Are post offices open and will mail be delivered on 2021 Christmas Eve and Day?

To get ready for the holiday season, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has hired more than 40,000 seasonal workers. The agency expects to distribute more than 12 billion packages, cards, and letters this holiday season. USPS expects to "deliver more mail and packages to homes than any other shipper.” Just looking at packages, USPS expects to deliver between 850 million and 950 million packages before the holidays.

When will the post office be open?

If you are looking to send any last-minute gifts before Christmas, you should head to the post office before 23 December. While some post offices may be open on the 24th, the United States Postal Service (USPS) says "For most Federal employees, Friday, December 24, will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes." All post offices will be closed on Sunday 26 December which is aligned with its normal institutional schedule.

Will mail be delivered on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?

USPS will deliver mail on Christmas Eve, but not on Christmas Day or the day after. Since Christmas falls on a Saturday, the mail will not be delivered and since Sunday is always a holiday for postal workers, no deliveries will be made. All mail distribution and post offices will begin to operate their normal schedule on Monday 27 December.

When do I need to send a package for it to arrive by Christmas Day?

According to USPS, a package sent by Priority Mail Express Service will arrive by Christmas Day if sent on or before 23 December. However, if you are sending to or from Hawaii or Alaska, the last date to send a package for it to arrive by the 25th was 21 December.

Is mail picked up from the Blue Boxes on Christmas Eve? 

Yes. But if you are hoping to get a package to someone before postal operations close, the letter must be dropped off before 12 p.m. (noon) on Christmas Eve.

How many packages are typically sent during the holidays?

In 2020, when many families decided to celebrate Christmas apart, USPS broke records by delivering over 13 billion cards, letters, and packages. As of 16 December, the agency had distributed more than 6.5 billion packages and other pieces of mail.

Is the post office open on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day?

The post office will be closed across the nation on Friday 31 December and Saturday 1 January. New Year's Day is always a postal holiday. While post offices will be closed on the 31st, the mail will be delivered as scheduled. Additionally, mail will be picked up from collection boxes on the 31st, but not on New Year's Day.

Those expecting packages will have to wait until 3 January for regular postal services to resume.