Is the Post Office Open Today? USPS Hours, Holidays, and What to Know

The Post Office is usually open today if it is a regular weekday and not a USPS-observed holiday. Most staffed Post Office retail counters operate Monday through Friday, many locations offer limited Saturday hours, and most are closed on Sunday. However, local hours can vary, so the most accurate answer depends on your specific Post Office location.

It is also important to separate Post Office retail counter hours from mail delivery, PO Box access, collection boxes, and self-service kiosks. A Post Office lobby may be open even when the staffed counter is closed, and a collection box may still be available even if its pickup time has already passed.

Post Office Hours at a Glance

There is no single nationwide retail schedule for every Post Office. Large city branches may keep longer hours, while small-town offices may close earlier or take a midday break. Still, the table below gives a helpful general guide.

Day or Service	Typical Status	What to Know
Monday-Friday	Usually open	Most staffed Post Office counters operate during daytime business hours.
Saturday	Limited at many locations	Some branches open for shorter hours; others are closed.
Sunday	Usually closed	Regular retail counters are generally closed, though some kiosks, lobbies, or package services may be available.
USPS holidays	Closed	Regular mail delivery and retail counter service usually pause.
Self-service kiosks	Varies by location	Some kiosks are available after hours or 24/7 in select lobbies.
Blue collection boxes	Available, but pickup varies	Check the posted final collection time before dropping off urgent mail.
PO Box lobby access	Varies by branch	Some lobbies remain accessible outside counter hours, but not all do.

How to Check Your Local Post Office Hours Today

The best way to confirm whether the Post Office is open today is to check your exact location. Use the USPS location finder and search by ZIP code, city, or address. The tool can show nearby Post Offices, collection boxes, self-service kiosks, passport services, PO Boxes, money orders, and other location-specific services.

When checking a location, look closely at the type of hours listed. Retail hours are the staffed counter hours, while lobby hours may only mean you can access PO Boxes, drop-off areas, or kiosks. Collection times are different again; they tell you when mail is picked up from a box or drop slot.

For urgent mail, do not rely only on the building being open. Confirm the final collection time, the service you need, and whether that location accepts your package or form of mail today.

Is Mail Delivered Today?

Mail is usually delivered Monday through Saturday. On normal weekdays, you can generally expect regular letter mail, bills, magazines, and packages to move through the USPS system. Saturday delivery is also common for regular mail, although delivery times may vary by route.

Regular mail delivery usually stops on USPS-observed holidays. If today is New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another postal holiday, your mailbox will usually not receive regular mail. Some urgent services, such as Priority Mail Express, may operate in limited situations, but standard delivery should not be expected.

Local disruptions can also affect delivery even on a regular business day. Severe weather, road closures, natural disasters, safety issues, staffing conditions, or temporary facility problems may delay delivery or close a local Post Office. For unusual disruptions, USPS posts updates through its service alerts.

Is the Post Office Open on Saturday?

Many Post Offices are open on Saturday, but Saturday hours are usually shorter than weekday hours. A branch that is open until late afternoon on weekdays may close around midday on Saturday, and some smaller branches do not open on Saturday at all.

Saturday is especially important to check if you need counter service. Mailing a package, buying a money order, sending Certified Mail, picking up held mail, or getting a same-day postmark usually requires a staffed retail counter. A lobby drop slot may be enough for basic pre-labeled mail, but it may not work for every service.

If you need your item to go out quickly, check both the Saturday retail hours and the last collection time. Dropping mail after the final collection may mean it does not start moving until the next business day.

Is the Post Office Open on Sunday?

Most Post Office retail counters are closed on Sunday. This means you usually cannot walk in for staffed services such as buying money orders, asking for counter help, sending Certified Mail, or applying for passport services.

However, some postal services may still be accessible. Certain Post Office lobbies may allow PO Box access, package drop-off, or self-service kiosk use outside normal counter hours. USPS self-service kiosks can help with many simple mailing tasks, including weighing packages and buying postage, depending on the kiosk and location.

Sunday access does not always mean full Post Office service. If a USPS location page says the lobby is open, check whether the retail counter, kiosk, collection box, or PO Box area is the part you actually need.

USPS Holiday Schedule: When Is the Post Office Closed in 2026?

USPS observes 11 federal holidays. On these days, regular Post Office retail counters are generally closed and regular mail delivery usually does not run. The 2026 holiday schedule below is a useful planning guide, but local notices and USPS updates should still be checked before mailing something urgent.

