We‘ve all been there – scrambling to get to the post office before it closes to drop off an important letter or package. But what if you work unconventional hours or simply prefer to run errands at night? You may be wondering: does USPS offer 24 hour drop off services?
The answer is yes… and no. It depends on what exactly you‘re trying to mail. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about utilizing USPS drop off services at any hour of the day or night. Say goodbye to racing the clock and hello to shipping on your own schedule!
The Growing Demand for 24/7 Mailing Access
In today‘s fast-paced ecommerce landscape, consumers expect convenience and flexibility when it comes to shipping. A 2022 study by Package InSight found that 63% of online shoppers have abandoned a purchase because of unsatisfactory shipping options. Restricted post office hours are a common pain point.
"The ability to send and receive packages on their own schedule is becoming table stakes for many consumers, especially younger, digitally-native generations," says retail analyst Chris Randall. "People are working and shopping at all hours, so they expect mailing services to keep up."
The stats back this up – USPS reported a 32% increase in weekend and after-hours package volume during the 2021 holiday season compared to pre-pandemic levels. And it‘s not just the holidays driving demand. The gig economy, remote work and global commerce are boosting year-round after-hours shipping needs.
USPS Collection Box 24 Hour Drop Off: Letters vs. Packages
Let‘s start with the basics. USPS does allow customers to drop off certain items in their iconic blue collection boxes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, there are some important restrictions to be aware of.
According to the USPS website, for a mailpiece to be eligible for collection box drop off, it must:
- Weigh 10 ounces or less
- Have a thickness of 1/2 inch or less
- Include correct postage, fees and labels
This applies to all major classes of domestic mail, including First-Class, Priority, Express, and others. If you‘re sending international mail, you‘ll also need to include an electronically-generated customs form.
So what does that mean for you as a customer? Essentially, if you‘re dropping off standard-sized letters or very small packages, you should be good to utilize the over 143,000 USPS collection boxes nationwide at any hour. This is incredibly convenient for mailing things like bill payments, greeting cards, documents and other letter-sized mail without having to visit a post office during operating hours.
However, the 10 ounce and 1/2 inch restrictions mean that most packages are simply too big for blue collection boxes. Due to aviation security rules, packages over these size limits are prohibited from being dropped off in collection boxes.
So if you have a package that exceeds a large envelope in size, you‘ll need to visit an actual post office location or other approved postal provider that accepts packages (more on that in a bit). Most standalone collection boxes are simply too small to accommodate packages.
"Collection boxes are a great option for lightweight mailing, but they aren‘t designed to be a catch-all for after-hours package shipping," advises Randall. "Consumers need to assess their mailpiece and plan accordingly to avoid rejected drop-offs or delays."
After Hours Drop Off at Post Office Locations
What if you need to drop off a package after hours that‘s too large for a blue collection box? Your first instinct may be to try your local post office. But can you actually enter a USPS location after it‘s closed?
The answer is sometimes, but with limitations. According to USPS data, 10.4% of total postal locations have lobbies that are open 24 hours, while 26.8% offer extended lobby hours beyond regular counter times. These areas usually offer PO box access for customers to pick up mail as well as self-service kiosks to purchase stamps and postage.
However, the main post office retail counter where you‘d normally drop off packages is closed after hours. So while you can enter the lobby of some post office locations at any hour, your after-hours mailing options may be restricted to pre-paid, smaller items.
To find out if a post office location near you has an after-hours lobby, use the USPS location finder tool and check the "accessible 24-7" filter. It will specify if the lobby has extended access beyond the retail counter hours.
24 Hour USPS Drop Off at Third-Party Retail Locations
So collection boxes have size limits and only 1 in 4 post office lobbies are open late – what‘s a night owl shipper to do? Enter the USPS Approved Postal Provider program.
To modernize and expand access, USPS has partnered with over 65,000 third-party retailers to provide shipping services based on their store hours. These approved providers undergo rigorous training to offer official USPS products and services.
Many locations are open late or even 24 hours, giving customers much more flexibility to drop off packages or buy postage on their own schedule vs. traditional post office hours.
"Expanding USPS services to grocery stores, pharmacies and other retailers that people already visit is a smart strategy," says Randall. "It meets consumers where they are and leverages the much longer hours of these high-traffic locations."
Some of the most common USPS Approved Postal Providers include:
Pharmacies
Major chains like Walgreens and CVS have formed robust partnerships with USPS to become a go-to after-hours shipping resource. According to USPS, 78% of Americans now live within 5 miles of an approved pharmacy location.
Many drugstores have installed secure drop-off lockers or bins in-store and accept pre-paid packages at the register. Some even have self-service kiosks to purchase postage and print shipping labels. With many pharmacy locations open 24/7, this has become a hugely popular option for late-night shippers.
"Our 24-hour USPS drop off has been a major draw, especially for small business owners who do a lot of their packing and shipping after they close up shop for the day," says Sarah Kim, store manager at a 24-hour Walgreens in Chicago. "The convenience factor is huge."
Grocery and Retail Stores
Walmart, Albertsons, Staples and other major retail chains have also joined the USPS Approved Postal Provider program in a big way. These stores offer full-service mailing and shipping along with their wares.
Most participating retail locations have extended evening and weekend hours, allowing consumers to squeeze in USPS drop offs and purchases while making their regular Target run or grocery trip. Some stores even have curbside package drop off as part of their pickup services.
