Does USPS Deliver on Christmas Eve? What To Know Ahead of the Holidays

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Does USPS deliver on Christmas Eve? The United States Postal Service does perform regular deliveries on Christmas Eve. If anything is dropped into the blue mailboxes or at a post office location before noon for local delivery, there’s a possibility that it may even make it to its destination later on that day. If not, local deliveries will resume on Dec. 27. This is because Christmas falls on a Sunday, a day USPS is normally closed, and Monday is the official government holiday for Christmas Day.

Is the Post Office Open on Christmas Eve?

This year, Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday, a day when USPS is typically open during regular hours. Post offices across the country will indeed be open, but be sure to check with the local post office to find out whether or not they have limited or reduced hours on Christmas Eve. Individual branches may institute their own set of hours according to the wants and needs of their employees.

As for deliveries, as long as the letter or package is dropped off at the post office before noon — even if that’s before the final pick-up time — it may be able to make it to its local destination within a few hours. Contacting a local post office directly by phone or in-person is the best way to learn more about holiday availability and when post boxes will be accessible in the days before Christmas arrives. 

Recommended Shipping Dates

Although deliveries will be made on Christmas Eve, you may want to plan ahead to be sure that your package arrives before Christmas.

For the contiguous United States, USPS recommends packages be sent by:

• Dec. 17 for Ground and First-Class Service
• Dec. 19 for Priority Mail
• Dec. 23 for Priority Mail Express

For Alaska and Hawaii, USPS recommends sending packages by:

• Dec. 17 for First-Class and Priority Mail Service
• Dec. 21 for Priority Mail Express

When shipping your packages, keep in mind that USPS shipping rates may vary during the holidays due to increased demand.

When Is the Post Office Closed?

The post office is closed on 11 official holidays recognized by the federal government. Don’t plan to get or send any mail on the following dates in 2023. 

Final Take

It’s understandable that last-minute emergencies happen, but it is always best to simply plan ahead for different USPS shipping rates and drop off packages early rather than to wait until things are shutting down for the holidays. This is the busiest time of year for the post office, and it may be difficult to ensure your package arrives on time. However, if you need to ship something close to Christmas, USPS provides many options for faster shipping and will make deliveries on Christmas Eve.

Information is accurate as of Dec. 7, 2022. 

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