USPS 2024 Delivery Times
The USPS provides quality mail service to millions of Americans every day. They have several types of delivery options to meet your needs at an affordable price. If you are a merchant shipping packages, it is important to understand their delivery times to best serve your customers.
What Is the USPS?
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is a vital part of the country's communication and delivery infrastructure. Founded in 1775, the USPS is recognized as one of the world's most trusted postal services. They provide traditional mail delivery as well as shipping services. They are a self-sustaining business that is not supported by taxpayer funding. The company has over 31,000 locations across the United States and boast over 600,000 employees. The mission of the USPS is to provide a reliable and efficient service at an affordable price.
What Are USPS Delivery Times?
USPS offers several options for both domestic and international delivery. Below are the current rates for USPS services as well as their estimated delivery time.
Domestic USPS Delivery Times Per Service
| Mail Class | Estimated Delivery Time | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Mail Express | Overnight delivery | $26.35 |
| Priority Mail | 1 – 3 business days | $7.50 |
| Priority Mail Flat Rate | 1 – 3 business days | $8.30 |
| Priority Mail Regional Rate | 1 – 3 business days | $9.98 |
| First class Package Service | 1 – 3 business days | $3.80 |
| Parcel Select | 2 – 8 business days | N/A |
| USPS Retail Ground | 2 – 8 business days | $7.50 |
| First-Class Mail – Letters | 1 – 3 business days | $0.55 |
| First-Class Mail – Large Envelopes | 1 – 3 business days | $1.00 |
International USPS Delivery Times Per Service
| Mail Class | Estimated Delivery Time | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Global Express Guaranteed | 1 – 3 business days | $67.80 |
| Priority Mail Express International | 3 – 5 business days | $5.95 |
| Priority Mail International | 6 – 10 business days | $36.35 |
| First Class Package International Service | 6 – 20 business days | $20.75 |
| First Class Mail International – Letters | 6 – 20 days | $1.20 |
How Does Service Differ Around the Country?
The service time, delivery speed, and options available will vary depending on your region. For example, rural areas may have longer delivery times compared to urban areas due to the distance between addresses. Extreme weather conditions and geographical barriers can also be significant factors for any type of delivery. Population density is another consideration for the types of services available. Highly populated areas are more likely to have same-day or next-day delivery. Call your local USPS location for more information.
How Does USPS Handle Large Packages?
USPS considers any package that exceeds 108 inches in length to be large. Large packages can take longer to arrive compared to smaller ones as they may require special handling. Additionally large packages can be subjected to additional fees for processing, making these orders more expensive.
What Takes the Longest To Arrive?
International shipments generally take the longest to arrive, as they have to go through customs and may be subject to additional processing times. Standard mail can also take longer compared to expedited or priority mail services. It is vital to understand all delivery options provided by USPS to avoid any delayed shipment.
Does Seasonality Affect Delivery?
Delivery times can vary depending on the time of the year. Extreme weather during certain seasons such as snowstorms and heatwaves can slow the flow of mail. The USPS adjusts its operations and staffing levels to adapt to these factors and keep services running. During the holiday season there is a larger volume of mail being processed and delivered. This can lead to a significant increase in delivery times. The USPS provides holiday shipping deadlines on their website.
Holidays
USPS is closed on all federal holidays. It is critical to schedule your deliveries in advance to avoid a delay. Below is the current USPS Holiday Schedule.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is not a federal US holiday, which means USPS operates normally.
President's Day
President's Day is a federal US holiday, which means USPS and local post offices are closed with no delivery.
Good Friday
Good Friday is not a federal US holiday. USPS and local post offices are open and operate on their normal schedule.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a federal US holiday. USPS and local post offices will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2024. You should schedule your package delivery to arrive by the weekend before Memorial Day to ensure it arrives on time.
Juneteenth
Juneteenth is the newest US federal holiday. USPS post offices will be closed on June 19. If you have any package deliveries around Juneteenth, consider scheduling them to arrive before the weekend to avoid any delays.
Independence Day
Independence Day is a federal US holiday. USPS post offices are closed on July 4. If you have a letter or package that needs to arrive before this date, consider scheduling delivery the weekend before.
Labor Day
Labor Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the first Monday of September. This holiday is celebrated as a long weekend. To ensure your letters and shipments arrive on time, schedule delivery for the Friday before.
Columbus Day
Columbus Day is a US federal holiday. USPS locations will be closed with no delivery service. It's recommended to schedule letters and shipments to arrive by Friday, October 11 to avoid any delays.
- USPS Priority Mail Express: Next day; ship by Thursday, October 10
- Priority Mail: 1-3 days; ship by Thursday, October 10
- First-class Mail: 1-3 days; ship by Thursday, October 10
- USPS Media Mail: 2-8 days; ship by Saturday, October 5
- USPS Retail Ground: 2-8 days; ship by Saturday, October 5
Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a US federal holiday. USPS locations will be closed on November 11 with no delivery. It is recommended to schedule letters and shipments arrive by Friday, November 10 to avoid any delays.
- USPS Priority Mail Express: Next day; ship by Friday, November 8
- Priority Mail: 1-3 days; ship by Wednesday, November 6
- First-class Mail: 1-3 days; ship by Wednesday, November 6
- USPS Media Mail: 2-8 days; ship by Friday, November 1
- USPS Retail Ground: 2-8 days; ship by Friday, November 1
Thanksgiving Day
One of the busiest shipping and travel weekends of the year, USPS post offices will be closed on November 28, 2024, with no delivery. It's recommended that shipments arrive by Tuesday, November 26 to avoid delay. It's important to check with your local branch to learn the USPS holiday hours.
- USPS Priority Mail Express: Next day; ship by Monday, November 25
- Priority Mail: 1-3 days; ship by Thursday, November 21
- First-class Mail: 1-3 days; ship by Thursday, November 21
- USPS Media Mail: 2-8 days; ship by Wednesday, November 13
- USPS Retail Ground: 2-8 days; ship by Wednesday, November 13
Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024
These days are not federal holidays. USPS will have regular hours on these days. These are two of the busiest shopping days of the year, as Black Friday arrives right after Thanksgiving with Cyber Monday the next Monday. E-commerce merchants will see a large spike in orders during this weekend due to promotional sales. These sales are extended throughout the whole week with heightened shipping volumes.
Christmas Day
On Christmas, USPS stores countrywide will be closed with no delivery. Due to large volumes of shipping in the lead-up to Christmas, some USPS offices will remain open the two previous Sundays to handle the volume of shipments so they don't arrive after the holiday. It's best to check with your local USPS for their holiday hours.
The estimated USPS holiday shipping deadline for Christmas is as follows:
- USPS Ground Advantage: Ship by Saturday, December 14
- First-Class Mail: Ship by Saturday, December 14
- Priority Mail: Ship by Monday, December 16
- Priority Mail Express: Ship by Friday, December 20
The USPS is a business known for its reliability and efficiency. Understanding USPS services and holiday hours can help ensure your mail's timely delivery. Be sure to visit their official website for more information on shipping solutions.
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