Find out when USPS services will pause for holidays in 2024 with our guide to the USPS holiday service schedules 2024. Stay ahead of postal closures and adapt your shipping and mailing timelines accordingly for seamless planning throughout the year.
Key Takeaways
- USPS observes several holidays throughout the year, including federal holidays such as New Year’s Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. On these days regular mail delivery services are suspended.
- Priority Mail Express remains available even on holidays like Juneteenth and Labor Day, and customers can access some USPS services online, including purchasing supplies and arranging package pickups.
- Planning ahead for mail delivery around USPS holiday schedules is crucial, and alternative private carriers like FedEx and UPS may operate on different schedules, offering additional options during USPS closures.
Navigating USPS Holiday Closures in 2024
- The USPS holiday schedule for 2024 includes the following holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Washington’s Birthday
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- Being aware of this schedule is particularly important for eCommerce merchants, as it allows them to organize their shipping operations effectively, especially during the busy holiday seasons.
- A significant part of dealing with USPS holiday closures is to make sure your packages arrive before the holiday you want the delivery to be made.
- It’s recommended to arrange delivery for the preceding weekend to achieve this. This helps to avoid any potential delay in the delivery once a holiday has passed.
- It should also be noted that USPS may continue to make deliveries in areas with high package volumes during holidays, regardless of whether the holiday lands on a weekday.
Understanding USPS Operations on Federal Holidays
USPS ceases operations on federal holidays, resulting in several service modifications, such as the halting of regular mail delivery. However, the extent of these service adjustments can vary depending on the specific holiday.
Let’s look at how USPS operations are affected on Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving Day.
- Juneteenth National Independence Day: June 19, 2024
- Juneteenth National Independence Day is a federal holiday that honors the liberation of enslaved African Americans.
- It was officially established as a federal holiday in 2021, despite being celebrated in various communities for over a century.
- On this day, United States Postal Service post offices are closed and regular mail delivery services are suspended.
- The only exceptions are Holiday Premium Priority Mail Express and Sunday/Holiday Same Day Package Delivery services.
- Independence Day Celebrations: Thursday, July 4, 2024
- July 4, Independence Day, is another prominent federal holiday impacting USPS operations.
- With many businesses closing on this first Thursday in July, outgoing mail decreases and normal delivery services are paused. Therefore, USPS will be closed on July 4, 2024, and there will be no mail delivery services.
- To avoid package delays, use tools such as Easyship’s Shipping Rates Calculator to obtain estimated delivery times and strategically plan shipments to ensure arrival before the Independence Day closure.
- Thanksgiving Day Adjustments: Thursday, November 28, 2024
- Another day, November 28, 2024, Thanksgiving Day, sees USPS making significant alterations to its services.
- Regular mail delivery is withheld and post offices are shut down in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
- It’s imperative to note that the United States Postal Service (USPS) will be closed on Thursday, the 28th of November, 2024, thereby resulting in the suspension of all mail delivery services on that particular day.
Christmas and New Year’s Day: USPS Service Interruptions
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are two other notable postal service holidays causing USPS service disruptions. USPS does not carry out regular mail deliveries during these holidays since all post offices are shut down.
- Monday, December 25, 2024: Christmas Day Observance
- On Christmas Day, which falls on December 25, 2024, all USPS services will be inaccessible, and there will be no mail delivery services.
- If you have a package scheduled for delivery on Christmas Day, it’s important to note that USPS will not deliver it. Instead, normal delivery and collection schedules will resume on December 26, 2024.
- Given the potential variability in the operational status of the United States Postal Service (USPS) during the days immediately preceding and following Christmas Day, it’s highly recommended that individuals consult with their respective local post offices to obtain specific and accurate details pertaining to the functioning and services provided during this particular time frame.
- Wednesday, January 1, 2025: Welcoming the New Year
- New Year’s Day is another holiday that leads to USPS closures.
- USPS will not be operational on New Year’s Day, which falls on January 1, 2025, and there will be no mail delivery services.
- No USPS services will be accessible on this day, and any packages scheduled for delivery on New Year’s Day will be delivered on the subsequent business day.
- To manage the mail delivery backlog caused by the closure on New Year’s Day, USPS plans to recruit temporary employees and make operational adjustments to handle the increased mail volume.
Special Considerations for Other 2024 USPS Holidays
Apart from the holidays discussed above, there are other USPS holidays in 2024 that require special considerations. These include Labor Day and Veterans Day:
- Labor Day Logistics: Monday, September 2, 2024
- Labor Day, which falls on Monday, September 2, 2024, is a day when USPS will be closed, affecting mail delivery services.
- All standard mail delivery services will be suspended, and there will be no package deliveries due to the closure of post offices.
- Nevertheless, it’s important to highlight that the United States Postal Service (USPS) does, in fact, offer specialized services known as Holiday Premium Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express exclusively during the observance of Labor Day, thus providing customers with enhanced shipping options tailored to the unique circumstances surrounding this particular holiday.
