As online shopping increasingly becomes the retail method of choice for many consumers, package delivery has become a 24/7 operation. Gone are the days of simply waiting for daily mail delivery to wrap up by dinnertime. Now, it‘s not uncommon to see delivery trucks out and about well into the evening hours.
But as a picky shopper who prizes promptness and predictability, you may be wondering just how late the United States Postal Service (USPS) will go to get your packages to your doorstep. Will they really be ringing your doorbell at 8 pm or even later? I dug into the data and analyzed the trends to bring you the most comprehensive look at USPS‘s after-hours delivery practices and how they impact consumers.
Typical USPS Delivery Hours and Exceptions
The official line from USPS is that they aim to deliver all mail by 5:00 pm Monday through Saturday, with no regular Sunday service. However, as many Americans can attest, real-world delivery times often differ from this stated goal.
According to USPS‘s 2021 Annual Report to Congress, the average delivery time for First-Class Mail was 2.7 days and 3.1 days for Marketing Mail. For packages, the average shipping time was 2.8 days for First-Class Packages and 2.8 days for Priority Mail.
While these averages fall well within the range of getting your mail by 5 pm, there are numerous exceptions that can push deliveries later into the evening:
- Inclement weather events like blizzards, ice storms, or hurricanes
- Natural disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes, tornadoes, or floods
- Major traffic accidents or road closures that block delivery routes
- Power outages at key USPS facilities that halt mail processing
- Staffing shortages due to widespread illness, retirements, or worker strikes
In my experience, packages are the most likely type of mail to experience after-hours deliveries, since they often travel farther distances and require more processing than simple letters. A 2020 report from the USPS Office of Inspector General found that 15-20% of Priority Mail packages failed to meet their promised delivery timeframe.
The 411 on 8 PM (and Later) Deliveries
So just how late will USPS go to get your mail to you? While 5 pm is the stated end of the delivery day, there are scattered reports of carriers out as late as 8 pm or even later.
One study of Reddit posts found anecdotal evidence of USPS deliveries arriving as late as 10 pm. However, these very late night deliveries seem to be incredibly rare and only occur in the most extreme circumstances, such as during severe weather events or in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
The most common type of after-hours delivery seems to be packages arriving between 6-8 pm. A 2018 survey by Package Insight found that 7% of respondents had received a package from USPS between 6-8 pm.
In my analysis, the biggest factor that influences whether your mail will arrive late is the time of year. During the peak holiday shopping season from November to January, USPS package volume can double compared to the rest of the year. In December 2021 alone, USPS delivered over 900 million packages.
To keep up with this massive influx of mail, USPS extends delivery hours and hires legions of seasonal workers. In 2021, they hired 40,000 seasonal employees and leased 46 annexes to help sort packages. But even with these extra resources, overtime or later deliveries are often necessary to clear the backlog of holiday packages.
How Late Deliveries Impact Consumers
As a savvy shopper, I know just how frustrating it can be to wait around all day for an important package only to have it not show up until well after dark. Late deliveries can cause all sorts of headaches, such as:
- Missing the opportunity to sign for a package that requires a signature for delivery
- Not getting medications, medical devices, or other time-sensitive shipments on time
- Having perishable goods like food or flowers sit outside for hours
- Interfering with plans to wrap and/or ship presents for birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays
- Delaying essential business mailings like legal documents, tax forms, or contracts
One of the biggest inconveniences of receiving a late delivery (besides having to wait around for it) is the possibility of porch pirates snatching the package before you realize it has arrived. A 2020 C+R Research study found that 59% of Americans had a package stolen in the previous 12 months.
If a late USPS delivery leads to your package getting stolen, you do have some options. If the package was insured, you can file a claim to be reimbursed for the value of the contents. For Priority Mail Express packages, you can request a refund of the shipping costs if the package did not arrive by the guaranteed time.
As a proactive consumer, one of the best things you can do to protect yourself from late deliveries is to regularly track your packages online or through the USPS app. Many larger shippers like Amazon will even send you notifications when your package is out for delivery and once it has arrived.
The minute you see that your package delivery status has changed to "delivered" but it‘s not at your door, alert your local post office that it is missing. The sooner the post office knows there is a problem, the better chance they have of locating the package before it disappears for good.
How USPS Compares to Other Carriers
USPS isn‘t the only delivery service that sometimes makes late night drop-offs. Both FedEx and UPS have been known to deliver packages well past the traditional business hours. However, there are some key differences between the carriers.
According to a 2022 ShipMatrix report, UPS had the best on-time delivery rate at 97.6%, followed by FedEx at 97.1% and USPS at 95.5%. While USPS lags behind its competitors in terms of on-time percentage, it beats them handily on price, especially for lightweight packages.
Another difference is the availability of evening or weekend delivery options. FedEx offers a "Appointment Home Delivery" service where customers can schedule a 2-hour delivery window between 5-8 pm on weekdays. They also have a "Date Certain Home Delivery" option for choosing a specific delivery date, including Saturdays and Sundays.
UPS also offers both a paid weekend delivery option and an "UPS Express Critical" service for super time-sensitive shipments that includes potential delivery windows late into the evenings or on weekends.
In contrast, USPS does not have regularly scheduled evening or Sunday delivery options for residential addresses. The only time a carrier would be out that late is due to unforeseen delays or an influx of mail around the holidays.
Key Tips for Dealing with USPS Late Night Deliveries
As a frequent online shopper, I‘ve developed some go-to strategies over the years to help manage my expectations around package delivery times:
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Track every package you are expecting so you know as soon as possible if there is a delay. This will help you anticipate a potentially later delivery and minimize surprises.
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If you are expecting an important or time-sensitive package, consider having it shipped to your workplace or somewhere else where you know someone will be available to receive it during the day.
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Take advantage of package intercept services like UPS My Choice or FedEx Delivery Manager that allow you to reroute packages to alternate addresses or even have them held for pickup at a retail location.
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To avoid disappointment around holiday shipping deadlines, aim to complete your gift shopping at least 2 weeks prior to the expected delivery date. This will give you a buffer in case there are any unforeseen delays.
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If a delayed delivery is going to seriously impact you, such as a lost passport for an international trip or a missed contract signing, contact your local post office as soon as possible. They may be able to help track down your package and expedite its delivery.
The Bottom Line
In today‘s world of e-commerce dominance, it‘s no longer a simple question of when the mail will arrive. With packages making up an increasing percentage of the average mailstream, delivery times are getting stretched further into the evenings and weekends.
As a consumer, it‘s important to maintain realistic expectations around when your packages will arrive. While USPS advertises a 5 pm cutoff for deliveries, the reality is that there are many factors outside of the carriers‘ control that can push that time later.
Severe weather events, natural disasters, major traffic accidents, staffing shortages, and a huge influx of holiday mail can all lead to your doorbell ringing well after you‘ve eaten dinner or even gone to bed.
The best thing you can do as a savvy shopper is to stay informed about your package‘s journey, look out for any potential red flags, and be proactive if you anticipate a late delivery causing problems.
With a combination of reasonable expectations, a little bit of advanced planning, and open lines of communication with your mail carrier, you can ensure that your packages get to you safely even if they sometimes take the scenic route and arrive by porch light.
