Does USPS Deliver on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day 2025?
USPS delivers regular mail and most packages on Christmas Eve 2025 (Wednesday Dec 24) but no mail or package delivery happens on Christmas Day (Thursday Dec 25). Post offices close early Christmas Eve and stay closed all day Christmas. Here’s the full breakdown by service.
USPS Christmas Eve Delivery 2025
Wednesday December 24th, USPS runs normal residential delivery routes for:
- Regular First-Class Mail
- Priority Mail
- Priority Mail Express (guaranteed delivery)
- Most standard packages
Delivery windows stay regular but might wrap up 1-2 hours early depending on your carrier’s route. Expect mail by early afternoon at latest. No Saturday delivery since Christmas Eve isn’t a Saturday.
USPS Christmas Day Delivery 2025
Thursday December 25th—no delivery at all. USPS treats Christmas as a federal holiday so:
- No residential or business mail delivery
- No package pickup or drop-off
- Only Priority Mail Express (if paid extra and guaranteed)
Service resumes Friday December 26th on normal schedule. Any packages scheduled for Christmas Day delivery automatically push to the 26th or later.
USPS Retail Offices & Post Office Hours
Post office lobbies and retail counters:
- Christmas Eve: Open regular hours but close early (typically 2pm-4pm local time)
- Christmas Day: Completely closed
- Self-service kiosks: Available 24/7 both days (where installed)
Collection boxes stay accessible but no pickup happens Christmas Day. Check your local post office hours through the USPS website since closing times vary by location.
FedEx & UPS Christmas Schedule (Quick Comparison)
Private carriers run different holiday schedules:
| Service | Christmas Eve | Christmas Day |
|---|---|---|
| USPS | Normal delivery | No delivery |
| FedEx Ground | Normal delivery | No delivery |
| FedEx Express | Until 2pm cutoff | No delivery |
| UPS Ground | Normal delivery | No delivery |
| UPS Express | Until 2pm cutoff | No delivery |
All major carriers pause December 25th. Amazon and other services follow similar patterns.
Priority Mail Express (The Christmas Day Exception)
Only USPS Priority Mail Express offers true holiday delivery guarantee:
- Christmas Eve: Guaranteed same/next day
- Christmas Day: Guaranteed delivery if ordered by Dec 23 cutoff
Costs $30+ for small packages. Shows up at your door even when regular service stops. Last resort for critical shipments.
What This Means for Your Packages
If tracking shows “out for delivery” Christmas Eve—expect it that day. “Scheduled for Dec 25” automatically shifts to Dec 26 or later. No signature required both days since carriers can’t collect.
Pro tip: Check USPS Informed Delivery preview each morning. Shows what’s hitting your mailbox before it arrives.
Final Summary—USPS Christmas Delivery 2025
Christmas Eve—everything normal until early afternoon cutoff. Christmas Day—nothing moves except Priority Mail Express. Post offices close early 24th, dark all day 25th. Service back Friday morning.
Plan ahead on package tracking. Anything time-sensitive needs Express upgrade yesterday.
