What To Know About USPS 2024/2025 Holiday Schedule

While the winter holidays are still a ways off, it's never too early to look ahead at the U.S. Postal Service holiday schedule. You'll want to plan ahead for your shopping and shipping, to avoid paying expedited shipping fees while taking advantage of all the hot deals from now until the holiday season. Keep in mind, the USPS is closed on all major federal holidays which affects delivery time around those days. It's important to know the cut-off days and allow ample time when shipping if you have a specific day you need your package delivered.

USPS 2024/2025 Holiday Schedule

Understanding the USPS holiday schedule will help you avoid any package delays during these high volume times of the year. Officially, there are 11 holidays that the USPS observes, which means postal offices are closed and there are no mail deliveries. There are also a few federal holidays during the Thanksgiving to Christmas rush which can potentially add extra transit days to your shipping. To avoid paying any additional fees to speed up your package delivery, be sure to note the holidays below and how it can affect deliveries.

During these holidays, if you need stamps or a shipping label, USPS' online site is up and running 24/7, even on holidays. You can even request free package pick ups and free USPS-branded shipping packages and boxes. Just know that if you require pick-up or delivery, those won't be processed until the holiday is over and the USPS is back to normal business hours.

Postage stamps are also often sold at major supermarkets, pharmacies, and even some wholesale clubs like Sam's Club. (Not a member yet? They often have Sam's Club Membership deals around the holidays.)

Labor Day: September 2, 2024

This holiday is celebrated on the first Monday of September every year and is usually a long weekend for many. This is a federal holiday, so there will be no mail delivery service or outgoing shipping packages during it.

Note that while Labor Day is big for sales from a variety of retailers, shopping hours can differ compared to normal days. For instance, wholesale club shops like Costco may observe special holiday hours due to the long holiday weekend.

Columbus Day: October 14, 2024

Indigenous Peoples' Day (or Columbus Day) is another federal holiday the USPS observes. All retail post offices will be closed and there will be no mail delivery. If you need a shipment or delivery done by this day, it's recommended that you have your package arrive the Friday before. For example, if you'd like your package to be delivered the Friday before Columbus Day, these are the timeframes that your package should be sent out by, according to the service you choose:

• USPS Priority Mail Express: Arrives next day; ship by Saturday, October 12
• Priority Mail: Arrives in 1 to 3 days; ship by Thursday, October 10
• First-Class Mail: Arrives in 1 to 3 days; ship by Thursday, October 10
• USPS Media Mail: Arrives in 2 to 8 days; ship by Saturday, October 5
• USPS Retail Ground: Arrives in 2 to 8 days; ship by Saturday, October 5

Veterans Day: November 11, 2024

Veterans Day is another federal holiday, and like all the others, the USPS will be closed for business. All post offices will be closed and no mail will be delivered during the holiday.

Thanksgiving Day: November 28, 2024

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday and celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November. Almost all retail stores except select markets and grocery stores will be open for the holiday, although usually with limited hours. However, all USPS offices will be closed for the holiday, and no mail will be delivered on Thanksgiving either.

Black Friday: November 29, 2024 and
Cyber Monday: December 2, 2024

Ok, while these aren't technically actual holidays, they are considered holidays to some of the hardcore shoppers out there. These are two of the busiest shopping days of the entire year. Oftentimes, the best deals and lowest prices all year can be snagged on either Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Now is the time to start snagging all those online deals with your Amazon Prime membership!

USPS doesn't observe these holidays since they aren't federal holidays, so normal hours of operation apply here. Be aware that because of the sheer volume of packages during this weekend, there could be some delays. Shipping companies cite this weekend as one of the busiest times of the year.

Christmas Day: December 25, 2024

On Christmas Day, all USPS retail shops and warehouses will be closed, and there will be no package deliveries. There will be no mail delivered on Christmas day either, no matter what day of the week it falls on.

From Thanksgiving to Christmas, there is a significant increase in shipped packages and letters, so be sure to plan ahead and mail your items early to avoid paying extra for expedited shipping. For example, to get your gifts and holiday cards delivered by Christmas, use these guidelines:

• USPS Ground Advantage: Ship by Saturday, December 14
• First-Class Mail: Ship by Saturday, December 14
• Priority Mail: Ship by Monday, December 16
• Priority Mail Express: Ship by Friday, December 20

If you need to send items internationally during the holiday season, follow these recommended dates to ensure your packages are received by the expected delivery date.

New Year's Day: January 1, 2025

The first day of every new year is observed as a public holiday in the United States, so all USPS offices are closed. All postal services, including mail delivery and collection, should resume normal operating hours on January 2.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: January 20, 2025

This is a federal holiday honoring the civil rights activist, which means post offices are closed and postal services are suspended for the day. However, some Priority Mail Express services may still be delivered in certain areas.

Valentine's Day: February 14, 2025

The day of love is not a U.S. federal holiday, so postal offices and deliveries operate as normal. Flower and gift deliveries to your loved ones tend to be on time as long as you allow three to four days for standard shipping to most of the contiguous 48 states.

Presidents' Day: February 17, 2025

Postal workers are off and local post offices are closed on this day, as Presidents' Day is a federal holiday. As expected, no mail is delivered, either. If you're expecting something from a retailer like Amazon around a USPS-observed holiday, you can find helpful tips in our piece on what to do if your Amazon package is not delivered.

Good Friday: April 18, 2025

You might be wondering if mail gets delivered on Good Friday, since it is widely observed in the U.S. as a religious holiday. However, it is not recognized as a federal holiday so parcels and mail are delivered and locations are open with normal business hours.

Memorial Day: May 26, 2025

This is a federally recognized holiday so all USPS operations are closed on this day. Make sure to either mail your packages before or after this weekend. Instead of shipping or expecting packages on this day, you should take advantage of all the sales and deals that happen around Memorial Day. Home improvement shops always have great sales at this time of year, but be sure to check for special schedules like Lowe's holiday hours before you head down.

Juneteenth: June 19, 2025

Juneteenth is a day that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people, and is observed as a federal holiday. All USPS offices are closed and there is no mail delivered on Juneteenth.

Independence Day: July 4, 2025

This is another federal holiday, so your postal workers will not be working today. Post offices will also be closed today. But if you're checking out holiday sales at stores like Walmart, be sure to verify holiday store hours before heading down.

While there are other shipping companies available, the USPS is known to be a reliable and affordable option for shipping year-round as well as during the holiday season. Understanding the holiday schedule and hours of operation is helpful for planning ahead and ultimately saving money by not having to pay expedited fees.

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