If you’re waiting on a package or need to get a last-minute shipment out the door, the holiday calendar can be a real headache. Memorial Day is one of those big ones. It’s a federal holiday, which usually means banks are shut, the post office is quiet, and most people are firing up the grill. But what about the purple and orange giant? Honestly, the answer to does FedEx deliver on Memorial Day 2025 is mostly no, but there are some nuances that might save your skin if you're in a total bind.
Does FedEx deliver on Memorial Day 2025? The Short Answer
Basically, for 99% of us, FedEx is taking the day off on Monday, May 26, 2025.
Whether you’re expecting a pair of shoes via FedEx Ground or a business contract through FedEx Express, don't hold your breath. Both of these core services are completely closed for the holiday. No trucks in the neighborhood. No knocks on the door. It’s a total pause.
The company officially observes Memorial Day as a major holiday. This means their massive sorting hubs and delivery fleets are largely stationary. If your tracking says "Scheduled delivery: May 26," you should probably expect that to update to Tuesday, May 27, once the holiday weekend kicks in.
The One Big Exception: FedEx Custom Critical
There is always a "but." In this case, it’s FedEx Custom Critical.
This is their "emergency" tier. If you are shipping something life-saving, like medical equipment, or a high-value industrial part that costs a factory thousands of dollars for every hour it's missing, this service stays open. It runs 24/7, 365 days a year.
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It is incredibly expensive. Most people will never use it. But if you're asking "does FedEx deliver on Memorial Day 2025" because of a genuine emergency, this is your only path forward.
What happens to FedEx Ground and Home Delivery?
FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery are the workhorses for most online shopping. These services will be closed on Memorial Day.
Actually, the disruption starts a bit earlier. While Saturday is a normal delivery day for Home Delivery, Sunday is often hit-or-miss depending on your local hub's specific weekend volume. By Monday, everything stops.
FedEx Ground Economy (formerly known as SmartPost) also shuts down. Since this service often relies on the U.S. Postal Service for the "last mile" of delivery, and the USPS is definitely closed for Memorial Day, these packages will just sit in a bin until Tuesday.
FedEx Office hours for the holiday weekend
Kinda need to print something or drop off a pre-labeled box?
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FedEx Office locations (the retail stores) usually have modified hours. Some might be closed entirely, while others—especially those inside hotels or major city centers—might stay open with a skeleton crew.
It’s smart to call ahead. Don't just trust the hours on a Google Maps listing, as those aren't always updated for specific holiday shifts. If you have a package that is already labeled and ready to go, you can still use a FedEx Drop Box. Just keep in mind that the driver won't come to empty that box until Tuesday.
Shipping deadlines to beat the holiday delay
If you want your package to arrive before the long weekend kicks off, you have to plan. Waiting until Friday, May 23, is risky.
- FedEx Ground: Aim to ship by Tuesday, May 20. This gives you a solid buffer for the typical 1–5 day transit time.
- FedEx 2-Day: Ship by Wednesday, May 21, for a Friday delivery.
- FedEx Standard Overnight: Ship by Thursday, May 22, to get it there by Friday.
If you ship something via Overnight on Friday, May 23, it might not arrive until Tuesday, May 27, unless you specifically pay the extra fee for Saturday Delivery (and even then, it won't move on Sunday or Monday).
How Memorial Day impacts your tracking status
Expect to see some weirdness in your tracking app.
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You might see a status like "In Transit" or "Arrived at Hub" on Sunday or Monday. This doesn't mean a driver is about to bring it to your porch. It just means the automated systems are moving trailers between massive sorting facilities.
The status that actually matters is "Out for Delivery." You won't see that on Monday, May 26. If your package was supposed to arrive on Monday, the system will likely auto-update on Saturday night or Sunday morning to reflect the new Tuesday delivery date.
Actionable steps for your holiday shipments
Don't let the holiday catch you off guard. If you have a deadline, do these three things right now:
- Check your transit maps: Use the FedEx website to look up the "Ground Transit" map for your specific zip code. If you’re shipping cross-country, that 5-day window becomes 6 or 7 days once you factor in the holiday Monday.
- Verify local store hours: If you plan on using a FedEx Office location on Memorial Day, use the store locator on the FedEx site to find the "Holiday Hours" section for that specific branch.
- Manage customer expectations: If you run an e-commerce store, add a banner to your site. Tell people: "Due to the Memorial Day holiday, orders placed after May 22 may experience a 48-hour delay."
Plan for a Tuesday delivery at the earliest. Memorial Day is for remembering and relaxing, not for chasing down delivery trucks that aren't on the road.