Many people wonder if they can mail letters, packages, and other items on Sundays. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has specific rules and regulations regarding Sunday mail delivery. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of mailing items on Sundays, including key factors like location, service type, and more.
The Short Answer
In most cases, you cannot mail letters or packages at United States Post Office locations on Sundays. However, USPS does offer limited package pick-up and delivery on Sundays in select major cities and surrounding communities.
Background on USPS Sunday Operations
For many years, the United States Postal Service did not offer any mail services on Sundays. This policy changed in 2013, when USPS started Sunday delivery for Amazon packages in some major cities, including New York and Los Angeles. Over the next few years, Sunday delivery expanded to other popular carriers like UPS and FedEx.
However, regular USPS mail services remained unavailable on Sundays at that time. Letters, flats, and non-Amazon packages were not delivered or accepted at Post Office locations on Sundays.
In 2019, USPS launched a pilot program to test Sunday mail delivery in select locations. The program aimed to provide Sunday package delivery to certain residential and business addresses. Here are some key facts about the USPS Sunday mail pilot program:
- It originally launched in in Charleston, South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Montgomery, Alabama; and the New York City metro area.
- Around 8.5 million business and residential addresses were eligible for Sunday delivery in those initial pilot locations.
- Sunday delivery included Priority Mail Express and Amazon packages.
- USPS did not deliver regular mail like letters or flats on Sundays.
The Sunday delivery pilot program received positive feedback and demonstrated demand for weekend package delivery. As a result, USPS expanded it to several more major metros between 2020-2022.
Which Cities Have USPS Sunday Delivery?
In April 2022, the Postal Service officially launched permanent Sunday package delivery in the following metropolitan areas:
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Chicago, Illinois
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Dallas/Forth Worth, Texas
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Detroit, Michigan
- Houston, Texas
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Los Angeles, California
- Miami, Florida
- Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- New York City, New York
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- San Antonio, Texas
- San Diego, California
- San Francisco/Oakland, California
- Seattle/Tacoma, Washington
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Tampa, Florida
- Washington D.C., Maryland
USPS Sunday delivery reaches over 45 million addresses across those metro areas. However, many smaller towns and rural locations do not have Sunday mail services.
Which Mailing Services are Available on Sundays?
USPS offers limited mail products and services on Sundays. Here is an overview of what you can and cannot mail on Sundays:
| Service | Available on Sundays? |
|---|---|
| First Class Mail (letters, flats) | No |
| USPS Marketing Mail | No |
| Priority Mail | No (only Express) |
| Priority Mail Express | Yes |
| Amazon Packages | Yes* |
| UPS | Yes* |
| FedEx | Yes* |
*Available for delivery if sender has appropriate contract and service level.
As shown in the table, regular mail like letters, flats, and most Priority Mail packages are not eligible for Sunday processing or delivery. The only services that USPS offers on Sundays are:
- Priority Mail Express – With guaranteed 1-2 day delivery, Express mail can be accepted and delivered on any day, including Sundays and holidays. However, Express mail must be dropped off at staffed Post Office locations or blue collection boxes. It cannot be picked up via normal residential or business collection.
- Amazon, UPS, FedEx Packages – USPS delivers select pre-sorted Amazon, UPS, and FedEx packages on Sundays. The shipper must have the appropriate Sunday delivery contract in place with USPS. Individual customers cannot simply drop off a UPS or FedEx package on Sunday and expect it to be processed and delivered that day.
Can I Mail a Letter on Sunday?
You cannot mail regular First Class letters at United States Post Office locations on Sundays. The blue USPS collection boxes on streets are also not serviced or emptied on Sundays. So any letters deposited on Sundays will not be collected until the following business day (Monday).
The only way to potentially mail a letter on a Sunday is to use Priority Mail Express and drop it off at a staffed Post Office location. However, Express mail has a significantly higher cost than regular First Class postage for letters.
Can I Go to the Post Office on Sundays?
