Going to the post office is often seen as an errand that can only be done during regular business hours Monday through Friday. But with many post office locations adjusting hours and offering weekend availability, you may be wondering – is the post office open on Saturdays and Sundays?
The short answer is sometimes. While your local post office likely has reduced weekend hours compared to weekdays, select locations are open for a few hours on Saturday, and very few are open on Sundays. However, hours can vary significantly by location, so it’s best to check ahead of time.
Key Takeaways:
- Most post office branches have reduced hours on Saturdays, with many open from 9 a.m. to noon.
- A small number of locales have Saturday hours in the afternoon.
- Sunday hours are extremely limited, with only a tiny fraction of branches open.
- Always verify your local branch’s weekend hours by phone or online before visiting.
Overview of Post Office Hours
In general, most local post office locations are closed on Sundays, while a limited number are open on Saturdays for a few hours. However, hours can vary by location.
The post office’s standard hours are:
- Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday: Varies by location, generally 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Though local post offices tend to follow this schedule, it’s always best to check with your own post office for their specific hours. You can look up post office locations online or call ahead to confirm weekend availabilities in your area.
Is the Post Office Open on Saturdays?
The post office is open for a few hours on Saturdays at select locations across the country. Saturday hours are usually 9 AM to noon, although in some places may be 8:30 AM to 1 PM or similar.
You can expect limited staffing on Saturdays as well compared to regular weekday operations. The lobby may still be open for portal and kiosk access in some locations too.
Saturday mail pick up and delivery times are shortened too. Letter carriers may be out delivering mail, but cutoff times for sending packages or purchasing postage are earlier than normal in most areas.
Some things you can do at the post office on Saturdays include:
- Buy stamps and shipping supplies – Such as priority mail envelopes, boxes, tape, etc.
- Mail letters and packages
- Pick up mail from your P.O. box
- Drop off prepaid packages – Including those with priority mail, UPS, FedEx, DHL (may vary by location)
So Saturdays are a good day to stop by for general mailing needs.
Is the Post Office Open on Sundays?
Post office hours on Sundays are even more restricted across all locations. The post office is closed on Sundays with very few special exceptions.
Mail and packages do not get processed, sorted, or delivered on Sundays. Postal employees use Sundays to prepare for the coming week. So expect your local post office to be closed entirely.
The only operations that occur on Sundays relate to Priority Mail Express, which has some Sunday delivery to select destinations with an afternoon cutoff.
If you need reliable Sunday mail services, the best options are private courier services like UPS or FedEx. USPS resumes all mailing and delivery operations on Mondays.
Post Office Hours Can Vary
Post office open hours for Saturdays and Sundays can change depending on your location. Some smaller towns only have Saturday hours once a month, for example. While busy city offices may have extended weekend operations.
You may also find select postal service counters open inside third-party retailers, like contracted postal stations inside Staples or Office Supply stores. Access to P.O. Boxes, mailing, packaging, and other services is offered during retailer operating times for added convenience.
The USPS Post Office Locator tool lets you search post office hours by address or zip code to confirm weekend access in your area. Results display opening days and times specific to that branch.
Sending Mail on Weekends
Mailing letters or packages on the weekend comes with some important limitations to note:
- No regular mail collection on Sundays at USPS blue collection boxes
- Final collection times are often 1 hour before closing at Post Offices
- First Class mail gets backlogged and won’t be delivered sooner than Monday
- Priority Mail Express still offers next-day delivery if sent by cutoff
So you can only deposit mail on Saturdays if the Post Office is open in your location. Be aware of earlier collection times too.
USPS mail scheduled for delivery on Monday gets processed Sunday night behind the scenes. So you’ll still receive your regular deliveries after the weekend.
Saturday mail delivery remains reliable for sensitive material if posted on time. But Sundays should be avoided when mailing with USPS.
Are Collection Boxes Accessible on Weekends?
You’ll notice that familiar round blue USPS collection boxes on street corners don’t take Sundays off. As long as the box isn’t full, you can safely drop off letter mail on Saturdays and Sundays for pick-up.
- The last weekday scheduled collection times also apply to weekend pick-ups. Look for the posting on the box.
- Outgoing mail will then be collected and taken to the area postal facility for processing.
For package pick-up, the weekend schedule can vary:
- If the blue box has a separate slot for larger envelopes and small boxes, those may have Saturday collection. Check the label.
- Pick-up times for bigger packages in parcel lockers mainly run Monday-Friday. Weekend pick-up is not guaranteed.
So for priority mail express or last-minute shipping needs, the retail service counter is still your best option during Saturday hours. Or you can schedule a package pick-up online for home or work. USPS offers pick-up by mail carriers 6 days a week.
Alternatives for Mailing Packages Without Post Office Access
- USPS Carrier Pickup – Schedule free package pickup from your mail carrier Monday-Saturday by requesting through the USPS website or calling. Just ensure you are home during the scheduled collection window.
- Parcel Lockers – Many post office locations have self-service parcel lockers allowing 24/7 dropoff if shipping through Click-N-Ship or printed shipping labels. Access lockers require a tracking QR code scan.
- Postal Counter Alternatives – Retail stores like CVS, Walgreens, Office Depot, Staples, etc. offer in-store packing, shipping, and drop off through USPS or other carriers.
- Package Messengers – Services like Shippo, Point Pickup, Fetch Package, etc. dispatch drivers for at-home pickup. They transport to the shipping carrier for you using your pre-paid label. Scheduling fees apply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Post Office Weekend Availability
Many consumers have questions around accessing postal services on Saturdays and Sundays. Here are answers to some of the most common weekend-related USPS inquiries:
Does USPS Deliver Mail on Saturdays and Sundays?
Yes, USPS delivers residential and commercial mail on both Saturdays and Sundays all year long. However, weekend delivery mainly applies to incoming mail headed to homes and businesses.
Most outgoing shipments dropped into blue collection boxes after the last scheduled pickup Friday won’t go out until Monday. The exceptions are locations with later Saturday truck dispatch times to local sorting facilities.
What Time Does the Post Office Stop Sending Out Mail on Saturdays?
Outbound mail processing times on Saturdays vary depending on when the last collection run occurs to meet dispatch trucks headed to distribution hubs. At many locations, the last Saturday collection time is between noon-2 p.m.
So mail deposited after that often won’t leave the post office until Monday delivery. Verify with your local branch when outbound mail stops flowing to manage expectations on Saturday delivery timelines.
Can I Pick Up Packages from the Post Office on Sundays?
Unless your post office branch is a rare contract location with Sunday package pickup, retrieving packages on Sundays is not an option. Always verify weekend package pickup hours in advance and understand they may differ from retail service availability.
If a seller ships with Sunday delivery guaranteed by USPS, then Sunday porch delivery does occur in select areas based on Amazon and third-party partnerships. But physically collecting USPS packages from the post office itself aligns only with retail hours – which means no Sundays.
Is There Saturday Mail Delivery in 2024?
Yes, Saturday mail delivery continues to be provided across all USPS zip codes in 2023. Both incoming and select outgoing mail is delivered on Saturdays.
However, mail is not delivered on Sundays or federal holidays even though limited post office retail hours occur on some weekends and holiday Mondays. Sunday package deliveries handled via Amazon or third-parties represent exceptions. But expect no traditional letter carrier service.
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