USPS 24 Hour Drop Off In 2024: How It Works and Where To Go After Hours
If you‘re a night owl or work non-traditional hours, you may have struggled to drop off mail and packages during limited local post office hours. While USPS does not yet offer round-the-clock service nationwide, there are more 24/7 USPS drop-off options than ever before.
The Trouble With 9-5 Post Office Hours
The United States Postal Service operates over 31,000 post offices across the country. However, the vast majority only offer retail service between 8:30am-5:00pm on weekdays and 3-4 hours on Saturday [1].
This presents challenges for millions of customers, considering:
- 24% of Americans work alternative shifts outside 9am-5pm hours [2]
- USPS delivers over 470 million mail pieces daily, including packages [3]
- 65% of Americans use USPS for sending packages multiple times per month [4]
Limited hours make it difficult to ship and mail items when it‘s most convenient. Missed shipping deadlines can negatively impact customers and businesses. There is a growing need for accessible after hours and 24/7 USPS drop off points.
Expanding Options for Dropping Off Mail and Packages After Hours
In response to customer demand, USPS has been expanding alternate access points beyond brick-and-mortar post offices. There are now over 40,000 USPS-approved postal providers nationwide, including retail chains, stores, and self-service kiosks [5].
Many of these providers offer extended evening and 24 hour package drop off:
| Provider | Number of Locations | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Walgreens | 9,000+ | Most open 24 hours |
| CVS Pharmacy | 9,900+ | Many open 24 hours |
| Walmart | 4,700+ | Many open until 11pm or 24 hours |
| Safeway | 1,300+ | Most open from 6am – midnight |
According to USPS, these alternate access locations process nearly 2 million packages per day on average [6]. The major retailers above comprise over 85% of USPS alternate access points and have clearly helped expand after hours and 24/7 shipment options [7].
However, adult consumers seem split on whether USPS should offer 24 hour service. In a recent poll, results showed: [8]
- 47% supported USPS being open 24/7
- 41% thought current hours are sufficient
- 12% had no opinion
While many customers are taking advantage of expanded USPS retail partnerships, others still prefer conducting shipping business within official post office hours.
Perks of Dropping Off Packages After Hours
Utilizing USPS‘ alternate access points at retail chains for shipping offers several benefits:
Avoid Lines – Beat the morning and lunch rush by dropping off packages late at night or early morning
Make Deadlines – Ship that time-sensitive document without worrying if you can make it to the post office during their open hours
More Locations – With over 40,000 alternate access points, more options to ship from your neighborhood
Self-Service – Many retail chains have self-service kiosks for faster drop off without waiting in line
Weekend Access – Some grocery stores and big box retailers that partner with USPS are open weekends
Later Pickup – Retail locations tend to have later package pickup times by USPS drivers, often by 9 or 10pm
While open hours and locations are still limited, the USPS alternate access program provides growing after-hours choice.
Is Nationwide 24/7 Postal Service On the Horizon?
USPS has not officially announced plans to expand all post office retail hours. However, their actions show a commitment to increasing customer access and flexibility:
- Growing number of USPS-approved alternate access points
- Installation of self-service kiosks in high-traffic areas
- Allowing package drop off in collection boxes
- Providing more late package pickup options
The increased prevalence of ecommerce, rise of hybrid work schedules, and customer expectations for accessibility will likely push USPS to continue expanding after hours and weekend options in coming years.
While we may not see every USPS location open 24/7 anytime soon, the Postal Service clearly recognizes the need for greater flexibility to align with modern lifestyles. Increased retail partnerships and new services like package pickup have allowed USPS to better meet this demand.
So next time you need to ship that holiday gift or return an online order outside of 9-5, you now have more options to access USPS service on your schedule. The growth of after hours and 24/7 access points has been a win for customers even if they aren‘t fully ubiquitous yet.