Most stand-alone Post Office locations are closed on Sundays. However, some Post Offices located inside grocery stores or other retailers may be open on Sundays, but with limited services. You cannot drop off First Class letters or other regular mail on Sundays, even at Post Offices inside grocery stores.
The main services offered at open Post Office locations on Sundays include:
- Purchasing Express Mail envelopes or packages
- Dropping off Express Mail items
- Picking up PO Box mail
- Purchasing money orders
So you can visit some Post Office locations to mail an Express delivery on Sundays. But regular mailing and shipping services are not available that day.
Can I Schedule a USPS Pickup on Sundays?
USPS does not offer residential or business package pickups on Sundays. When scheduling a package pickup online or by phone, Sundays will not be available as an option.
The only way to potentially have something picked up on Sunday is if the shipper has an appropriate Sunday delivery contract in place with USPS. Major shippers like Amazon, UPS, and FedEx can arrange Sunday pickups in certain areas where USPS provides Sunday delivery.
For individual residential customers and small businesses, USPS pickups are available Monday through Saturday only.
Does USPS Deliver Mail on Sundays?
USPS does not deliver regular mail like First Class letters, flats, and regular packages on Sundays. The only items delivered on Sundays are:
- Priority Mail Express
- Pre-sorted Amazon packages
- Pre-sorted UPS packages
- Pre-sorted FedEx packages
So regular households and businesses will not receive any mail deliveries on Sundays. The exception is if you live in an area eligible for Sunday USPS package delivery and happen to be receiving an Amazon, UPS, or FedEx shipment that day.
Can I Schedule USPS Redelivery on Sundays?
USPS does not offer its normal package redelivery services on Sundays. Redelivery allows recipients to schedule another attempt if a mailpiece could not be delivered on initial attempt.
To request redelivery, customers typically use the USPS Package Intercept service on usps.com or call USPS directly. However, Package Intercept and other redelivery services are not available on Sundays.
The only packages that may be redelivered on Sundays are those shipped by major carriers like Amazon, UPS, and FedEx in areas with Sunday delivery. The shipper would need to contact USPS directly to schedule Sunday redelivery.
Does It Cost More to Mail on Sundays?
For items that are eligible for Sunday pickup and delivery, USPS does not charge additional fees simply because it is a Sunday. For example:
- An Express Mail item costs the same whether you ship it on Sunday or another day of the week.
- USPS contracts with Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and other major shippers factor Sunday delivery into their base pricing.
The only pricing differential would be the general increased cost of shipping via Priority Express Mail versus standard shipping methods. But there are no specific Sunday surcharges.
Factors That Impact Sunday Mail Services
There are a few key factors that determine USPS Sunday mail availability:
- Location – Sunday delivery is currently only available in select major metropolitan areas. More rural destinations do not have Sunday services.
- Type of Mail – Letters, flats, most Priority Mail packages are not accepted or delivered on Sundays.
- Shipping Carrier – Major shippers like Amazon, UPS, and FedEx can utilize Sunday delivery based on contracts and service levels. Individual customers generally cannot access Sunday delivery.
- Time of Year – USPS suspends Sunday delivery and pickups on certain major holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.
USPS Sunday Operations Summary
To recap the key points on USPS Sunday mail services:
- Most Post Office locations are closed on Sundays.
- Regular First Class mail cannot be sent or delivered on Sundays.
- Priority Mail Express can be accepted and delivered on Sundays in eligible areas.
- Select Amazon, UPS, FedEx packages are delivered by USPS on Sundays based on shipper contracts.
- USPS does not do residential or business pickups on Sundays.
- There are no specific Sunday surcharges for eligible mail items.
- Sunday operations are limited to major metro areas.
Conclusion
USPS provides very limited mail services on Sundays. While Amazon packages and Priority Express deliveries are handled in some locations, normal First Class letters and Priority packages cannot be sent or received on Sundays.
Before heading to the Post Office or depositing mail on Sundays, be sure to check which products are eligible. For most residential and business customers, regular mailing and shipping grinds to a halt on Sundays and resumes on Mondays.
