Post Office Opening Times

Anish

March 11, 2024

The United States Postal Service, or USPS, provides regular opening and closing times to effectively cater to the shipping needs of people residing in over 161.4 million U.S. addresses. 

However, despite the company’s desire to remain in service to its customers, there are eleven days every year when the U.S. Postal Service closes its doors to rest. 

These eleven days are the official federal holidays the United States government celebrates. USPS also observes these eleven special occasions as part of a federal institution. 

What are the Post Office’s opening times and closing times during regular days? What are the USPS’ retail hours during holidays? 

This article gives information about the official USPS retail hours. It also lists post offices’ opening and closing hours, especially during federal holidays like Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. 

If you need access to contact information for over 31,330 post offices in the country, visit FindPostOffice.org. Our website can help you get the retail hours of every post office in our database. 

USPS Retail Hours

USPS is a unique institution that operates like a business and a public service agency simultaneously. Because of this unique combination, federal government policies can affect even a local post office’s opening and closing hours, including the observance of holidays. 

If you check the retail hours of a USPS postal facility, you’ll see that most post offices’ opening hours are 8:00 AM. Meanwhile, the closing hour is usually 5:30 PM. Still, the retail hours of a certain USPS facility can vary depending on the needs of the community they serve. 

What Time Do Post Offices Usually Open?

The Post Office usually opens at 8:00 AM or 8:30 AM. Some places are open on Saturdays; some open as early as 8:00 AM, while others open much later at 10:00 AM. 

For information about specific post offices’ opening and closing hours, visit FindPostOffice.org. You can also get information from the USPS customer service hotline provided to answer inquiries, including questions about the retail hours of a particular USPS retail location. 

You can contact USPS by calling 1-800-ASK-USPS or 1-800-275-8777. Alternatively, you can email USPS Customer Service. You can also visit USPS.com and check the different mailing options the U.S. Postal Service provides. 

Are Post Office Doors Always Open?

In 2009, Chicago’s main post office finally stopped its 24/7 service. Before the change in retail hours, Chicago was the only city left that provided round-the-clock postal service. 

However, despite the dedication to providing shipping service, the Chicago post office finally halted its 24-hour service and shifted to a less rigorous schedule. 

So, if you’re asking whether the post office is always open, the answer is no. There are days of the week and special holidays when USPS offices are closed. 

Are Post Offices Open on Sundays?

In general, USPS closes its post offices on Sundays. The decision to pause work on Sundays helps the Postal Service have a day of rest. 

However, despite this, cases like delivery exceptions keep some local post office services open even on a Sunday. 

What Is Delivery Exception?

A delivery exception is when a logistics provider like USPS operates on a Sunday because it can’t complete a delivery on the expected time or date. 

For instance, a carrier made a delivery attempt on a Saturday, but no one was present to receive the package. In that case, the courier can reschedule another delivery for a Sunday. 

The following are reasons that may cause the delay in the delivery of a parcel or shipment:

  1. Incorrect address: Sometimes, typos and errors in the recipient’s address make it difficult to determine the correct location. 
  2. Insufficient address: A simple missing apartment number, street name, or house number can result in a failed delivery attempt. 
  3. Recipient not available: A failed delivery results when the mail or parcel has services that require the recipient’s signature, like Signature Confirmation or Restricted Delivery, and the addressee is not around. 
  4. Business closed: Sometimes, the courier arrives when the business is closed or during a local holiday. 
  5. Unsafe Location: When deliveries happen during inclement weather, leaving the package at the recipient’s doorstep is impractical. 
  6. Delivery route issues: Road conditions like traffic delays, closures, rerouting, and impassable streets due to factors out of USPS’ control can result in delivery delays. 
  7. Incorrect package weight: Sometimes, the package weight on paper may differ from its actual weight, which can get flagged, resulting in delays. 
  8. Package damage: When the courier receives the package and sees that there is damage, the parcel may be marked as an exception and not proceed to delivery. 

Sunday deliveries often happen due to special situations like delivery exceptions. However, shipments may be completed before Sunday if everything is in order and there are no mail or package issues. 

USPS Holiday Service Schedule

The United States has 11 federal holidays, which the government offices observe. Only the essential government agencies remain open during these holidays, while the rest enjoy a holiday vacation. 

As part of the federal government, USPS also observes these federal holidays and provides employee holiday leave. As a result, for most of these holidays, USPS remains closed. 

On the other hand, some mail services, like Priority Mail Express and self-service kiosks, continue to work during holidays. At the same time, you can check Post Office Boxes (PO Box) during holidays. 

December 24 (Christmas Eve)

The day before Christmas is known as Christmas Eve, supposed to be the night when Jesus Christ was born. Christmas is a huge religious event for Christians and a day of family bonding and love for non-Christians and people of different faiths. 

However, because Christmas Eve is not a federal holiday, USPS remains open on December 24th. The services will remain open throughout the day. However, some local post offices may shorten their retail lobby hours to midday to accommodate the celebrations.  

December 25 (Christmas Day) and December 26 (Christmas Holiday Observed)

December 25th is the traditional date of the birth of Jesus Christ. It was first a Christian holiday, but as time progressed, it slowly became a worldwide secular holiday.

December 25th is one of the 11 federal holidays in the United States. During this day, all post offices are closed. However, there is a provision regarding holidays that fall on a Sunday. 

If December 25th falls on a Sunday, according to a federal ruling 5 U.S. Code § 6103, the Monday after will be treated as a “holiday observed” for pay and leave purposes. 

December 31 (New Year’s Eve)

Similar to Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve is the night before the actual change of the year. USPS also treats New Year’s Eve as a normal working day, and service will remain open. However, in some post offices, retail lobby operations may halt at noon to accommodate the celebrations. 

