Does USPS deliver on Sunday? Yes, but only packages, and only in some areas. USPS delivers Priority Mail Express and many Amazon parcels on Sundays in larger metro areas, and it adds extra Sunday package routes in December. Regular letters, Ground Advantage and most Priority Mail wait until Monday. Shipixy tracking shows the expected day.
Key takeaways
- USPS does not deliver regular mail (letters, bills, catalogs) on Sunday anywhere in the US.
- Sunday package delivery covers Priority Mail Express, Amazon parcels and some peak-season volume in select ZIP codes.
- Monday through Saturday, USPS carriers typically deliver between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. local time, with most mail arriving between about 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Saturday delivery is standard for nearly every USPS service at no extra charge, except on federal holidays.
Does USPS deliver mail on Sunday or only packages?
Only packages. The United States Postal Service (USPS) runs a six-day mail week, Monday through Saturday, for letter mail. Sunday is a package-only day, and even then it applies to specific products and locations rather than every address.
Here is what actually moves on a Sunday:
- Priority Mail Express: the fastest USPS domestic service, sold with a money-back delivery guarantee. USPS delivers it 365 days a year to most addresses, including Sundays and holidays, though Sunday and holiday delivery is limited by ZIP code and can carry an added fee. Check current details on the official USPS Priority Mail Express page.
- Amazon packages: USPS has carried Sunday parcels for Amazon since 2013 in many metro and suburban areas. This is a contracted program, which is why your neighbor may get an Amazon box on Sunday while your eBay order sits until Monday.
- Peak-season volume: between Thanksgiving and Christmas, USPS expands Sunday package delivery in many cities to clear holiday backlog. Ground Advantage and Priority Mail parcels can show up on a December Sunday that would never arrive on a Sunday in April.
If you are expecting a check, a jury summons or a birthday card, it will not come on Sunday. Plan for Saturday or Monday.
What time does USPS deliver mail and packages?
USPS letter carriers usually start routes around 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. after loading at the local delivery unit (the post office or carrier annex that sorts mail for your ZIP code). According to USPS customer support guidance, deliveries can happen any time from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, and later during heavy volume.
In practice, most people see a consistent pattern:
- Residential routes: mail usually arrives in the same two-hour window each day, often between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Business addresses: often earlier, because carriers try to reach offices during business hours.
- Rural routes: can run late afternoon because routes cover more miles.
- Peak season and short-staffed days: it is not unusual to see a carrier at 7 p.m. or later in December.
Your time also shifts when your regular carrier is off and a substitute (a city carrier assistant or rural carrier associate) runs the route in a different order.
When are Priority Mail Express packages delivered?
Priority Mail Express comes with a guaranteed delivery time, generally by 6 p.m. on the guaranteed day. The exact commitment depends on the origin and destination ZIP codes and appears on the label and receipt. If USPS misses it, you can request a postage refund.
Which USPS services deliver on Saturday and Sunday?
This table shows how weekend delivery works for the main USPS products. Saturday coverage is close to universal; Sunday coverage is the exception.
| USPS service | Monday to Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class Mail (letters, flats) | Yes | Yes | No |
| USPS Ground Advantage | Yes | Yes | Peak season only, select areas |
| Priority Mail | Yes | Yes | Peak season only, select areas |
| Priority Mail Express | Yes | Yes | Yes, most locations (fee may apply) |
| Media Mail | Yes | Yes | No |
| Amazon parcels carried by USPS | Yes | Yes | Yes, in participating areas |
For a side-by-side look at weekend service from all three national carriers, see our guide on whether USPS, UPS and FedEx offer Saturday delivery.
Does USPS deliver on holidays?
No, with one exception. USPS observes 11 federal holidays, including New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. On those days post offices close and regular mail and package delivery stops. Priority Mail Express is the exception and can still be delivered on holidays in many areas. Holidays that fall on a Saturday are usually observed on the Friday before. For exact dates and closures, check the USPS holiday schedule.
Are post offices open on Sunday?
Almost none are. Retail counters at post offices are closed on Sunday nationwide, apart from a small number of large city locations that open limited hours during December. If you need to ship on a Sunday, your options are a self-service kiosk (available in many post office lobbies), a USPS blue collection box for prepaid packages that fit, or simply printing a label online and handing the parcel over on Monday. Note that collection boxes are not picked up on Sunday, so the first scan will be Monday.
How can you tell if your package will arrive on Sunday?
The quickest way is tracking. If the expected delivery date shows a Sunday, it is on a Sunday route. Follow these steps to confirm:
- Open your tracking number in USPS tracking or your Shipixy dashboard and note the expected delivery date and service type.
- Check the service. If it says Priority Mail Express, Sunday delivery is likely in your area. If it says Ground Advantage or Priority Mail outside of December, expect Monday.
- Look for a Sunday status. An "Out for Delivery" scan on a Sunday morning means the parcel is on a truck and should arrive that day.
- Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery, a free service that emails you scans of incoming letters and package status each morning.
- If the date passes with no update, read our USPS tracking statuses guide to decode what the last scan means.
One thing we see often: an expected date of Saturday that slips to Monday. This happens when a package misses the Saturday truck at the delivery unit. Since most non-Express parcels do not run on Sunday, a one-day miss on Saturday becomes a two-day wait.
How do USPS delivery hours compare to UPS and FedEx?
| Carrier | Typical delivery hours | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Standard, no extra fee | Packages only, select services and areas |
| UPS | 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (residential up to 9 p.m.) | Many residential areas | Limited, select metro areas |
| FedEx | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Home Delivery up to 8 p.m.) | FedEx Home Delivery in most areas | FedEx Home Delivery in many areas |
For carrier-specific detail, see what hours UPS delivers and what time FedEx starts delivering.
Should you ship with USPS if you need weekend delivery?
For Saturday arrival, USPS is often the cheapest choice, since Saturday is included with Ground Advantage and Priority Mail at no surcharge. For guaranteed Sunday arrival, Priority Mail Express is the only USPS product built for it. A practical rule for sellers: if an order must land by Sunday, buy Express by Friday afternoon. If Monday is fine, Priority Mail shipped Thursday usually beats Express on price by a wide margin. Our guide on how long USPS delivery takes covers transit days by service, and the full set of USPS shipping guides and rates lives on our USPS hub.
Frequently asked questions
Does USPS deliver regular mail on Sunday?
No. Letters, bills, magazines and other regular mail are delivered Monday through Saturday only. Sunday delivery is limited to certain packages.
Why did I get a USPS package on Sunday?
It was most likely an Amazon parcel, a Priority Mail Express shipment, or holiday-season volume. USPS runs Sunday package routes for these in participating areas.
What is the latest USPS will deliver?
USPS says carriers can deliver until 8 p.m. local time, and sometimes later during peak season or when routes are short-staffed.
Does USPS Ground Advantage deliver on weekends?
Ground Advantage delivers on Saturday at no extra cost. It is generally not delivered on Sunday, except during the December peak in some cities.
Can I pick up a package from the post office on Sunday?
Usually not, since nearly all post office counters are closed on Sunday. Some locations with self-service parcel lockers allow 24/7 pickup if you received a locker code.
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