So you’re staring at an empty mailbox or waiting for that package you ordered three days ago. Honestly, it’s frustrating when you aren't sure if the mail is actually coming. Is US postal running today? If you are looking at your calendar and it says Sunday, January 18, 2026, the short answer is: mostly no, but with some very specific exceptions that might surprise you.
Sundays are weird for the USPS. Most people think the entire blue-and-white fleet just vanishes for 24 hours. That's not quite right. While your local post office is definitely locked up tight and no one is out there stuffing coupons into your mailbox, the gears are still turning behind the scenes.
The Sunday Reality Check
Typically, the United States Postal Service does not deliver regular mail—letters, bills, or postcards—on Sundays. This is a standard operating procedure that has been in place for decades. If you’re waiting for a birthday card from Grandma, it’s not arriving today.
However, we live in a world obsessed with overnight shipping. Because of this, USPS offers a service called Priority Mail Express. This is their "premium" tier. It’s the only class of mail that guarantees delivery 365 days a year. So, if someone paid the hefty premium for Express shipping, you might actually see a postal carrier on your street today.
Then there is the Amazon factor. You've probably seen those white LLVs (the boxy mail trucks) buzzing around your neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon. USPS has long-standing contracts with major retailers like Amazon to handle "last-mile" delivery. In many cities, Sunday is actually a massive day for package volume, even if the "regular" mail is paused.
Is US postal running today given the MLK holiday?
Here is where things get a bit more complicated this week. Tomorrow is Monday, January 19, 2026. That is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is a federal holiday.
👉 See also: Bank of America Orland Park IL: What Most People Get Wrong About Local Banking
When a federal holiday hits on a Monday, it creates a "dead zone" for mail. Since today is Sunday, January 18, and tomorrow is a federal holiday, most of us won't see a single piece of regular mail until Tuesday, January 20.
- Sunday, Jan 18: No regular mail. Limited Priority Mail Express and Amazon delivery.
- Monday, Jan 19 (MLK Day): All Post Offices are closed. No regular mail delivery.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: Normal operations resume. Expect your mail carrier to have a very full bag.
The 2026 Price Change: A Critical Update
Wait, there's actually a huge reason why today is different from any other Sunday in recent history. If you are a small business owner or someone who ships a lot of packages, listen up. Today, January 18, 2026, is the exact day the new USPS rate increases take effect.
The Postal Service announced these changes back in late 2025. While the price of a First-Class stamp is staying at $0.78 for now (they aren't raising "Mailing Services" prices until mid-year), the "Shipping Services" are getting a major hike today.
If you go to print a label online right now, you’re going to see different numbers than you saw yesterday. Here is the gist of what changed this morning:
- Priority Mail: Prices jumped by an average of 6.6%.
- USPS Ground Advantage: This one hurts the most for casual shippers, with an average increase of 7.8%.
- Priority Mail Express: Up by about 5.1%.
- Parcel Select: Increased by roughly 6.0%.
Basically, shipping got more expensive while you were sleeping. If you’re at home using a service like Pirate Ship or Stamps.com, the new rates should already be live in their systems.
✨ Don't miss: Are There Tariffs on China: What Most People Get Wrong Right Now
Why does the mail stop anyway?
It feels antiquated, doesn't it? In a digital world where email never sleeps, the physical mail still takes a breather. This goes back to the Postal Act of 1810. Believe it or not, there used to be a huge debate about whether mail should be delivered on the Sabbath. Eventually, the logistical cost and the need for a uniform day of rest won out.
Today, it's mostly about the bottom line. Delivering mail to every single house in America is incredibly expensive. Giving the carriers a break on Sundays (and federal holidays) saves the USPS billions in labor costs. Even with the "Delivering for America" 10-year plan currently being implemented by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, the Sunday/Holiday blackout for regular mail remains a cornerstone of their budget.
What about FedEx and UPS?
If you’re desperate and the USPS can't help you today, you might be looking at the "brown" or "purple" trucks.
UPS generally doesn't deliver on Sundays either, unless it’s through their "UPS Express Critical" service, which is way too expensive for most regular folks. FedEx is a bit of a mixed bag. FedEx Home Delivery does deliver on Sundays to most residential addresses, but since tomorrow is MLK Day, some of their local schedules might be wonky.
What you can actually do today
Since the windows are closed and the trucks are mostly parked, your options are limited. But you aren't totally stuck.
🔗 Read more: Adani Ports SEZ Share Price: Why the Market is kida Obsessed Right Now
Most Post Office lobbies remain open 24/7. You can't talk to a human, but you can use the Self-Service Kiosks (SSKs). These machines are lifesavers. You can weigh a package, buy postage, and drop it in the secure bin. Just keep in mind that even if you drop it off today, it likely won't move until Tuesday because of the holiday tomorrow.
Also, if you're out of stamps, don't forget that grocery stores and pharmacies like CVS or Walgreens usually sell books of stamps at the pharmacy counter. They don't care about the federal holiday; they're just happy to take your money.
Real-world impact of the holiday weekend
If you are waiting on a check, a passport, or a new credit card, just breathe. The "holiday backlog" is a real thing. Because the mail sits for two days (Sunday and Monday), Tuesday is going to be chaotic for your local carrier.
Often, when there’s a two-day gap, mail delivery times on that Tuesday can be pushed back. If you usually get your mail at 2:00 PM, don't be shocked if it doesn't show up until 5:00 PM or later on Tuesday. They have double the volume to sort and deliver.
Moving forward: Your immediate next steps
- Check your tracking number: If it doesn't say "Priority Mail Express," stop checking the porch. It isn't coming today or tomorrow.
- Update your shipping budget: If you run an Etsy shop or an eBay business, go into your settings and adjust your shipping costs. Those 6.6% to 7.8% increases that started today will eat your profit margins if you don't account for them.
- Use the Kiosk: If you have to get a package "out of the house" for your own peace of mind, head to a local branch and use the automated kiosk in the lobby.
- Wait for Tuesday: Set a reminder that the world resumes on January 20. Anything you drop in a blue box today is just going to sit there until Tuesday morning.