Is the Post Office Open Today? Complete USPS Hours Guide

The simple answer: most USPS retail post offices are open Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays and 11 federal holidays. But that hides several useful nuances — Saturday hours are reduced at most locations, some big-city post offices stay open later, contract postal units inside grocery stores follow different hours, and several USPS services keep operating even when retail counters are closed.

This guide covers exactly when your local post office is open, every USPS-observed holiday, what's available 24/7, and how to ship or pick up packages when retail is closed.

USPS Standard Operating Hours

Most USPS retail post offices follow these hours, though specific locations vary:

• Monday–Friday: typically 8:30 AM or 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Some larger urban post offices open earlier (7:00 AM) and close later (6:00 PM).
• Saturday: shorter hours, typically 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM or 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Most locations close Saturday afternoons.
• Sunday: most retail post offices closed all day. A small number of high-volume facilities (Manhattan, Chicago Loop, Las Vegas) maintain limited Sunday hours.
• Federal holidays: closed for retail; mail and package delivery also suspended on most holidays.
• Mail processing centers and distribution networks: operate 7 days a week behind the scenes, even when retail counters are closed.
• Self-service kiosks: many locations have Self-Service Kiosks (SSKs) in their lobbies that operate 24/7 — buy postage, weigh packages, drop pre-paid mail at any hour.

USPS Federal Holidays in 2026 — Post Office Closed

USPS observes 11 federal holidays plus Sundays. On these dates, retail post offices are closed and most package delivery is suspended (Priority Mail Express and Amazon Sunday/holiday delivery are exceptions):

• New Year's Day — Thursday, January 1, 2026
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Monday, January 19, 2026
• Presidents Day (Washington's Birthday) — Monday, February 16, 2026
• Memorial Day — Monday, May 25, 2026
• Juneteenth National Independence Day — Friday, June 19, 2026
• Independence Day — Saturday, July 4, 2026 (observed Friday, July 3)
• Labor Day — Monday, September 7, 2026
• Columbus Day (Indigenous Peoples' Day) — Monday, October 12, 2026
• Veterans Day — Wednesday, November 11, 2026
• Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 26, 2026
• Christmas Day — Friday, December 25, 2026

Days When USPS Is Open But Reduced

Several days each year USPS retail counters are open but operate with reduced staffing or modified hours:

• Day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday): retail open with regular hours but the busiest mailing day before Christmas — long lines
• Christmas Eve (December 24): most locations close early, typically 2:00 PM
• New Year's Eve (December 31): most locations close early, typically 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM
• Day of presidential inauguration (federal-only holiday in DC area): only Washington DC area post offices may close
• State-level holidays (Patriots' Day in MA, Cesar Chavez Day in CA): retail counters open everywhere — these are not federal holidays
• Election Day (federal general election Tuesdays): retail open, regular hours

Saturday Hours: What to Expect

Saturday is a normal mail delivery day for USPS but with reduced retail hours. Specific patterns:

• Most post offices: 9:00 AM–1:00 PM Saturdays
• Large city post offices: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM or later
• Smaller rural post offices: may have hours as limited as 9:00 AM–11:30 AM or be closed entirely on Saturdays
• Mail and package delivery: continues normally on Saturdays for all services that include Saturday in their normal delivery commitment (Priority Mail, Ground Advantage, Priority Mail Express, First-Class)
• Carriers' last pickup time on Saturdays is typically 1:00–2:00 PM at most blue collection boxes

Sunday Service: Mail vs. Retail

USPS retail counters are closed on Sundays at virtually all locations. However, Sunday delivery does happen for specific services:

• Priority Mail Express: USPS guarantees delivery 365 days a year, including Sundays and federal holidays, at a small upcharge
• Amazon Sunday Delivery: USPS contracts with Amazon to deliver Amazon parcels on Sundays in major metropolitan areas — Amazon Prime customers see this as standard
• Standard Priority Mail and Ground Advantage: do NOT deliver on Sundays under normal terms
• Some major post offices (NYC, Chicago, LA) maintain Sunday self-service kiosks for postage and package drop
• Self-service kiosks (SSKs): operate 24/7 at many locations including Sundays

What's Open When the Post Office Is Closed

Even when retail counters are closed, you have several options to handle mail and packages:

• Self-service kiosks (SSKs): in the lobby of many post offices, open 24/7. Buy postage, weigh packages, print labels, and drop directly. Accepts credit/debit cards.
• Blue USPS collection boxes: accept letters and packages with pre-paid postage. Last pickup times printed on each box (typically 5–7 PM weekdays, 1–2 PM Saturdays). No pickups on Sundays or holidays.
• Contract Postal Units (CPUs): inside grocery stores, drugstores, hardware stores. Often follow the host store's hours, including Sundays and some holidays. Look up CPU locations at usps.com/locator.
• Approved Postal Provider locations: third-party private partners offering counter services. Variable hours, often longer than retail post offices.
• USPS-authorized retailers (Walgreens, CVS, Office Depot): some locations process pre-paid USPS dropoffs and limited counter services even on Sundays
• Online USPS services: usps.com is always available — buy postage, schedule pickup, print labels, change of address, hold mail, all 24/7

How to Find the Closest Open Post Office

Three reliable ways to find a post office that's actually open right now:

1. USPS Locator (usps.com/locator): enter your ZIP, filter by today's hours, see live status, distance, and services available at each location
2. Google Maps: search "post office" — Google shows current open/closed status and hours pulled from Google's verified business data, often more current than USPS's website
3. USPS app (mobile): same locator function in app form, with directions and real-time hours
4. By phone: 1-800-275-8777 (1-800-ASK-USPS) for live agent help finding open locations

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the post office open today?

Most US post offices are open Monday–Saturday with reduced Saturday hours, and closed on Sundays and 11 federal holidays. Use usps.com/locator with your ZIP code for current local hours.

Is the post office open on Saturday?

Yes — most post offices are open Saturday mornings, typically 9:00 AM–1:00 PM. Larger urban post offices open later, until 4:00 PM. Mail delivery continues on Saturdays for all standard USPS services.

Is the post office open on Sunday?

Almost all retail post offices are closed Sundays. Self-service kiosks at many locations operate 24/7. Priority Mail Express and Amazon parcels deliver on Sundays; standard mail delivery does not.

Is the post office open on Good Friday?

Yes — Good Friday is not a federal holiday. Post offices operate with regular Friday hours.

Is the post office open on Easter Sunday?

No different from any other Sunday — closed for retail. Sunday delivery is limited to Priority Mail Express and Amazon-contracted parcels.

Does the post office close early on Christmas Eve?

Most locations close early on Christmas Eve, typically by 2:00 PM. Mail delivery continues with shorter hours. Self-service kiosks remain available 24/7.

What time does the post office open on Saturday?

Most post offices open at 9:00 AM on Saturdays, though large urban post offices may open as early as 7:30 AM. Check usps.com/locator for your specific location.

Are all post offices closed on federal holidays?

Yes — retail post offices are closed on all 11 federal holidays. Mail delivery is also suspended (except for Priority Mail Express and Amazon Sunday-style deliveries).

Where can I mail a package on Sunday?

USPS self-service kiosks at participating post offices (24/7), blue USPS collection boxes (subject to last-pickup time), Contract Postal Units inside grocery stores with Sunday hours, or schedule USPS Carrier Pickup for Monday morning.

Is the post office open on election day?

Yes. General election day in November is not a federal holiday for USPS. Post offices follow regular Tuesday hours.