A throwaway mailbox (also known as a plus-addressed or disposable email address) is an extension of your primary mailbox that looks like this:
text
mailbox+string_of_text@domain.com
For example:
text
johndoe+facebook@my-site-name.com
The “+” sign is the key part of the address—it indicates that this is a throwaway address.
How Throwaway Mailboxes Work
There is no need to create or manage throwaway mailboxes separately. You can simply use them in any situation where you are required to provide an email address.
On some platforms, when an email is received, a new folder is automatically created for the throwaway mailbox. However, on our platform, incoming emails are delivered directly to your Inbox instead.
How to Use Throwaway Mailboxes
Using a throwaway mailbox is simple—just type it in whenever you are asked to provide an email address. You can assign a different throwaway mailbox to each service you use.
Example:
If you need to sign up for an additional Facebook account, instead of creating a brand new mailbox, you can use a throwaway address like:
text
existing.mailbox+facebook@domain.com
For example:
text
johndoe+facebook@my-site-name.com
You can create as many throwaway mailboxes as you want for each mailbox you have with us.
Setting an Expiration Date
You also have the option to set an expiration date for a throwaway mailbox. To do this, simply add the desired date in the format +YYYYMMDD to ensure the mailbox stops functioning on that specific day.
Example:
text
existing.mailbox+string_of_text+20251226@domain.com
For example:
text
johndoe+facebook+20251226@my-site-name.com
In the example above, any emails sent to johndoe+facebook+20251226@my-site-name.com after December 26, 2025 will be discarded automatically.
Why Use Throwaway Mailboxes?
Here are some common use cases:
- Signing up for multiple services – Create a unique mailbox for each service and set up filters to organize incoming emails.
- Creating additional accounts for the same service – If you need another Twitter or Facebook account but don’t have a spare mailbox, signing up with a throwaway address is a convenient option.
- Testing your own service – Throwaway mailboxes are a quick and easy way to create 100 test accounts without having to set up 100 real mailboxes.
- Protecting your privacy – Using throwaway mailboxes helps protect your primary inbox from privacy breaches, spam emails, and other issues related to sensitive information.
Summary
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Format | mailbox+text@domain.com |
| Creation | No need to create—just use it |
| Storage | Emails go directly to your Inbox |
| Expiration | Optional—add +YYYYMMDD to set a date |
| Limits | Unlimited throwaway addresses per mailbox |
Don’t have your own domain email service? Sign up for a hosting plan with TrexHost and you’ll be able to create customized mailboxes on your own domain name. Professional email, spam protection, and unlimited throwaway addresses—all included!