If you’re standing at your mailbox on this Sunday morning, January 18, 2026, wondering why it’s empty, the answer is pretty simple: the post office isn't open today. Sundays are always a "no-go" for standard retail operations and regular letter delivery. It’s been that way for a long time.
But there’s a little more to the story this weekend.
Honestly, it’s not just a typical Sunday. We are currently in the middle of a long holiday weekend. Tomorrow, Monday, January 19, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Since that’s a federal holiday, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is basically taking a two-day breather. If you’re waiting for a birthday card or a utility bill, you’re going to be waiting until at least Tuesday.
Is the U.S. Postal Office Open Today? What’s Actually Happening
The short answer is no. Most local post offices keep their doors locked on Sundays. You can’t walk up to a counter and buy stamps or ship a heavy box to your cousin in Seattle.
However, "closed" doesn't mean "completely frozen."
If you’ve ever seen a white mail truck zip past your house on a Sunday, you aren't seeing ghosts. USPS has a deal with certain major retailers—most notably Amazon—to handle package deliveries on Sundays. They also move Priority Mail Express, which is their premium, guaranteed overnight service. But for the rest of us? The retail lobbies are dark.
The 2026 Holiday Curveball
Tomorrow is MLK Day. Because USPS is a federal agency, they follow the federal holiday calendar strictly. This means:
- Sunday, Jan 18: Closed (Standard Sunday protocol).
- Monday, Jan 19: Closed (Martin Luther King Jr. Day).
- Tuesday, Jan 20: Open (Back to business as usual).
It’s easy to get tripped up. You might think, "Well, the grocery store is open, so why isn't the post office?" It’s all about that federal status. They’ve got 11 official holidays a year where the trucks stay parked.
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The Loophole: Self-Service and PO Boxes
Just because the clerks aren't there doesn't mean you can't get anything done. Many post office lobbies stay open 24/7, even if the service windows are shuttered.
I’ve done this a million times. You walk in, use the Self-Service Kiosk (SSK), and you can weigh your package, print a shipping label, and drop it in the bin. It’s surprisingly intuitive. You won't get a friendly "hello" from a postal worker, but you’ll get your package into the system.
Also, if you have a PO Box, you can usually check your mail today. Most lobbies allow 24-hour access to the boxes. Just don't expect any new mail to be in there today or tomorrow. What you see is what was there on Saturday afternoon.
Why Sunday Delivery Isn't "A Thing" for Letters
You might wonder why we don't have seven-day mail. It’s mostly about the money. The USPS has struggled with its budget for years, and adding a Sunday shift for every letter carrier in the country would cost a fortune.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has been pushing for efficiency, and that often means sticking to the six-day delivery model for standard letters.
What about FedEx and UPS?
If you're desperate to send something today, you might look at the private guys.
- UPS: Generally closed on Sundays, but they have "UPS Express Critical." Also, some UPS Store locations (which are independently owned) might be open for limited hours, but they won't actually move your package until Monday or Tuesday.
- FedEx: FedEx Ground and Express usually don't deliver on Sundays, but FedEx Home Delivery actually does deliver to many residential areas on Sundays.
Practical Steps for Your Sunday
Don't let the closed doors ruin your schedule. If you absolutely have to deal with mail today, here is what you can actually do:
- Use the Kiosk: Find a 24-hour USPS lobby. You can buy stamps and ship packages without a human.
- Check Third Parties: Places like Staples, Office Depot, or even some local pharmacies are "Approved Shipping Providers." They might be open today, even if the official post office isn't.
- Print at Home: Use the USPS "Click-N-Ship" tool. You can pay for postage online, print the label, and just have it ready to go for Tuesday morning.
- Buy Stamps at the Grocery Store: Most major chains sell books of stamps at the checkout counter. No need to wait for a postal clerk.
Keep in mind that any mail you drop in a blue collection box today won't be picked up until Tuesday. The "Last Pickup" time on the box usually lists Sunday as "None." Don't leave something super valuable or time-sensitive sitting in a metal box on a street corner for 48 hours. It's better to wait and hand it to a person on Tuesday morning.
If you're looking for a specific location's hours, the USPS "Find Locations" tool on their website is actually pretty decent, though it won't always account for emergency closures or local pipe bursts.
The bottom line? Sit back, enjoy the holiday weekend, and don't expect a delivery until Tuesday.