Your Guide to USPS Delivery Times for 2025

Hey USPS, Where Is My Package?

The United States Postal Service (USPS) delivers an estimated 317 million pieces of mail and 23.5 million eCommerce packages daily, with delivery times ranging from next day delivery to several weeks depending on the exact service and destination.

If you’re an eCommerce merchant shipping packages, you’ll want to understand the exact USPS mail delivery time for the various services to meet your customers’ expectations best.

USPS Postal Service Overview

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is a self-funded, independent federal government agency responsible for providing postal service to the public. 

As the only delivery service that reaches every address in the country, the USPS boasts over 31,000 retail locations and a vast network of post offices, mail processing facilities, and delivery vehicles. 

This extensive network allows the USPS to offer a range of shipping services tailored to meet the diverse needs of individuals and businesses alike.

Among the most popular services are Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express, which provide expedited shipping options for time-sensitive deliveries. 

For more economical choices, First-Class Mail and Media Mail offer reliable and cost-effective solutions for sending letters, lightweight packages, and educational materials. 

Changes to USPS Delivery Services in 2025

Every year, USPS undergoes updates, whether in service or pricing. For all business owners, it’s crucial to stay updated for the same. These updates may impact the delivery speed of various USPS services, making it essential for business owners to stay informed.

1. Pricing Adjustments

Effective January 19, 2025, USPS implemented revised pricing for several popular services:

• Parcel Select: Rates will rise by 9.2%, potentially making this last-mile delivery option less appealing for high-volume shippers.
• USPS Ground Advantage (Retail): A 4.9% price increase will impact this cost-effective service for non-urgent shipments.
• Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express: Both services will see a 3.2% price increase, affecting businesses that depend on the priority mail service for expedited shipping options.

2. Service Modifications

USPS is introducing changes to its approach for specific delivery and shipping scenarios:

• Parcel Select Entry Points: Rates for last-mile delivery unit entries will increase by 10.3%, while hub-level entry rates remain unchanged. This adjustment encourages earlier package integration into the USPS network to optimize operations.
• Shipping Live Animals and Perishables: Additional fees will apply to these shipments, necessitating cost adjustments for businesses handling such items.

3. Rising Competition in Rural Areas

Amazon is enhancing its delivery network to target rural regions historically relying on USPS. This expansion could reduce USPS’s dominance in these areas, posing new challenges for e-commerce brands heavily reliant on USPS for rural deliveries.

Domestic USPS Delivery Times By Service

The USPS provides different delivery options across the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii as two non-contiguous states. Merchants can choose economical shipping options like USPS Ground Advantage (formally First-Class Package Service) for reliable, timely delivery or more expensive expedited services like USPS Priority Mail Express for overnight delivery for the very next day in most locations.

The First Class Mail service is an economical option for sending postcards, letters, and small packages weighing up to 13 ounces, typically delivering within 3 to 5 days.

Ready to ship your parcel inside the United States? The USPS has more than 30,000 retail locations within the U.S., making sending packages and organizing drop-offs easier. The table below outlines the most popular domestic USPS delivery hours per service.

Domestic USPS Delivery Times By Service

The USPS provides different delivery options across the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii as two non-contiguous states. Merchants can choose economical shipping options like USPS Ground Advantage (formally First-Class Package Service) for reliable, timely delivery or more expensive expedited services like USPS Priority Mail Express for overnight delivery for the very next day in most locations.

Ready to ship your parcel inside the United States? The USPS has more than 30,000 retail locations within the U.S., making sending packages and organizing drop-offs easier. The table below outlines the most popular domestic USPS delivery hours per service.

International USPS Delivery Times By Service

Shipping overseas? The USPS offers several international services with various delivery times, working with local postal services for last-mile delivery. Merchants can choose affordable options like Priority Mail International or more expensive, faster options like Priority Mail Express International.

The previous express international delivery service, Global Express Guaranteed (GXG), is no longer available or offered by USPS effective since 28 September 2024.

USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines

Like every year, there are changes in the shipping deadlines when it comes to holiday shipping by the USPS. Here are key dates to keep in mind before the season hits, to ensure that you packages are shipped, delivered, and received on time. 

Thanksgiving week

• Wed, Nov 26: Normal pickup & delivery. Air picked up Nov 26 delivers Fri, Nov 28. 2nd Day Air picked up Nov 26 delivers Mon, Dec 1 (unless labeled for Sat, Nov 29). 
• Thu, Nov 27 (Thanksgiving – UPS Holiday): No pickup or delivery. UPS Express Critical® is available.
• Fri, Nov 28: Normal pickup & delivery. 

Christmas week

• Mon, Dec 22: Normal service. Last day to ship 2nd Day Air for Wed, Dec 24 delivery. 3 Day Select picked up Dec 22 delivers Fri, Dec 26. 
• Tue, Dec 23: Normal service. Last day to ship Next Day Air for Wed, Dec 24 delivery (via scheduled pickup or drop-off at The UPS Store/authorized locations). 
• Wed, Dec 24 (Christmas Eve): Normal delivery. Pickup only for Air & International Air if pre-arranged by Thu, Dec 18; On-Call Pickup® available for Air/International. Next Day Air picked up Dec 24 delivers Fri, Dec 26. 
• Thu, Dec 25 (Christmas – UPS Holiday): No pickup or delivery; Express Critical available. 
• Fri, Dec 26: Normal service. 