It‘s a win-win – "Postal services increase foot traffic to our store and boost that all-important basket size per trip," says Jim Levin, a grocery executive whose Northeast chain offers USPS drop off at 82% of its locations. "At the same time, we‘re offering a valuable convenience to customers."
However, retail counters often involve a longer transaction process and wait time than quick in-and-out options like collection boxes or pharmacy drop offs. So allow for some extra time if mailing from a Walmart or supermarket.
Contract Postal Units (CPUs)
CPUs are licensed third-party partners that agree to sell USPS products and services. There are over 5,000 CPUs nationwide, ranging from university mailrooms to packing and shipping stores.
These small businesses operate USPS counters independently with their own staff and store hours, allowing them to provide local postal service beyond the capacity of standalone post offices. Many CPUs offer late evening hours and 24/7 self-service kiosks.
CPUs can handle most common postal transactions, including package drop off, postage purchases and even PO Box rentals. However, because they are individual businesses, the service offerings and hours can vary widely from location to location. Be sure to check what your local CPU provides.
Self-Service Kiosks: The Future of 24 Hour Mailing?
For consumers who prefer a fully automated experience, USPS is also investing heavily in self-service kiosks accessible 24 hours a day. These high-tech vending machines allow customers to buy stamps, print shipping labels and deposit certain pre-paid packages on their own.
While the USPS self-service kiosk program has been around since 2004, the pace of expansion has recently picked up steam. USPS aims to grow its current fleet of 2,500 kiosks to over 4,000 by 2025.
The newest kiosk tech is a major upgrade, with features like larger touchscreens, package lockers for pickups and AI to verify shipping information. "Kiosks are a cost-effective way for us to provide basic services to complement our post offices," said a USPS spokesperson. "We see them as the future of 24/7 customer access and are finding that once people try them, they love the convenience."
Beyond post office lobbies, the kiosks are popping up at more pharmacies, grocery stores and retail locations to provide an after-hours mailing option without the lines. Many are drive-up accessible, further speeding the process. Look for a kiosk near you on the USPS site.
Choosing the Right USPS 24 Hour Drop Off Method
So with all these after-hours mailing options, how do you choose the right one for your needs? It really depends on a few key factors:
Mail type and size
Remember those strict size and weight limits for collection boxes and kiosks. Bulky or heavy packages will need to go to a retail partner counter or post office for drop off.
Postage
If you need to purchase postage or are unsure of the amount, visiting a CPU, approved retailer or kiosk is your best bet, as they all sell stamps and labels. Collection boxes are only for items with correct postage already affixed.
Speed
For quick drop off of pre-labeled items, collection boxes, pharmacy mail slots and kiosks can‘t be beat. Retail counters are better for transactions that may require more assistance, like filling out forms or getting a specific mail class.
Proximity
Use the USPS location tools linked in this guide to find every 24 hour drop off spot near you, then go with the most convenient option for your typical commute or errands. You may be surprised how many choices are in your backyard!
The key is to assess your mail, budget extra time for any in-person transactions and take advantage of the growing variety of after-hours services to ship on your own schedule. With some planning, you‘ll never have to race the post office clock again.
Expert Insights on 24/7 Postal Access
To dive deeper into the business strategy behind USPS after-hours services, we spoke to Maria Robles, a shipping industry consultant and former USPS executive.
"Round-the-clock access is table stakes for any competitive shipping provider today," said Robles. "Major carriers have set the expectation that sending and receiving packages should be as convenient as ordering takeout or streaming a movie – available anytime, anywhere."
She sees USPS‘ expansion into third-party locations and self-service tech as critical to evolving for an e-commerce-driven world. "We can‘t expect customers to conform to a 1950s mail schedule anymore. People want postal services that fit into their modern 24/7 lifestyle, and that means being everywhere they are, whether that‘s a Walgreens or grocery store."
Robles applauded the steps USPS has taken while noting there‘s still a long way to go. "We‘ve made progress, but only 35% of Americans currently have a 24/7 USPS drop off point within 5 miles of home. That number needs to be much higher. I‘d like to see self-service kiosks become as common as ATMs or Redbox over the next few years."
She also stressed these tech upgrades will be essential to handling ever-growing parcel volume. "Automated solutions are the only way to scale and meet demand efficiently. We need to shift routine drop offs away from retail counters to 24/7 access points that can do the job with less labor."
Lastly, Robles sees USPS‘ 24 hour services as a key competitive advantage against rivals FedEx and UPS, which have more limited after-hours options. "We have an incredible asset in our vast retail network, something no other carrier can match. Now the challenge is to activate that unmatched access and convenience to become the top choice for e-commerce shippers."
The Bottom Line
24 hour access to mailing services is no longer a nice-to-have – it‘s a consumer expectation and business imperative. The stats show that demand for after-hours shipping is booming and only projected to grow.
Luckily for budget-conscious shippers, USPS offers the widest variety of 24/7 drop off methods compared to competitors. From collection boxes to kiosks to approved retail partners, there are more ways than ever to send off your mail outside the 9-to-5 window.
To become a 24 hour mailing pro, familiarize yourself with the drop off options near you and their respective requirements. With a little planning, you can avoid those dreaded post office closing time sprints for good.
After all, life is 24/7 – your mailbox should be too!
