Understanding the United States Postal Service holidays can save you from unnecessary mail and package delivery delays. In today’s fast-paced world, timing is crucial, and being aware of the USPS holiday schedule can make all the difference in meeting important deadlines, whether for work, school, or personal matters.
This post sheds light on the key USPS postal holidays for 2023, discusses mail delivery on non-federal holidays, and compares USPS with FedEx and UPS holiday schedules. Let’s dive in and make sure your shipping plans are on track.
USPS Postal Holidays 2023: Key Dates to Remember
USPS postal holidays are federal holidays recognized by the United States Postal Service. On these days, post offices across the country are closed and no regular mail is distributed. As customers, arranging your shipping needs to accommodate these postal service holidays is crucial.
Here’s a list of key USPS postal holidays for 2023.
- January 2nd – New Year’s Day
- January 16th – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- February 20th – President’s Day
- May 29th – Memorial Day
- June 19th – Juneteenth National Independence Day
- July 4th – Independence Day
- September 4th – Labor Day
- October 9th – Columbus Day
- November 11th- Veterans Day
- November 23rd – Thanksgiving Day
- December 25th – Christmas Day
For the majority of USPS employees, a holiday landing on a Sunday means that the succeeding Monday will be treated as an additional holiday. This results in pay and leave benefits similar to those of a normal holiday. For instance, if Martin Luther King, Jr. Day lands on a Sunday, it shall be observed the following Monday, and post offices will be closed.
Local Post Office Operating Hours
Alongside knowledge of postal holidays, knowing your local post office’s daily operating hours is just as crucial so that your mail and packages are delivered on time. Here’s how you can find out if your local USPS is open today:
- Go to the USPS locator page.
- Enter your city, state, and ZIP code.
This online tool helps you stay informed about any changes in operating hours due to holidays and other factors. By being aware of your local post office’s operating hours, you can effectively plan your visits and drop-offs.
If you need to send a document via first-class mail or ship an important package to a loved one, being mindful of your local post office’s schedule ensures a smooth and timely delivery process.
Mail Delivery Services on Non-Federal Holidays
Does the post office deliver mail and packages on non-federal holidays? Will your mail and packages get to you on holidays like Good Friday, Flag Day, or Black Friday? Fortunately, the answer to all of these is yes.
- The USPS has mail delivery services on the aforementioned holidays. And the post office continues to operate on non-federal holidays. For instance:
- The post office will remain open on Good Friday, and regular mail delivery will not be affected.
- Flag Day is celebrated every year on June 14th, and since it’s not a day when a federal holiday falls, mail delivery also takes place on this day.
- Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is also not a federal holiday, and USPS mail delivery continues as usual.
A clear understanding of the distinction between federal and non-federal holidays results in more effective planning of your mail and shipping needs. This way, you get to avoid unexpected surprises.
Comparing USPS with FedEx and UPS Holiday Schedules
When it comes to holiday schedules, USPS, FedEx, and UPS observe different sets of rules.
- The USPS observes federal holidays such as Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and other holidays listed above, during which there is no mail delivery or pickup.
- Companies like FedEx and UPS choose their own holiday schedules for deliveries and retail locations. However, they offer specialized services for deliveries that are urgent and critical.
A comparison of the holiday schedules of these three major carriers aids in making informed decisions about the carrier that best suits your mail and package delivery needs during holidays.
Use the information below as a starting point, but we recommend you check each company’s website for more information.
- UPS (United Parcel Service)
- UPS will be closed on four days in 2023 (January 1st, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day).
- Even though UPS is only closed for the four days above, deliveries around all holidays may take at least one extra business day to arrive.
- Retail locations are closed on some non-federal holidays, such as Mother’s Day, Good Friday, and Easter.
- FedEx
- FedEx has a more complicated schedule since it still delivers on many federal holidays, such as Juneteenth or Columbus Day, but with modified services depending on the delivery method.
- Since FedEx has several different methods and holiday schedules, it’s best to check online to see if delivery is available when you need it.
Why You Need to Know USPS Holidays
- Given the potential increase in mail volume and unavoidable delivery delays on USPS holidays, awareness of their operating days is important.
- Always plan your shipping around these USPS holidays to ensure your mail and packages arrive on time.
- It’s always better to be prepared and plan your shipping needs around these key dates to avoid any unexpected delays.
- For prompt delivery, particularly during the holiday season, checking USPS service alerts for ship-by dates and dispatching packages before the suggested deadlines are advised.
USPS Holidays and Mail Classes
Knowing holiday dates helps you plan ahead and ensures unanticipated delays don’t catch you off guard. In addition to being aware of potential holiday delays, remember that USPS mail classes also have different delivery times. It’s crucial to remember delivery times for each mail class, especially during busy holiday seasons.
- Regular Mail (Priority and Priority Mail Express)
- If you’re sending a regular card or letter and want to make sure that it arrives quickly, consider sending it using Priority Mail:
- It’s guaranteed to arrive within 1-3 business days and includes tracking.
- Flat-rate shipping and free pick-up service are also available.
- However, if you’re sending mail around a post office holiday and want to guarantee it arrives quickly, consider upgrading to Priority Mail Express:
- For a fee, this method ensures that your mail has a shipping time of 1-2 days, including weekends and holidays.
- First-Class Mail
- First-Class Mail is the most economical way to send mail and packages, but delivery time is slower than Priority Mail. With First-Class Mail:
- Envelopes usually arrive in 1-5 business days, and small packages are delivered between 2-5 business days.
- Unlike Priority Mail, First-Class Mail isn’t delivered on holidays, and delivery times vary depending on holiday hours.
- This means you need to allow a few extra days of cushion if you need to mail something during the holiday season or around a federal holiday.
- Packages
- The USPS has several different methods for sending packages depending on the size, weight, and shipping time that best meets your needs. With packages, keep the following in mind:
- More than 50 million packages flow through USPS around the holiday season, so delivery times are often affected by holiday closures or busy times of the year, such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Christmas.
- The best way to make sure that your packages arrive safely and quickly is by upgrading to Priority Mail Express and paying additional fees. This ensures your package arrives within the next day or two.
Get Access to Your Mail Regardless of Public Holidays
While USPS offers some perks, the easiest way to manage your mail around the holidays and in general is with an Anytime Mailbox.
An Anytime Mailbox gives you the freedom to manage your mail from anywhere. Anytime.
Adding this convenient and affordable tool to your life is simple, straightforward, and is how most everyone will be managing their mail in the days to come.
- The first step to getting a virtual mailbox is to choose a location from the network of more than 2,000 locations in the U.S. and abroad.
- Once you have your location, compare plans and take into account the features you need for business or personal use.
- Anytime Mailbox offers handy tools like opening and scanning, shredding, recycling, mail and package forwarding, and unlimited online storage, just to name a few.
- With just a few clicks, your virtual mailbox gives you access to your mail 24/7 from your tablet, smartphone, or laptop.
- You’ll receive alerts through email, texts, or the app when a mail or package arrives, so you don’t have to worry about constantly checking your physical mailbox.
With a virtual mailbox, it’s easy to manage your mail and not worry about holiday schedules, confusing timelines, and even porch pirates. You can access your mail from anywhere in the world.
You can spend your holidays carefree instead of worrying about how holidays affect your shipping and receiving needs. A virtual mailbox adds convenience, practicality, and peace of mind, making holidays hassle-free and more enjoyable.