Holiday	2026 Date	Post Office Retail Counters	Regular Mail Delivery	What to Know
New Year’s Day	Thursday, January 1	Closed	No regular delivery	Service usually resumes the next business day.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Monday, January 19	Closed	No regular delivery	Observed as a federal postal holiday.
Presidents Day	Monday, February 16	Closed	No regular delivery	Also listed as Washington’s Birthday/Presidents Day.
Memorial Day	Monday, May 25	Closed	No regular delivery	Plan ahead for weekend and holiday delays.
Juneteenth National Independence Day	Friday, June 19	Closed	No regular delivery	Regular service typically resumes after the holiday.
Independence Day	Saturday, July 4	Closed or affected	No regular delivery	Because July 4 falls on a Saturday in 2026, check local Friday and Saturday hours carefully.
Labor Day	Monday, September 7	Closed	No regular delivery	A common three-day weekend for postal schedules.
Columbus Day	Monday, October 12	Closed	No regular delivery	Also commonly searched as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in some areas, but USPS follows the federal holiday schedule.
Veterans Day	Wednesday, November 11	Closed	No regular delivery	Retail and delivery service generally resume the next day.
Thanksgiving Day	Thursday, November 26	Closed	No regular delivery	Expect heavier package volume around the holiday weekend.
Christmas Day	Friday, December 25	Closed	No regular delivery	Holiday shipping deadlines and local cutoff times matter most before this date.

Is the Post Office Open on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve?

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are not the same as Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. In many years, Post Offices are open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, but some locations may close early or operate with modified hours.

If you are mailing holiday cards, packages, legal documents, or time-sensitive business mail, check your local branch before you go. The posted retail closing time is important, but the final collection time may matter even more. Mail dropped after the last pickup may not move until the next operating day.

Is the Post Office Open on Good Friday, Easter, or Black Friday?

Good Friday is not one of the standard USPS-observed federal holidays, so most Post Offices are usually open on Good Friday. However, hours can still vary by location, and some local offices may adjust schedules for reasons unrelated to the holiday.

Easter falls on a Sunday, and most Post Office retail counters are normally closed on Sundays. That means the Post Office is generally closed on Easter Sunday, not because Easter is a USPS postal holiday, but because it falls on the usual Sunday closure day for most retail counters.

Black Friday is also not a standard USPS-observed holiday. Most Post Offices are usually open on the Friday after Thanksgiving, although individual hours, staffing, and package volume can affect the experience. If you need a receipt, acceptance scan, money order, passport service, or another counter-only service, check the location’s posted hours first.

What Services Are Available When the Post Office Is Closed?

Even when the staffed Post Office counter is closed, some USPS services may still be available. Through USPS.com, customers can track packages, buy stamps, print shipping labels, schedule package pickup, request Hold Mail service, change an address, and use other online tools.

Some Post Office lobbies also have self-service kiosks. These can be useful for simple tasks such as weighing packages, buying postage, and preparing certain mailings without waiting at the counter. USPS provides more details about these options through its self-service kiosk information.

Blue collection boxes may also be available outside retail hours, but availability is not the same as pickup. Always check the final collection time printed on the box. If the last pickup has already passed, your mail may sit until the next scheduled collection.

Post Office Counter Hours vs. Lobby Hours vs. Collection Times

One of the most common reasons people get confused about Post Office hours is that different services have different schedules.

Retail counter hours are the staffed hours when a postal employee can help you buy postage, mail packages, send Certified Mail, purchase money orders, or ask service questions.

Lobby hours refer to when the building lobby may be accessible. A lobby may be open before or after the counter closes, especially if it has PO Boxes, drop slots, or a kiosk.

Collection times tell you when USPS picks up mail from a collection box, lobby drop slot, or outdoor blue box. A box can be physically available all day, but if the final collection has passed, your item may not be processed until the next pickup.

For urgent mail, check all three details. A branch being “open” does not always mean your item will receive a same-day acceptance scan or same-day collection.

Passport Services, Money Orders, Certified Mail, and Special Services

Some Post Office services follow narrower schedules than regular retail hours. Passport acceptance, for example, may require an appointment and may only be available at certain branches or during specific hours. Not every Post Office handles passport services.

Money orders, Certified Mail, Registered Mail, package acceptance, and other counter services usually require a staffed retail counter. If the lobby is open but the counter is closed, you may still be unable to complete those services.

Before visiting for anything beyond simple stamp purchases or package drop-off, confirm that your chosen location offers the service you need today. This is especially important on Saturdays, around holidays, and at smaller branches.

Before You Go to the Post Office

A quick check before your trip can save time, especially if you are mailing something important. Confirm the location’s retail counter hours, not just the lobby hours. If you need today’s postmark or fast processing, check the final collection time. If you need passports, money orders, Certified Mail, Registered Mail, or package acceptance, make sure that service is available at that specific branch.

Bring a valid ID if you are picking up held mail, dealing with a PO Box, applying for passport services, or completing a service that requires identification. For packages, prepare labels and forms in advance when possible. If the counter is closed, a self-service kiosk or online label may still be enough for simple shipping tasks.