You're standing at the end of your driveway, or maybe you're hovering by the office outgoing mail bin, holding a stack of envelopes that absolutely need to go out. The big question hitting you right now: is united postal service open today or are you just wasting a trip to the blue box?
Honestly, it’s a coin toss depending on the calendar. Since today is Saturday, January 17, 2026, the short answer is yes, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is open, but there is a massive "but" coming up this weekend that you need to plan for.
Most people assume that because a federal holiday is around the corner, everything shuts down early. That's not how the post office rolls. They’ll be out there today delivering your Amazon packages and those pesky credit card offers, but Monday is a totally different story.
The Saturday Reality Check
Today is a regular business day for the USPS. If you have a local post office with Saturday hours—which most do, typically until noon or 2:00 PM—they are staffed and ready to take your packages.
Don't expect them to be open until 5:00 PM though. Saturday hours have always been the "wild west" of postal scheduling. Some tiny rural branches might not open at all, while the big city hubs stay buzzing until mid-afternoon.
- Mail Delivery: Yes, your letter carrier is on their route today.
- Post Office Counters: Generally open for a half-day.
- Self-Service Kiosks: Available 24/7 in most lobbies.
If you’re trying to beat the Monday holiday rush, today is your last window. Because once that clock strikes midnight on Sunday, the entire system basically enters a deep freeze for 24 hours.
Why the Calendar is Messing With Your Head
We are currently in the middle of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. MLK Day falls on Monday, January 19, 2026.
Because it’s a federal holiday, the USPS will be officially closed on Monday. No regular mail delivery. No counter service. No "sorry we missed you" slips.
This creates a bit of a bottleneck. If you drop a letter in a collection box late this afternoon (Saturday) after the final pickup time, it is going to sit there. It’ll sit through Sunday. It’ll sit through the Monday holiday. Your mail won't even begin its journey until Tuesday, January 20th. That’s a three-day lag that catches people off guard every single year.
The "Priority Mail Express" Loophole
You’ve probably heard people say the post office never stops. That’s sort of a myth, but sort of true for the high-rollers.
Even on federal holidays like the upcoming Monday, the USPS still delivers Priority Mail Express. It’s the only service that runs 365 days a year. If you’re willing to pay the premium (and it is a hefty premium, usually starting north of $30), your package will move while everyone else is eating brunch.
But for the rest of us using First-Class or standard Priority? We’re stuck waiting.
What About UPS and FedEx?
It's super easy to lump all the "delivery guys" into one bucket, but they don't follow the same rulebook. While the United States Postal Service is a government-adjacent entity that observes every single federal holiday, private companies like UPS and FedEx are a bit more flexible.
Typically, UPS and FedEx stay open on MLK Day. They might have "modified" service, which is corporate-speak for "we have fewer trucks on the road," but you can usually still get a package delivered or dropped off at a retail location like The UPS Store.
If you absolutely must get something across the country and you missed the Saturday USPS cutoff, pivoting to a private carrier is your best bet this weekend.
Common Myths About Postal Closures
I’ve seen some weird theories online about how the post office works. Let's clear the air on a few things that people consistently get wrong.
First, the "Day After" myth. People think if a holiday falls on a Saturday, the post office closes on Friday. Or if it's on a Sunday, they close on Monday. While that's true for many federal office workers, the USPS is a bit different. For Independence Day 2026 (which is a Saturday), they’ll actually observe it on Friday, July 3rd. But for this specific MLK weekend, since the holiday is naturally on a Monday, there’s no "observed" day confusion. Monday is the day. Period.
Second, the "Collection Box" gamble. Just because a box is on a street corner doesn't mean it's being emptied today. Every box has a schedule posted on the inside of the lid. If you miss that Saturday pickup time, your mail is essentially in a time capsule until Tuesday.
How to Check Your Local Status
Instead of driving all the way down there only to find a locked glass door, do yourself a favor and use the USPS Locator tool.
- Go to the official USPS website.
- Search for "Locations."
- Filter by "Post Offices."
- Check the "Hours" tab specifically for Saturdays.
Kinda simple, right? Yet, I still see people yanking on the door handles of closed post offices every weekend. Don't be that person.
The Tuesday Morning Surge
If you’re planning to visit the post office on Tuesday, January 20th, prepare for a nightmare.
The day after a postal holiday is notoriously the busiest day of the week. Not only is there a three-day backlog of mail to sort, but every person who couldn't ship their returns or birthday presents on Monday is going to be standing in line at 9:00 AM.
If you can wait until Wednesday, your stress levels will thank you.
Smart Moves for This Weekend
Since the post office is indeed open today, you have a narrow window to be productive.
If you have outgoing bills, get them in a box with a Saturday pickup time. If you have a package to return to an online giant, get to the counter before the noon rush.
Pro-tip: If you have a shipping label already printed, you can often bypass the long line and just drop your package at the designated "Pre-Paid Drop Off" area. Most people don't realize they don't have to wait for a clerk if the postage is already on the box.
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Actionable Steps for Today
- Verify Pickup Times: Look at the physical label on your nearest blue collection box. If the Saturday pickup was at 10:00 AM and it’s now 11:00 AM, that mail isn't moving.
- Use the Kiosk: If your lobby is open but the counter is closed, use the self-service kiosk to buy stamps or ship packages. It’ll give you a receipt and save you a trip on Tuesday.
- Download the App: The USPS app has a decent tracker. If you’re waiting on a package today, check the "Informed Delivery" feature to see a digital preview of what’s hitting your mailbox.
- Pivot if Necessary: If you missed the USPS window today, check the hours for your local UPS Store or FedEx Office. They are likely open later than the post office and will definitely be running on Monday.
The post office is a beast of habit. Once you understand their rhythm—especially around these three-day federal holiday weekends—you can stop guessing and start timing your life a little better.