diff --git a/alot/defaults/alot.rc.spec b/alot/defaults/alot.rc.spec
index ad5988d9a..07432846f 100644
--- a/alot/defaults/alot.rc.spec
+++ b/alot/defaults/alot.rc.spec
@@ -346,14 +346,16 @@ thread_focus_linewise = boolean(default=True)
         # sendmail command. This is the shell command used to send out mails via the sendmail protocol
         sendmail_command = string(default='sendmail -t')
 
-        # where to store outgoing mails, e.g. `maildir:///home/you/mail/Sent` or `maildir://~/mail/Sent`.
+        # where to store outgoing mails, e.g. `maildir:///home/you/mail/Sent`,
+        # `maildir://$MAILDIR/Sent` or `maildir://~/mail/Sent`.
         # You can use mbox, maildir, mh, babyl and mmdf in the protocol part of the URL.
         #
         # .. note:: If you want to add outgoing mails automatically to the notmuch index
         #           you must use maildir in a path within your notmuch database path.
         sent_box = mail_container(default=None)
 
-        # where to store draft mails, e.g. `maildir:///home/you/mail/Drafts` or `maildir://~/mail/Drafts`.
+        # where to store draft mails, e.g. `maildir:///home/you/mail/Drafts`,
+        # `maildir://$MAILDIR/Drafts` or `maildir://~/mail/Drafts`.
         # You can use mbox, maildir, mh, babyl and mmdf in the protocol part of the URL.
         #
         # .. note:: You will most likely want drafts indexed by notmuch to be able to
diff --git a/alot/utils/configobj.py b/alot/utils/configobj.py
index d895b05f9..203119754 100644
--- a/alot/utils/configobj.py
+++ b/alot/utils/configobj.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def mail_container(value):
         }
     klass = uri_scheme_to_mbclass.get(mburl.scheme)
     if klass:
-        return klass(mburl.netloc + mburl.path)
+        return klass(os.path.expandvars(mburl.netloc + mburl.path))
     raise VdtTypeError(value)
 
 
diff --git a/docs/source/configuration/accounts.rst b/docs/source/configuration/accounts.rst
index 81f45b35d..7ab093a0d 100644
--- a/docs/source/configuration/accounts.rst
+++ b/docs/source/configuration/accounts.rst
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ Here is an example configuration
             gpg_key = D7D6C5AA
             sendmail_command = msmtp --account=wayne -t
             sent_box = maildir:///home/bruce/mail/work/Sent
-            # ~ expansion also works
+            # ~, $VAR and ${VAR} expansion also work
             draft_box = maildir://~/mail/work/Drafts
 
         [[secret]]
diff --git a/docs/source/configuration/accounts_table b/docs/source/configuration/accounts_table
index 3c8db96ee..a29bc95ad 100644
--- a/docs/source/configuration/accounts_table
+++ b/docs/source/configuration/accounts_table
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@
 
 .. describe:: draft_box
 
-     where to store draft mails, e.g. `maildir:///home/you/mail/Drafts` or `maildir://~/mail/Drafts`.
+     where to store draft mails, e.g. `maildir:///home/you/mail/Drafts`,
+     `maildir://$MAILDIR/Drafts` or `maildir://~/mail/Drafts`.
      You can use mbox, maildir, mh, babyl and mmdf in the protocol part of the URL.
 
      .. note:: You will most likely want drafts indexed by notmuch to be able to
@@ -177,7 +178,8 @@
 
 .. describe:: sent_box
 
-     where to store outgoing mails, e.g. `maildir:///home/you/mail/Sent` or `maildir://~/mail/Sent`.
+     where to store outgoing mails, e.g. `maildir:///home/you/mail/Sent`,
+     `maildir://$MAILDIR/Sent` or `maildir://~/mail/Sent`.
      You can use mbox, maildir, mh, babyl and mmdf in the protocol part of the URL.
 
      .. note:: If you want to add outgoing mails automatically to the notmuch index