New Year’s week

• Mon–Tue, Dec 29–30: Normal service. 
• Wed, Dec 31 (New Year’s Eve): Delivery of UPS Air & International Air only. Pickup available only for Air/International if pre-arranged by Fri, Dec 26; On-Call Pickup® available for Air/International. Next Day Air picked up Dec 31 delivers Fri, Jan 2. 
• Thu, Jan 1 (New Year’s Day – UPS Holiday): No pickup or delivery; Express Critical available. 
• Fri, Jan 2: Normal service. 

“Last day to ship” for Dec 24 delivery

U.S. domestic

• UPS® Ground: Check ups.com/ctc (varies by origin/destination) 
• 3 Day Select®: Fri, Dec 19 
• 2nd Day Air®: Mon, Dec 22 
• Next Day Air®: Tue, Dec 23 

U.S. → Canada

• Standard: Check ups.com/ctc
• Worldwide Expedited®: Mon, Dec 22
• Worldwide Express®: Tue, Dec 23 

U.S. → Mexico

• Standard: Check ups.com/ctc
• Worldwide Expedited®: Fri, Dec 19
• Worldwide Express®: Mon, Dec 22 

Note: Some destinations require an earlier ship date; always verify Time & Cost at ups.com/ctc. 

What’s new/temporary for delivery timelines 

• Extended delivery commitments (Nov 28–Dec 31):
  
  
  • Next Day Air Early / Worldwide Express Plus: commitment extended by 90 minutes.
  • Next Day Air / Worldwide Express / 2nd Day Air A.M. to commercial locations (usually 10:30a or noon) extended to 3:00p.
  • All residential NDA/Worldwide Express and all other time-definite Air/International services extended to end-of-day.
    
    
• Possible extra transit days on specific tenders:
  
  
  • A limited number of 2nd Day Air and 3 Day Select tendered Dec 15–16, and 2nd Day Air tendered Dec 17, may require an additional day in transit.
    2025_Holiday_Schedule_1728FINAL…
    
    
• Ground/Standard network slowdowns:
  
  • From Nov 17, 2025 – Jan 9, 2026, a limited number of UPS Ground and UPS Standard packages will require additional time in transit.
    2025_Holiday_Schedule_1728FINAL…
    
    
• Service Guarantee: In effect only for select Air & International services; otherwise suspended. Check current status before promising delivery times.
  
  
• UPS holidays (no movement): Nov 27, Dec 25, Jan 1—no movement of any packages, regardless of tender date. 

What this means for the shippers

• Build buffer into promises: Treat Air commitments as later than usual and pad Ground/Standard ETAs from Nov 17–Jan 9.
  

• Plan ship-by dates: For Dec 24 arrival, target 3 Day Select by Dec 19, 2nd Day Air by Dec 22, Next Day Air by Dec 23; verify Ground via Time & Cost for your lanes.
  

• Avoid the risk dates: If using 2nd Day Air or 3 Day Select, try to avoid Dec 15–17 tenders or warn customers about possible +1 day.
  2025_Holiday_Schedule_1728FINAL…
  

• Mind holiday closures: No movement on Nov 27, Dec 25, Jan 1; set storefront blackout messaging accordingly. 

6 Important Things to Know About USPS Delivery Times

Before sending your shipment with USPS, it is important to understand the various factors and metrics that can affect delivery. With this inside knowledge, you can accurately predict USPS mail delivery times and confidently provide your customers with estimated delivery times.

Key Factors Influencing USPS Delivery Times

1. Type Of Service: USPS transit times significantly depend on the type of shipping option that you choose. For instance, choosing to send your domestic shipment with Priority Mail Express ensures an overnight delivery, while USPS shipping times for USPS Ground Advantage can take up to 8 days, depending on the destination. USPS Priority Mail Express International, as an express delivery service, will result in faster mail delivery times for international shipments (compared with Priority Mail International mail options which are slower and cheaper for non-urgent deliveries).
2. Calculate by Zip Code: Before selecting a delivery option, take advantage of the free Easyship Shipping Rates Calculator to calculate the expected USPS rates and delivery times from ZIP code to ZIP code. Simply enter the sender location and the intended destination inside the three-step tool to get an instant estimate on how many days USPS delivery will take.
3. USPS Special Delivery Services: For urgent shipments that should be delivered within a given timeframe, compare the expected delivery date within the calculator or inquire about USPS special delivery services for complete peace of mind.
4. Military Destinations: USPS delivery times to military destinations might change based on the prevailing operational conditions of the area. Always be aware of these changes and give yourself as much lead time as possible.
5. Federal Holiday Schedule: As you plan ahead for the 2025 Peak Season, be sure to know the USPS delivery cut-off and pre-Christmas delivery deadlines. USPS holidays are not included in the calculated expected USPS transit times. View our complete list of 11 federal holidays inside our USPS Holiday Schedule here.
6. Weekend Delivery: For most services, USPS only operates and calculates delivery times based on business days (Monday-Friday). However, USPS does offer Saturday delivery on some mail and postage services, including Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express. Post Offices generally operate on Saturday’s in most locations but with reduced hours. Meanwhile, both Post Offices and full-time postal workers do not work on Sundays. For more weekend delivery options on either a Saturday or Sunday, consider any of our express carrier services like UPS or FedEx, which you can compare with  Easyship’s multi-carrier comparison tools.

