You know that you can rely on your local post office to be open on weekdays (except on federal holidays of course). However, is the post office open on Saturday and Sunday? If so, what are the weekend operating hours? If you have a package to send and can’t get to the post office during the week, you may also be wondering what options are available to you. Here are the answers to all of those questions and more.
Is The Post Office Open on Saturday and Sunday?
Your local post office is open Monday through Friday, so there’s no doubt that you can mail something or check your PO box on a weekday (unless it happens to be a federal holiday). However, the weekends are different.
Some post office locations aren’t open at all on the weekends. Many locations are open on Saturdays, but not on Sundays. Additionally, post offices often operate on limited schedules during the weekend. To help you figure out the best time to run your errands, here’s everything you need to know about weekend post office hours.
Some Post Offices Are Open Saturdays
Post office hours vary by location. This is particularly true when it comes to Saturday hours. Some locations aren’t open at all. Many are open on a reduced schedule, meaning that they close earlier or open later on Saturdays than on weekdays. It’s also possible that your local post office may stick to its regular operating hours on Saturdays.
There’s no clear answer that applies across the board, so it’s a good idea to check your local post office’s operating schedule directly. You can use the online USPS locator to find out the hours of the post office locations near you. When I searched within one mile of my zip code, I found three locations with the following hours:
- M-F: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sat: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sun: Closed
- M-F: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sat: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sun: Closed
- M-F: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sat and Sun: Closed
All three locations closest to me were closed on Sundays. Two were open on Saturdays, closing one hour and three hours earlier than weekdays respectively.
I also checked within five miles of where my parents live. Of the seven available locations, only one was open on Saturdays. As you can see, the USPS budget and post office hours vary widely from place to place.
The Post Office is Closed on Sundays
Most post offices are closed on Sundays to reduce operating costs. However, select post offices in big cities or high-traffic areas may have limited Sunday hours. For example, I found two post offices in Chicago that are open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Here are some other exceptions to make note of:
- Some locations have Sunday post office hours on the two Sundays before Christmas Day each year. Due to the increase in mail processing during the holidays, some locations opt to open on these two Sundays.
- There are post offices located inside various retail stores. In some instances, these post offices are open seven days per week. Therefore, you may be able to find Sunday post office hours at such locations.
Although there are exceptions, you can generally expect your local post office to be closed on Sundays, so plan accordingly.
Post Office Closures Also Based On Local Conditions
It’s also important to be aware that the USPS may close for local reasons such as crime, weather, or damage to the post office facility. For example, after the August 2023 Maui fire, the Lahaina Main Post Office had partial closure with service being discontinued to areas impacted by the fire.
Post Office Closed for Holidays
USPS observes a federal holiday schedule. Therefore post offices will be closed on the following days in 2024:
- New Year’s Day – Monday, January 1st
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday, January 15th
- Presidents Day – Monday, February 19th
- Memorial Day – Monday, May 27th
- Juneteenth National Independence Day – Wednesday, June 19th
- Independence Day – Thursday, July 4th
- Labor Day – Monday, September 2nd
- Columbus Day – Monday, October 14th
- Veterans Day – Monday, November 11th
- Thanksgiving – Thursday, November 28th
- Christmas Day – Wednesday, December 25th
Your local post office may also close early the day before certain holidays such as Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. It’s always a good idea to call ahead or check the USPS website to confirm holiday hours so you don’t waste gas.
Does The Post Office Deliver Mail on The Weekends?
The United States Postal Service delivers mail six days per week, Monday through Saturday. Regular mail doesn’t get delivered on Sunday, so don’t bother checking your mailbox for letters. If you look forward to mail time, luckily you’ll still have your Priority Mail Express and Amazon packages to open on Sunday. Even though it’s not a regular workday for USPS, these types of packages still get delivered.
If you need to mail something important (such as paystubs to your employees), please be sure to do it before the weekends and the holidays to avoid delays and complaints.
Alternative Services You Can Access on Weekends
If your local post office is closed during the weekend, luckily there are alternatives you can utilize. If you just need to drop off a letter, you can find a USPS collection box in your area. The mail pickup schedule is usually listed on the label of the box. Typically mail is emptied from USPS boxes once or twice per day during the week. Some boxes may also have a Saturday pickup. But if you drop off your letters on Sunday, keep in mind that they probably won’t be collected until Monday.
Another option is visiting a self-service kiosk. They’re typically located in large malls and post office lobbies, which often remain unlocked after hours. These kiosks allow you to buy stamps, weigh packages, print shipping labels, and drop off your packages even when the post office is closed. As long as your local post office’s lobby is unlocked, you should also be able to access your PO box after hours.
Additionally, USPS has secure package lockers called gopost units that allow you to pick up or ship packages 24/7. You can use this locator tool to find a gopost unit near you. The USPS website can also be accessed anytime. You can use it to schedule pickups, order shipping supplies, track packages, print labels, and more.
UPS and FedEx
UPS and FedEx are another good fallback option. Their retail stores are usually open on Saturdays and may stay open on certain holidays when USPS is closed. For example, UPS and FedEx don’t shut their doors on Presidents Day, but USPS does because it’s a federal holiday.
It’s important to note that some UPS and FedEx locations may be closed on Sundays. So make sure to check your local store’s hours on the FedEx or UPS website before you head there during the weekend.
This posting has been brought to you by Paystub creator. If you can’t make it to the Post office to get your paystub, you can use an online printable paystub maker. A handy and easy solution for your paystub printing needs!
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Alexa Mason is the blogger behind Single Moms Income, a personal finance freelance writer, and an online entrepreneur. Come hang out with her on Facebook and Pinterest.
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