black mailbox, they’ll all but disappear; in that case, consider adding a light backer plate, choosing a lighter finish, or stepping up to reflective vinyl if you need high-contrast visibility at night.

Nighttime visibility depends on ambient lighting. They don’t have reflective faces or standoffs for a shadow effect. If you have a porch light or driveway flood, they’re perfectly readable. If your frontage is pitch dark, you might want reflective numbers or a small solar light to illuminate them.

Where they fit best

• Mailboxes and porch posts where 3-inch digits are appropriate and visible.
• Apartments or multi-unit buildings that need letters alongside numbers for unit designations.
• Garden gates and fences where a simple, low-profile look is preferred.
• Indoor applications like labeling storage or workshop areas—they look neat and tidy.

For house facades set far back from the road, you’ll want larger digits (4–6 inches or more). These are a great complement to a larger main address with a clear secondary marker on the mailbox or entry.

Strengths

• Clean, modern look with a consistent powder-coat finish.
• Good readability at 3 inches when mounted on a contrasting background.
• Pre-drilled holes make mounting straightforward.
• Versatility: works on wood and metal; letters and numbers allow custom combinations.
• The coating has so far resisted water, grime, and UV exposure without issues.

Trade-offs and workarounds

• Included screws: Prone to snapping if over-torqued or if you skip pilot holes. Workaround: drill proper pilots and hand-drive, or replace with stainless screws of matching size and length.
• Thickness: Thinner than premium cast iron/brass numerals. They’re rigid once installed, but if you want a heavy, sculpted feel or floating standoffs, look elsewhere.
• Masonry mounting: Requires additional anchors/screws not included. Plan ahead for brick or stucco.

Alternatives to consider

• Plastic/acrylic numbers: Often thicker-looking with a variety of colors, but can fade or crack over time and may feel cheaper up close.
• Cast metal numbers: Heavier and more substantial with deeper profiles; cost more and usually require more careful mounting. Great for statement addresses on facades.
• Floating-mount kits: Create a shadow gap for a designer look but need precise layout and usually masonry anchors or standoffs.

The Hppybiry numbers sit in the “clean, simple, budget-friendly metal” category—more refined than stickers or thin aluminum plates, less substantial than cast house numbers.

Practical installation checklist

• Measure from the street: Is 3 inches readable where you plan to mount?
• Choose contrast: Black needs a light background for daytime visibility.
• Gather hardware: Drill bits for pilot holes; consider stainless screws; masonry anchors if needed.
• Layout: Use tape lines and a spacing jig.
• Seal: A tiny dab of exterior-grade silicone can help on textured surfaces.

Bottom line

These Hppybiry numbers hit a sweet spot for straightforward, low-profile address marking. They look neat, the finish has held up so far, and installation is quick—especially on wood or metal. They’re not luxury, heavy-gauge numerals, and the included screws are a weak link, but that’s easy to address with proper pilot holes or a quick trip for better fasteners.

Recommendation: I recommend these if you want a clean, modern look at a reasonable price and you’re comfortable with basic installation. Replace or handle the included screws with care, and plan for anchors on masonry. If you’re chasing a premium, sculptural effect or need long-distance visibility on a dark background, step up to larger, cast or floating numbers. For everyday readability on mailboxes, posts, and entryways, these perform well with minimal fuss.