What Time Does USPS Stop Delivering?

Waiting for a letter or a package can keep you glued to the window the whole day. While the United States Postal Service (USPS) works to deliver mail as quickly as possible, the actual time your carrier delivers is not so predictable. Here is what you need to know.

Typical Delivery Window by Service Type

Regular Mail and Packages (Mon–Sun)

For the majority of packages and regular mail (e.g., First-Class, USPS Ground Advantage), the official delivery period is between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Saturday. Due to circumstances, however, it's not uncommon for carriers to deliver mail late in the evening, up to 8:00 PM. With the coordination of companies like Amazon, Sunday package deliveries are now occurring.

So how late does USPS deliver on weekdays? The answer is usually no later than 8 PM.

Priority Mail Express

This is the fastest domestic service offered by USPS, with a money-back guarantee. Priority Mail Express items have a guaranteed next-day or 2-day delivery by 6:00 PM. It runs 365 days a year, including holidays, to most U.S. addresses.

Holidays and Peak-Season Exceptions

When there are holiday seasons (e.g., Black Friday to New Year's) or national holidays, delivery windows shift or change. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve generally have earlier-than-usual cutoffs, and delivery volume surges can lead to evening deliveries or next-day delays. You can check the USPS holiday schedule for details.

The answer to “Does USPS deliver on holidays?” depends on the service type.

What Affects USPS Cutoff Times

Volume Spikes, Weather, and Route Backlogs

The carrier's route experiences major delays because mail volume increases quickly on Mondays and right after holidays. Snowstorms, along with hurricanes and extreme heat, create substantial delays in weather conditions. Staff shortages at times create route backlogs, which force carriers to work on extended service areas. 

Rural vs. Urban Routes

The organization of a mail route determines its performance. Urban routes function at a faster delivery speed because they operate within short and compact areas that serve multiple addresses. The distance between stops on rural routes tends to be long, which results in extended delivery times. 

Apartments, Gated Communities, and Business Access

The transportation route encounters delays because of various logistical problems. The delivery process requires carriers to enter access codes for gated communities and to move through extensive apartment buildings to reach individual mailboxes and delivery points, and to complete commercial deliveries before business closing times.

How to Check Your Delivery Today

Track Your Item in Real Time

If you have a tracking number, the USPS Tracking tool on the USPS website and the mobile app will be your best friend. It will provide you with updates as your package moves throughout the system. Most importantly, you will see the "out for delivery" scan, meaning that it is on the truck for delivery that day.

Set Up Informed Delivery for Daily Updates

Informed Delivery is a free service offered by the USPS. Once you sign up, you will receive daily emails of grayscale scans of your inbound letter-sized mail that is about to be delivered. It combines mail tracking with package tracking, giving you an overview of your daily mail.

Call Your Local Post Office for Route-Specific Info

If urgent, calling your local post office can typically provide you with the most accurate information with a real-time status. They may even be able to contact the carrier on your route for a better estimated time of arrival (ETA). Find a local post office at the local post office locator.

What to Do If a Package Is Late

If your package hasn’t arrived and the tracking shows no update:

• Wait 24-48 hours post expected delivery date.

• Check for a notice left slip at your door or mailbox.

• Contact your local USPS office; they may have the last scan.

• If necessary, you can submit a Missing Mail Search Request online.

Pro Tips to Avoid Delays

• Ship early, especially during peak seasons such as the holidays.

• Drop packages off before the cutoff time your local facility may have, which is typically around 3-5pm.

• Do not put outgoing mail late in the day in a home mailbox, be sure to place it in an official USPS drop box or at the counter of a post office.

• Double check the address of the destination package for typos or missing unit numbers.

• Sign up for text/email alerts when you are mailing something time sensitive.

If you are sending something of value, use the appropriate packaging. Sturdy mailers safeguards your item against being damaged and makes processing by USPS more efficient. 

• If you are sending fragile items, or have items that need to be padded, we have Bubble Mailers.

• If you are sending lightweight clothing, paperwork, or bulk items, we have Poly Mailers.

Both packaging options are a great and inexpensive solution to wrap or ship your items while avoiding holes and issues from USPS.

FAQs

Do business addresses have different cutoff times?

Sure. Carriers commonly organize deliveries to business and commercial places earlier in the day so their delivery occurs during standard hours of operation (often before 5:00 PM). Residential addresses often make up the last half of the carrier's route.

At what time does USPS stop delivering?

USPS aims to finish by 5 PM, but depending on delays, carriers may continue until 8 PM in many areas.

Does USPS actually deliver until 8pm?

Yes. While standard delivery is completed by 5pm, during peak seasons, staffing shortages, or delays, carriers may deliver as late as 8pm.

What time is the USPS supposed to deliver mail?

Regular delivery hours are Monday through Saturday, usually between 8am and 5pm.

What is the cut off time for USPS?

The delivery deadline exists at 5 pm but carriers get extended time to finish their routes when they take more than the scheduled duration.

Do packages get delivered late at night?

The situation occurs at times. Package delivery times during peak seasons reach 8 to 9 pm in particular regions.

Conclusion

While USPS works to deliver by 5:00 PM, anything from the weather to the number of packages can affect delivery time. For the most accurate and updated information, utilize online tracking tools and utilize the free Informed Delivery service to know exactly what you can expect in your mailbox today.