USPS hours

Senders often face various dilemmas, especially during busy times like the holidays. One of the most common questions from mailers is, “Is the post office open today?” Whether you’re sending a mail or a package, it’s important to know the hours of operation for your local post office. This is for you to determine your other options for important documents or items you wish to send.

Learn more about this sender’s dilemma and the best ways to address it.

Regular Post Office Hours

The United States Postal Service (USPS) works around the clock to handle the logistics side of things. Therefore, the mail delivery leaves from Monday to Saturday every week throughout the country. You can check if post offices are open today by checking their website and other reputable online sources.

Here are the essential things shippers need to know about USPS regular business hours:

  • Business Hours: USPS can accommodate customers Monday through Friday from 7 am to 5 pm or 6 pm local time. Some municipalities with post offices open on Saturdays operate between 8 am and 3 pm. Other areas maintain normal business hours Monday through Saturday.
  • Mail sorting and delivery: Mail sorting and delivery happens a bit later, even if the opening hours are between 7 am and 8 am If you have a PO Box, you shouldn’t expect the mail is in your box until approximately 10 am
  • Mail Delivery Time: Mail day delivery time for specific addresses is unique as different factors affect delivery time. Shippers can expect consistent mail delivery times Monday through Saturday. Some USPS offices deliver mail on Sundays for special events or in extreme circumstances. If you want to know what time the mail arrives, check the tracking information on previous packages or packages you sent via USPS.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Post Office Hours

Are you in a hurry to send a mail or a package to the post office? You are probably concerned that the recipient may not receive the mail as expected due to the holiday season.

At each post office location, senders can check the Christmas time or schedule. Some places have extended hours leading up to the holidays. Other post offices have limited hours on Christmas Eve or December 24.

Here are the important things you need to know about the USPS Christmas Eve schedule:

  • How to check hours: You can check if post offices are open today by searching for locations through the USPS website. Enter your zip code in your area to check Christmas hours. Business customers can check with their Mass Mail Entry Unit for holiday hours of operation.
  • USPS Blue Collection Drop Boxes: USPS will collect mail from blue collection boxes on Christmas Eve. You can drop off your mail or package in the drop box before noon on December 24. Remember that even if the last mail pickup time is later, as indicated on the mailboxes, the mail may still be picked up earlier. Therefore, if you need your mail to be picked up later, you should visit your local post office.
  • Regular Mail Delivery: All mail will be delivered on Christmas Eve or December 24 as usual.
  • Christmas Day Hours: All Post Offices are closed on Christmas Day. Priority Mail Express mail will be delivered on Christmas Day, but regular mail will not. All Post Office locations resume regular mail delivery the next normal business day.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s hours

Trying to send gifts or a Christmas card to loved ones miles away? Post offices across the country are usually open on New Year’s Eve or December 31. Because January 1 is a postal holiday, all post offices are closed on New Year’s Day.

Here are the important things you need to know about the USPS New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day schedule:

  • How to check hours: You can check if post offices are open today by searching for locations through the USPS website. Enter your ZIP code in your area to check New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day hours. Business customers can check with their Mass Mail Entry Unit for holiday hours of operation.
  • USPS Blue Collection Drop Boxes: USPS will pick up mail from blue collection boxes on New Year’s Eve or December 31. You can drop off your mail or package in the drop box before 12:00 pm or noon on December 31st. as it is posted in mailboxes, mails can be picked up earlier. Therefore, if you need your mail to be picked up later, you should visit your local post office.
  • Regular Mail Delivery: All mail will be delivered on New Year’s Eve or December 31 as usual.
  • New Year’s Hours: All post offices are closed on New Year’s Day. Priority Mail Express mail will be delivered on New Year’s Day, but regular mail will not. All Post Office locations resume regular mail delivery the next normal business day.

Additional Post Office Information Shippers Should Know

Christmas Day deliveries are made to limited locations and an additional fee must be assessed. For Priority Mail Express shipments between December 22-25, the money-back guarantee applies. The same could happen if the shipment was not delivered or no delivery attempt was made within two business days. The same rules apply to New Year’s Day deliveries.

If you need to mail important documents but the post office is closed, you can scan and upload them online and send them via certified mail service. This mailing option applies to bank documents, legal documents, and other important documents. With certified mail service, you can have peace of mind knowing that the document will not be lost because. This is because the postman will not leave it at the door if there is no one to receive it and sign for it at the delivery address.

Conclusion

Shippers often have questions about the availability of their local post office during the holidays. Knowing the hours of operation for USPS offices in your area can help you plan the best option for mailing. With the different shipping schedules and options presented above, you’ll have more confidence to manage mailings next time.