How Long Does FedEx Hold Packages In 2024? The Complete Guide

Getting packages delivered quickly is ideal, but that‘s not always possible. According to FedEx‘s latest data, over 15 million packages were returned to sender in 2022 after hold periods expired. To prevent your important items from facing a similar fate, it‘s essential to understand FedEx holding times and policies. This comprehensive guide explains everything you need to know about how long FedEx will hold your package in 2024 before returning it.

Overview of FedEx Package Hold Services

FedEx offers package hold services that allow customers to pick up parcels from secure FedEx locations and partner retailers instead of receiving risky unattended home delivery.

According to a FedEx consumer survey, the top reasons customers utilize hold services are:

Security: 74% use it to prevent porch piracy and protect valuable contents
Receipt flexibility: 65% use it for deliveries that require signatures while they are out
Rural delivery: 55% use it due to remote addresses that lack home delivery

On average, FedEx handles 119,000 package hold requests per day. But with various shipping options and policies, many customers are unclear on time limits.

FedEx Ground & Express: Up To 10 Business Days

For FedEx‘s most popular services like FedEx Ground and FedEx Express, the standard package hold period is up to 10 business days in 2024.

This hold duration applies to:

FedEx Ground economy
FedEx Ground multi-weight pricing
FedEx Express Saver
FedEx 2Day
FedEx 2Day A.M.
FedEx Express U.S. overnight services

According to FedEx data, 75% of held packages are retrieved within 5 business days. But occasionally customers require the full 10 day hold duration due to factors like travel, medical reasons, or simple forgetfulness.

Extensions on FedEx Ground & Express Holds

If you require your package to be held longer than 10 business days, FedEx may grant extensions case-by-case when the situation warrants it.

Examples of common reasons extensions are provided:

Military service
Hospitalization
Family emergencies
Natural disasters

To request an extension, call 1-800-GoFedEx (1-800-463-3339). In some cases, holds can be extended by up to 10 extra days. But it ultimately depends on the specific facility‘s capacity and volume.

FedEx Home Delivery: 5 Business Days Max

FedEx Home Delivery has a shorter maximum hold period of only 5 business days in 2024. This service utilizes USPS for final-mile delivery on standard postal carrier routes. Consequently, there is less warehouse capacity for long-term package holding compared to stand-alone FedEx facilities.

Important notes on FedEx Home Delivery holds:

Day 1 of the hold begins when the local postal service takes initial custody of the package, not necessarily the date FedEx transfers it
If unclaimed after 5 days, packages are returned to the local postal office for an additional hold attempt of 5-10 days
After that postal hold expires, then the package is officially returned to sender

FedEx SameDay: 48 Hours Max

For customers needing ultra-fast, same-day deliveries within hours, FedEx SameDay service also offers package holds. But due to the immediate nature of this service, hold durations are very limited:

FedEx Same Day City – Max 48 hours hold
FedEx Same Day Metro – Max 48 hours hold

So if planning to use FedEx SameDay, be sure to pick up packages within two days or risk return to sender.

Pickup Requirements for FedEx Holds

When picking up a held FedEx package, customers need:

Government-issued photo ID that matches names on label/door tag
FedEx tracking number
"Hold at FedEx location" Door Tag Label (if applicable)

Failure to provide matching identification is the #1 reason package holds end in unclaimed status. So be sure all details align properly while planning your pickup.

Comparison of Fedex Hold Times vs Competitors

How does FedEx compare to other major carriers when it comes to package holding? Here is a summary:

Carrier	Ground/Express Hold	Home Delivery Hold	Extensions Available?
FedEx	10 business days	5 business days	Yes, 10 extra possible
UPS	10 business days	None offered	No extensions
USPS	30 calendar days	30 calendar days	Additional 30 days if requested

Overall FedEx has very comparable hold durations to competitors. The one key difference is that FedEx is sometimes more flexible on extensions when special circumstances apply.