- Veterans Day: Monday, November 11, 2024
- Veterans Day, observed on November 11, 2024, is another holiday when USPS operations are affected.
- USPS will be closed on Veterans Day, in observance of the federal holiday that commemorates and honors Americans who have served in the military.
- As such, there will be no mail delivery services on this day, as offices will be closed.
USPS Services During Non-Delivery Days
- Even during non-delivery days, there are some USPS services that remain accessible. For instance, several postal service offerings can be accessed in certain USPS locations, such as:
- Purchasing stamps.
- Printing shipping labels.
- Ordering boxes and other mail supplies.
- Arranging package pickups.
- Tracking features also remain accessible online even during holidays.
- Customers can also still access P.O. boxes and self-serve kiosks inside most USPS building lobbies during USPS holidays.
- For certain packages, Priority Express Mail provides Sunday and holiday delivery to numerous major markets for an additional fee.
Planning Ahead: USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines
- Being aware of USPS holiday shipping deadlines is key to arranging for punctual mail delivery.
- USPS imposes restrictions on the packages it ships during the holiday season due to the anticipated delays in holiday delivery services. USPS establishes their holiday shipping deadlines by considering the last scheduled delivery day.
- You can access the USPS holiday shipping deadlines for 2024 by visiting the USPS website here. If you miss the USPS holiday shipping deadline, the carrier cannot ensure that your order will be delivered by the anticipated delivery date.
Private Carrier Options During USPS Holidays
When USPS is unavailable during the holidays, alternative private carrier options such as FedEx and UPS also provide delivery services.
However, it’s worth noting that FedEx and UPS each have their own holiday schedules, which may vary from the schedule of USPS.
- FedEx and UPS Holidays: What You Need to Know
- FedEx and UPS are closed on specific federal holidays. For instance, UPS is closed on:
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King. Jr. Day
- Presidents Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
- FedEx and UPS are closed on specific federal holidays. For instance, UPS is closed on:
The majority of FedEx and UPS operations are available on Martin Luther King Jr., but some other businesses may be closed for the holiday. Therefore, it’s recommended to check with specific businesses for their operating hours on that day.
The private shipping companies operate multiple retail locations every day. These locations are open for business on a daily basis and hours of operation can be determined with a quick online search.
If you need to ship or receive items around a holiday, it’s advisable to verify the operating hours of FedEx and UPS facilities in your proximity.
Maximizing Mail Delivery with USPS Holiday Schedules
Understanding USPS holiday schedules enables you to formulate strategies for optimal mail delivery efficiency. Some effective methods include:
- Scheduling mailings in advance.
- Planning in advance prior to USPS holidays to avoid sending time-sensitive mail.
- Developing a plan for holiday direct mail campaigns.
- Sending items before the recommended shipping dates to avoid last-minute rushes.
- Establishing clear deadlines and cutoff dates for all mailings.
USPS generally discloses their holiday schedules in October, allowing you enough time to plan your mailings.
Integrating USPS holiday schedules into your mail delivery planning can enhance efficiency and enable you to benefit from the affordable and reliable services available during the holiday season.
Navigating Local Post Office Variations
- Variations in holiday schedules and services at local post offices can sometimes pose a challenge. To verify the holiday schedule of your local USPS office, you can:
- Use the USPS website or the Locator Tool Portal provided on the USPS website.
- Use the Postal Service’s Find USPS Locations online tool.
- Contact ‘Ask USPS’ customer service.
- If you require additional information about the operating hours of your local post office, especially when a holiday occurs on a weekday during the holiday season, make sure to inquire further.
- For any specific information regarding your local post office’s holiday schedule, you can reach out to USPS customer care via phone or email as well.
- You can also schedule mail and package deliveries during holidays through your local USPS office.
Summary
- Understanding USPS holiday service schedules is crucial to efficient mail planning and delivery.
- From navigating USPS holiday closures to understanding USPS operations on federal holidays, this guide provides you with all the information you need to plan your mailings effectively so you can maximize mail delivery and navigate local post office variations,
- By planning ahead and using the available online tools and customer care services, you can ensure your mail reaches its destination on time, even during the busy holiday season.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does USPS deliver on New Year’s day 2024?
- No, USPS does not deliver on New Year’s Day 2024, as it’s a federal holiday when the post office will be closed and mail won’t be delivered.
Is there mail delivery on Juneteenth?
- No, there will be no mail delivery on Juneteenth, as the post offices will be closed in observance of the holiday which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
How many US postal holidays are there?
- There are 11 U.S. postal holidays, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This means post offices will be closed on those days and regular mail or packages will not be delivered.
What does USPS deliver on holidays?
- USPS does not deliver regular mail on federal holidays, but Priority Mail Express items will still be delivered.
What were the USPS holidays last year in 2023?
- The USPS holidays for 2023 included Valentine’s Day on February 14th, Presidents Day on February 20th, and Labor Day on September 4th among others.