January 1 (New Year’s Day) and Monday, January 2 (New Year’s Day Holiday Observed)

New Year’s Day is the first federal holiday of the year. USPS remains closed during this holiday. 

However, if January 1st falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be a holiday observed, and the Postal Service will treat it as a holiday for pay and leave purposes.  

Other Federal Holidays

The following are other federal holidays observed by the government and the U.S. Postal Service. 

  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 16)
  • George Washington’s Birthday (February 20)
  • Memorial Day (May 29)
  • Juneteenth (June 19)
  • Independence Day (July 4)
  • Labor Day (September 4)
  • Columbus Day (October 9)
  • Veterans Day (November 11)
  • Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November)

Selected Post Office Locations and Schedules

The following is a sample list of post office locations in California. This list shows the opening and closing hours of each post office and whether they’re available during weekends. 

If you need information on other post offices in the U.S., which totals over 31,330, visit FindPostOffice.org. 

Let’s say you’re looking for a post office near San Bruno, McLaren, or Mendell. You can quickly search and access the contact information, address, and retail hours of every USPS retail facility listed in our vast database. 

  1. San Francisco Post Office

1300 Evans Ave Ste 300h, San Francisco, CA
ZIP: 94188-8036
Phone: 415-550-5001

This San Francisco Post Office is open weekdays (8:00 AM to 4:30 PM). However, they’re closed on Saturdays and Sundays. 

  1. Mission San Francisco Post Office

1198 S Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
ZIP: 94110-9992
Phone: 415-431-3826

This post office is open weekdays (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM). They’re also open on Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. However, on Sundays, the post office is closed.

  1. Sutter Street Post Office

150 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA
ZIP: 94104-9991
Phone: 415-626-2932

This post office is open weekdays (7:30 AM to 6:00 PM). However, they’re closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

  1. Napoleon Street Carrier Complex

180 Napoleon St, San Francisco, CA
ZIP: 94124-9991
Phone: 415-285-4662

This post office is open Mondays through Saturdays (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM). However, they’re closed on Sundays.

  1. East Stockton Post Office

867 Stockton St, Stockton, CA
ZIP: 94108-9991
Phone: 415-986-3494

This post office is open weekdays (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM). Meanwhile, they’re open on Saturdays (9:00 AM to 5:30 PM). This post office is closed on Sundays.

  1. Tiffany Ave Post Office

189 Tiffany Ave, San Francisco, CA
ZIP: 94110-9992
Phone: 415-643-3790

This post office is open weekdays (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM). However, they’re closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

  1. Bayview Ave Post Office

244 N Bayview Ave, Samoa, CA
ZIP:  95564-9523
Phone: 707-822-3370

This post office is open weekdays (8:00 AM to 5:30 PM). However, they’re closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

  1. Golden Gate Ave Post Office

450 Golden Gate Ave, San Francisco, CA
ZIP: 94102-3661
Phone: 415-931-1053

This post office is open weekdays (1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and from 3:15 PM to 5:00 PM). However, they’re closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

  1. Market Street Post Office

1390 Market St Lbby, San Francisco, CA
ZIP: 94102-9995
Phone: 415-931-1053

This post office is open weekdays (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM). On Saturdays, they’re open from 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM. However, the post office is closed on Sundays.

  1. San Francisco P&DC Finance

1300 Evans Ave Ste 30, San Francisco, CA
ZIP: 94188-8014
Phone 415-550-5245

This post office is open weekdays (7:00 AM to 8:30 PM). On Saturdays, they’re open from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. However, the post office is closed on Sundays.

  1. Lane Street Post Office

2111 Lane St, San Francisco, CA
ZIP: 94124-9991
Phone: 415-822-7157

This post office is open weekdays (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM). On Saturdays, they’re open from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM. However, the post office is closed on Sundays.

  1. Noe Valley Post Office

4083 24th St, San Francisco, CA
ZIP: 94114-9992
Phone 415-643-3790

This post office is open weekdays (9:30 AM to 5:00 PM). On Saturdays, they’re open from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. However, the post office is closed on Sundays.

  1. Visitacion Post Office

68 Leland Ave, San Francisco, CA
ZIP: 94134-9991
Phone 415-285-4662

This post office is open weekdays (10:00 AM to 1:30 PM and from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM). On Saturdays, they’re open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. However, the post office is closed on Sundays.

  1. Napoleon Street Carrier CPLX Post Office

180 Napoleon St, San Francisco, CA 
ZIP: 94124-9711
Phone: 415-285-4662

This post office is open on Mondays through Saturdays (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM). However, the post office is closed on Sundays.

  1. North Beach Annex Post Office

2200 Powell St, San Francisco, CA
ZIP: 94133-9992
Phone: 415-986-3494

This post office is open weekdays (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM). However, the post office is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

  1. Bernal Heights Post Office

189 Tiffany Ave, San Francisco, CA
ZIP: 94110
Phone: 415-643-3790

This post office is open weekdays (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM). However, the post office is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

  1. Marina Post Office

2055 Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94123
ZIP:  94123-9991
Phone: 415-351-1875

This post office is open weekdays (8:30 AM to 5:00 PM). This post office is open on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. However, the Marina Post Office is closed on Sundays.

References

  1. Find Post Office
    https://findpostoffice.org/
  2. Chicago’s 24-Hour Postal Service Comes To An End
    https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105040498
  3. Holiday Mailings made easy…visit our ‘Self’ Service Kiosks 24/7
    https://about.usps.com/news/state-releases/mi/2013/mi_2013_1203.htm
  4. 5 U.S. Code § 6103 – Holidays
    https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/6103
  5. History of Veterans Day
    https://department.va.gov/veterans-day/history-of-veterans-day/