If you’re sitting by the door waiting for a package or planning a trek to the local shipping store, you probably have one question: is UPS open on January 9 2025? It’s an oddly specific date to worry about, right? Most of the time, we only double-check the calendar for the big hitters like Christmas or Labor Day. But after the chaotic rush of the holiday season and the New Year’s hangover, logistics schedules can feel a bit murky.
Here is the short answer. Yes. UPS is fully operational on Thursday, January 9, 2025.
It is a standard business day. No federal holidays fall on this date. No special "shipping pauses" are scheduled. Basically, if you see a brown truck rumbling down your street, it’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to be doing.
Why People Get Confused About January Shipping Schedules
Honestly, it makes sense why you’d double-check. The first two weeks of January are a weird time for global logistics. We just came off the back of New Year’s Day, where everything was shuttered. Then, we have Martin Luther King Jr. Day looming on the horizon (which falls on January 20 in 2025).
People get in the habit of expecting delays.
During the "Peak Season," which usually wraps up right around the first week of January, UPS handles millions of returns. It’s the "National Returns Week" phenomenon. Because of that volume, some people mistake a backlogged delivery for a service closure. But on January 9, the machinery is grinding away at full speed. All service levels—from UPS Ground to Next Day Air—are active.
Breaking Down the Service Levels
What does "open" actually mean for you? It depends on what you need.
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Pickup and Delivery Services
UPS will be making regular pickups and deliveries. If you have a scheduled daily pickup for your business, your driver will show up at the usual time. Residential customers should see their packages arrive within the standard windows.
The UPS Store Locations
These are mostly independently owned franchises. While they follow the general corporate holiday schedule, they have the leeway to set their own hours. However, since January 9 isn't a holiday, 99.9% of these stores will be open during their normal Thursday hours. It’s always smart to check the specific store's local listing if you’re heading out late in the evening, but you’re generally safe.
UPS Drop Boxes
These are accessible. If the box is located inside an office building that has its own weird security hours, that's on the building, not UPS. But the pickups from these boxes will happen at the times posted on the sticker.
The Post-Holiday Logistics Hangover
By the time January 9 rolls around, the shipping industry is in a state of transition. The 2024 holiday season was a beast. By the second Thursday of 2025, UPS is shifting its focus from "get the gifts there on time" to "process the mountain of returns."
You might notice that while the company is "open," the tracking information might look a little stagnant. This isn't because they are closed. It's because the system is clearing the pipes.
I’ve seen cases where a package sits in a sorting facility in Louisville or Ontario for an extra 24 hours during this week. It’s frustrating. You see the status "Arrived at Facility" and it just... stays there. Don't panic. It's just the volume.
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Weather: The Only Real "Closure" Threat
While the calendar says UPS is open, Mother Nature doesn't always read the corporate schedule. January is prime time for winter storms.
In 2025, if a massive nor'easter hits the East Coast or a blizzard shuts down the passes in the Rockies, UPS will suspend "Service Guarantees." This means that even if you paid for expedited shipping, they won't refund you if the plane can't land.
If you live in an area experiencing extreme weather on January 9, check the UPS Service Alerts page. They are very transparent about "significant weather events." If the local sorting hub is snowed in, the trucks stay parked. That's not a holiday closure; that's just common sense safety.
Comparing UPS to Other Carriers on January 9
If you’re cross-shopping shipping rates or waiting on multiple boxes, it helps to know that the whole industry is on the same page for this date.
- FedEx: Fully open. No holiday observed.
- USPS (Postal Service): Mail will be delivered. Post offices are open.
- DHL: Operating normally for international shipments.
- Amazon: Their internal fleet and third-party partners are running full tilt.
Basically, the world of commerce is wide awake on January 9.
Managing Your Expectations for Mid-January Shipments
Since we've established that UPS is open, how do you make sure your stuff actually gets to you?
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First, use the UPS My Choice app. It’s free. It gives you a much tighter window than the generic "by 9:00 PM" notification. Sometimes you can even see the truck on a map when it's a few stops away.
Second, if you are shipping something critical on January 9, be aware of the "Day 0" rule. If you drop a package off at a UPS Store at 5:30 PM on Thursday, January 9, the clock usually doesn't start until Friday. That Thursday is "Day 0." So a "2-day" shipment might not actually arrive until Tuesday the 14th because Sunday doesn't count for most standard service levels.
The Impact of 2025 General Rate Increases (GRI)
Something to keep in mind: UPS typically implements its annual rate increases in late December or very early January. By January 9, 2025, you will be paying the new 2025 rates.
Every year, these hikes hover around 5.9% to 6.9%. If you haven't shipped anything since November, don't be shocked if the price at the counter is a few dollars higher than you remember. It’s not a glitch. It’s the new reality of the 2025 fiscal year.
Actionable Steps for Your Shipments
If you have a package in flight or need to send one out on January 9, 2025, follow this checklist to avoid any headaches:
- Check the specific store hours: If you use a third-party "Authorized Shipping Outlet" (like a local pharmacy or hardware store), they might have shorter hours than a dedicated UPS Customer Center.
- Verify the label: Ensure your return labels from the holidays haven't expired. Some retailers give you a 30-day window that starts the day you purchased the item, not the day you opened it.
- Watch the Service Alerts: If there is a storm in the Midwest, your package coming from California to New York will likely be delayed, even if your local weather is sunny.
- Download the app: Don't rely on the browser tracking. The mobile app push notifications are significantly faster when a delivery exception occurs.
- Account for the "Winter Slack": Expect an extra day of transit time for Ground shipments. Even though the company is open, the seasonal workforce has been scaled back, which can lead to slightly slower processing times compared to the peak December rush.
You're all set. The trucks are moving, the drivers are working, and the logistics of the world are turning as usual. Go ahead and get that package ready.