Staples Holiday Store Hours: What You Actually Need to Know Before Driving There

You're standing in your kitchen, tape dispenser in one hand and a half-wrapped box of LEGOs in the other. It's 8:00 PM on a Tuesday in late December. You just ran out of Scotch tape. Or maybe the printer decided to throw a "Paper Jam" tantrum right as you were hitting 'Print' on those last-minute shipping labels for the relatives in Ohio. Naturally, you think of Staples. But then that annoying little voice in your head asks: Are they even open right now?

Navigating Staples holiday store hours is honestly a bit of a moving target. It isn't like the old days where every store followed a rigid corporate manifesto from Framingham, Massachusetts. While Staples is a massive machine, their actual operating hours during the "Big Three"—Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s—depend heavily on where you live and what the local mall dictates.

It’s frustrating.

You want a straight answer, but the reality is that Staples often mirrors the shopping habits of the community it serves. If you're in a sleepy suburb, they might close at 6:00 PM on Christmas Eve. If you're in Midtown Manhattan, they might push it to 8:00 PM to catch the frantic office workers finishing their secret Santa shopping.

The Reality of Major Holiday Closures

Let's get the big ones out of the way first. Staples has a pretty consistent track record of being closed on Thanksgiving Day. They’ve done this for years. Why? Because honestly, most people aren't rushing out to buy a mid-back mesh task chair while the turkey is in the oven. By staying closed on Thanksgiving, they save on overhead and give their staff a breather before the absolute chaos of Black Friday kicks off.

Christmas Day is another hard "No." You won't find a Staples open on December 25th. If you run out of AA batteries for your kid's new remote-controlled car, you’re better off hitting a 24-hour Walgreens or a CVS. Staples isn't the place for the 3:00 AM Christmas emergency.

Then there’s Easter Sunday. Most Staples locations across the United States remain closed for Easter. It’s a quiet day for the office supply world. If you need cardstock for an impromptu egg hunt sign, you’d better get it on Saturday.

Why Hours Vary So Much by Location

Ever wonder why the Staples three miles away closes at 7:00 PM while the one near your office stays open until 9:00 PM? It's usually about the lease. Staples often rents space in larger shopping centers. If the anchor tenant—like a Target or a major grocery chain—is staying open late for the holidays, the landlord might require Staples to keep the lights on too.

Then you have state laws. In places like Massachusetts or Maine, "Blue Laws" historically restricted what could open on Sundays or specific holidays. While many of these have been relaxed, local culture still dictates a lot. In the South, you might see earlier closures on Sundays compared to the West Coast.

Black Friday: The Controlled Chaos

Black Friday is the exception to every rule. For years, the narrative was "open as early as possible." We saw 5:00 AM openings. We saw midnight madness. Lately, though, Staples has chilled out a bit. They usually open around 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM on Black Friday.

They aren't trying to compete with Best Buy for the "doorbuster" TV crowd. Instead, they focus on the "Prosumer"—the person who needs a new MacBook Air or a high-end Epson EcoTank printer for their home office.

If you're planning to hit the store during Staples holiday store hours on the Friday after Thanksgiving, don't expect to have the place to yourself. Even though they don't sell toys or clothes, the shipping center (the UPS desk) becomes a war zone. Everyone is there to return Amazon packages or ship gifts. If you just need a pack of Sharpies, prepare to wait behind five people shipping 40-pound boxes to Florida.

👉 See also: Why Copy and Paste Christmas Messages Actually Work (If You Do Them Right)

The Christmas Eve Scramble

December 24th is the day of the "Modified Schedule." Most Staples stores will open at their normal time—usually 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM—but they will pull the plug early.

Expect the doors to lock around 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM.

This is the most dangerous time for shoppers. You see the "Open" sign from the road, you pull in at 5:45 PM, and the manager is already sliding the gate shut. If you have a last-minute printing job—like a family newsletter or a photo gift—you really need to submit that through the Staples website by the 23rd. The Print & Marketing department is notoriously slammed on Christmas Eve, and they often stop taking "while-you-wait" orders several hours before the store actually closes.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

New Year’s is a weird one for Staples. On New Year’s Eve, most stores operate on slightly reduced hours, maybe closing at 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM. It’s not as strict as Christmas Eve, but it’s definitely not a "business as usual" night.

New Year’s Day is actually a big deal for office supplies. Why? Because of the "New Year, New Me" energy. People are buying planners, filing cabinets, and tax folders. Most Staples stores are open on New Year's Day, but they usually start the day a little later, perhaps 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM, and close early. It’s a great time to shop if you want to avoid crowds, as most people are home nursing a hangover or watching college football.

The UPS Access Point Factor

One thing people forget about Staples is that it’s basically a massive post office now. Since they partnered with UPS, their foot traffic has shifted. During the holidays, the "Store Hours" apply to the UPS counter too.