Can I Get a Delivery Time Estimate for My USPS Packages?

As mentioned, USPS shipping time varies depending on a broad range of factors. You can get an accurate estimate by understanding the distance between the two locations, the type of mail class chosen, the presence of recognized USPS holidays, and other transport challenges. 

For example, during the recent Canada Post strike that affected the Canadian postal service for 31 days in November and December 2024, USPS international services were delayed due to the inability of the final-mile partner to accommodate the volume of packages sent.

If you want to send your shipment using USPS Ground Advantage, it might take between 2 and 5 working days to deliver the package (or up to 8 depending on the final destination’s shipping zone). 

This makes it a reliable option for sending a broad range of items as either small, medium, or large boxes, oversized packages, and non-urgent packages. 

USPS Media Mail also takes the same duration, but is a more affordable shipping alternative for sending books, retail media products and educational materials.

eCommerce businesses looking to deliver standard-sized or single-piece envelopes weighing up to 3.5oz can opt for the First Class Mail service, which usually takes between 2 and 3 business days.

Is it Worth Paying for USPS Priority Mail Express over Priority Mail for Faster Delivery?

To compare the different delivery times between two of USPS's more popular package delivery services - USPS Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express - consider the following key differences between the services. You'll then be able to review whether or not it's worth paying more for USPS express delivery.

USPS Priority Mail delivers your package in 1-3 business days for most domestic shipments. However, USPS does not guarantee this, and actual delivery times may vary. The plus side is that Saturday delivery is free, and the delivery date is calculated as a Saturday.

USPS Priority Mail Express offers guaranteed next-day to 2-day delivery by 6 pm. This is a genuine money-back guarantee by USPS if your parcel is not delivered by the guaranteed delivery time. In addition, Sunday and (some) holiday delivery dates are available in many locations for an additional fee.

It's worth noting that the scheduled delivery date and delivery times for USPS Priority Mail and USPS Priority Mail Express can vary significantly depending on the shipment origin, delivery destination, and defined drop-off time. 

Check out free rate calculator to know how you can avail discounted rates while using USPS Priority Mail.

How Do I Calculate USPS Delivery Times by Zip Code?

It's really easy to calculate USPS delivery times by zip code by using our free shipping delivery time calculator for USPS and 550+ other courier services, including UPS, FedEx, DHL Express, and more. Simply enter your origin zip code (e.g., where you're sending the package from) and destination zip code (e.g., intended delivery address) to get an accurate quote on how long delivery will take for a range of USPS service,s including USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and international services to more than 220+ destinations worldwide.

Make the Most of USPS Delivery Services with Easyship!

The USPS offers reliable and affordable shipping services for eCommerce merchants of all sizes. As you grow your business, it’s important to understand the delivery times for the various services to ensure you provide the best shipping experience for your customers.

Easyship offers instant access to the best USPS shipping services for eCommerce merchants looking for cheaper shipping rates, simple service comparisons, and better tracking with branded customer experiences.

All USPS shipments have rates using Commercial Plus Pricing (CPP), so you can take advantage of substantial savings of up to 89% off retail rates. You can sign up today and get immediate access to our best business shipping rates and compare pricing with 550+ global courier services to find the right option.

USPS Delivery Times FAQs

When is USPS latest delivery time?

How long does USPS take to deliver? USPS delivery hours are almost the same; however, they vary according to the delivery route and volume of the packages in the shipment. Nevertheless, USPS often delivers packages, parcels, and mail to indicated recipients before 5 pm local time.

If you are looking for a USPS estimated delivery date, packages sent through Priority Mail Express typically reach recipients by 10.30 am. Those are sent through domestic express mail before 12 pm while international mail is delivered to customers before 3 pm.

How long does "in transit" take USPS?

USPS transit times vary depending on a range of factors. One of the most significant determinants of how long delivery will take is the distance between the sender and the intended destinations. The package or mail class service option chosen by the sender also affects USPS delivery times, with some options providing faster services than others. For example, USPS Priority Mail Express will arrive before USPS Priority Mail. Then, in order, Priority Mail will arrive before USPS Ground Advantage as the most economical service.

How to schedule or change delivery time for USPS?

Rescheduling delivery with USPS requires some shipment details. To change USPS delivery times from the company’s website, you will need to enter the current address, article number indicated from the delivery notice, and attempted delivery date. Then, you'll be able to select a preferred future delivery date in accordance with the service restrictions for that type of package. For example, you cannot select Sunday delivery for USPS Priority Mail or Ground Advantage.

What happens if you miss USPS delivery times?

Life is busy. Any number of situations may come up, making it impossible to attend to your delivery. However, worry not if you missed USPS delivery time.