Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year, which means it’s right around the corner. Although our favorite part of the holiday is gathering together with family and friends, Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are a close second! If you’re planning to do your Christmas shopping on Thanksgiving too, you’ll probably want to mail those presents right away. So you may be wondering, is the post office open on Thanksgiving?
Here’s everything you need to know.
Is The Post Office Closed on Thanksgiving?
Since Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, the post office will be closed on Thursday, November 28th.
USPS won’t be delivering any mail on Thanksgiving, and you won’t be able to stop at your local USPS branch to send your holiday packages.
However, you can still drop certain pieces of mail in a USPS collection boxes on Thanksgiving. Items that are up to 1/2 inch thick or weigh 10 ounces or less can be deposited in a collection box. As long as your mail is addressed and stamped properly, it will be picked up and sent out when service resumes after the holiday. If you’re not sure where the closest mailbox is, you can look up its location using this tool on the USPS website.
Additionally, you can access your USPS account online on Thanksgiving and use it to schedule package pickups, order shipping supplies, and more.
If you’re wondering is the post office closed on Thanksgiving, you may also have questions about Black Friday. You’ll be glad to know that the post office usually reopens on Black Friday because it isn’t a federally recognized holiday. So you won’t have to wait too long to mail your Christmas packages!
Are FedEx And UPS Open on Thanksgiving?
No, FedEx and UPS are closed on Thanksgiving.
UPS and FedEx are open on many holidays that the post office closes for, such as Veterans Day. However, because Thanksgiving is a major holiday, both FedEx and UPS typically shut down in observance of it. But luckily critical express packages may still be delivered on Thanksgiving. And service will resume as normal the next day on Black Friday since it isn’t considered a major holiday.
Post Office Holiday Schedule
Don’t forget that Thanksgiving isn’t the only holiday the post office is closed on. It shuts its doors on ten other federal holidays throughout the year, which are listed below.
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Presidents Day
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Fourth of July
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veterans Day
- Christmas Day
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the post office will usually observe it on Monday, so keep that in mind.
It’s worth noting that UPS doesn’t close on quite as many holidays as the post office. It only shuts its doors on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. So you’ll be able to head there on many holidays if you have an urgent package you need to mail.
Wrapping Up
What are your plans for Thanksgiving this year? Are you doing any Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping? Let us know in the comments below!
Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.
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