However, there is a catch.

Just because the store is open until 8:00 PM doesn't mean the UPS driver hasn't already made the final pickup. If you're trying to get a package out for "Next Day Air" on December 22nd, showing up at 7:45 PM is a gamble. The store is open, but your package is just going to sit in a bin until the next morning.

How to Verify Hours Without Losing Your Mind

Don't trust the hours you see on a random blog post from 2022. Seriously.

1. The Store Locator is King: The Staples website has a "Find a Store" tool. During the holidays, they usually update this with "Holiday Hours" in red text. This is the most accurate data you'll get because it's tied to the store's point-of-sale system.
2. The App: If you have the Staples app, it’ll use your GPS to show the nearest location and its current status.
3. Call Them (The Old School Way): It sounds primitive, but if it’s a fringe holiday like Veterans Day or Labor Day, just call. If no one picks up after ten rings, they’re probably closed or understaffed. Both are signs you should stay home.
4. Google Maps (With Caution): Google is usually good, but it sometimes lags on "observed" holiday changes. If Google says "Hours might differ," believe it.

Seasonal Fluctuations Beyond the Big Days

We talk about Staples holiday store hours in the context of December, but don't forget the "Back to School" season. For Staples, August and September are essentially a second Christmas. During this peak, some stores actually extend their hours. You might find a Staples open until 10:00 PM in late August to accommodate parents who just realized their kid needs a specific 3-prong purple folder that only Staples carries.

📖 Related: Is USC Ivy League? What Most People Get Wrong About the Trojan Reputation

On the flip side, during the dead of winter (think late January), some stores might cut back. If a store is in a region prone to snowstorms, Staples is pretty quick to shut down for the safety of their employees. They aren't like a grocery store that stays open through a blizzard so people can buy bread and milk. If the roads are bad, Staples is closing.

A Note on Canada (Staples/Bureau en Gros)

If you're reading this from north of the border, things are different. Staples Canada is a separate entity. They follow Canadian provincial holidays. This means they’ll be closed on Boxing Day in some provinces but open with massive sales in others (like Ontario). They also observe Family Day in February and Victoria Day in May, which are times when U.S. stores are operating normally.

Making the Most of Your Trip

If you're heading out during the holiday rush, there are ways to make sure you don't waste your time.

First, use "BOPIS." That stands for Buy Online, Pick Up In Store. If you see that the store is closing in an hour, don't drive there hoping they have the ink cartridge you need. Buy it on the website first. If the order goes through and you get a confirmation, a human being has to go to the shelf, grab it, and put it in a bin for you. It guarantees the trip isn't a waste.

Second, avoid the 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM window. This is when small business owners drop off their daily shipping and office workers run errands on their lunch break. It's the peak of the "Staples stress curve." Go at 10:00 AM or 4:00 PM for a much smoother experience.

Third, check the "Weekly Ad" on their site before you go. Sometimes Staples runs holiday "Flash Sales" that are only valid during specific hours. You don't want to show up at 6:00 PM for a deal that ended at 2:00 PM.

Common Misconceptions About Staples Hours

One big myth is that Staples stays open late like big-box retailers. You won't find many Staples locations open until midnight, even in the height of the December shopping season. They value a certain level of operational efficiency. If the data shows that only three people walk in between 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM, they'll close at 9:00.

Another misconception is that they are open on Thanksgiving "just in case." Nope. They’ve been very vocal about the "closed on Thanksgiving" movement. It’s part of their brand identity now—being the "work-life balance" store, even if that’s just marketing speak.

Actionable Steps for the Holiday Shopper

Stop guessing and start planning. If you've got a deadline, the holidays are your enemy.

• Check the local store's "Print & Marketing" hours specifically. Often, the copy center closes an hour earlier than the main retail floor. Don't assume you can print a poster at 8:55 PM.
• Download the Staples App two weeks before you need it. It tracks rewards, but more importantly, it gives you real-time inventory for your specific local store.
• Ship your holiday packages by December 15th. Staples' UPS counters get overwhelmed. If you wait until the 20th, you’ll be standing in a line that snakes through the furniture aisle.
• Sign up for Staples Rewards. It’s free. During the holidays, they sometimes send out "Early Access" hours or special coupons for people to shop before the general public on certain sale days.

Staples is a reliable anchor for the suburban shopper, but it’s not a 24/7 operation. Respect the "Modified Schedule" and you'll avoid the heartbreak of a locked glass door. Keep an eye on that store locator, get your shipping done early, and maybe buy an extra roll of tape before you actually need it. Your future self will thank you when it's 9:00 PM on a Tuesday and the stores are dark.

Key Holiday Reference Table

Note: These are general estimates. Always check the official Staples store locator for your specific zip code to confirm exact times.