Do UPS, FedEx, and USPS Deliver Packages on Sundays and Holidays?
It depends on the carrier and the service. USPS does not deliver regular mail or packages on Sundays or federal holidays, but it does deliver Priority Mail Express and, in many areas, Amazon packages on Sundays. FedEx offers Sunday delivery for many home addresses. UPS is mostly a Monday to Saturday carrier for everyday shipments. On the big holidays, all three slow down or stop, so a package that “should” arrive on a holiday often shows up the next business day.
If you are staring at a tracking page that says your package will arrive on a Sunday or a holiday, this guide will help you know whether to believe it. We will go through each carrier, list the 2026 holiday dates that matter, explain why the calendar can throw off your delivery estimate, and show you what to do when a package seems stuck over a long weekend.
The Short Answer for Each Carrier
Here is a quick picture before we get into details. These are general rules, and your ZIP code and the exact service you paid for can change the outcome.
- USPS. No regular Sunday or federal holiday delivery. Priority Mail Express is the main exception, and in many areas USPS also delivers Amazon packages on Sundays.
- UPS. Standard residential delivery runs Monday through Saturday in most places. Sunday delivery is not a normal option for everyday shipments.
- FedEx. FedEx Home Delivery and some other services deliver on Sundays in many areas, but not everywhere.
- Amazon. Amazon uses its own drivers and partners in many cities and often delivers seven days a week, including Sundays.
The word “many” shows up a lot in that list for a reason. Sunday delivery is a local matter. A package headed to a big city may arrive on Sunday, while a package headed to a small town the same day may wait until Monday.
USPS: Sundays, Holidays, and the Express Exception
The Postal Service closes post offices and stops regular mail delivery on Sundays and on federal holidays. The one service that is built to keep moving is Priority Mail Express. USPS runs it as a seven day a week service, so an Express package can be delivered on a Sunday or a holiday in places where that service is offered. Everything else, including Priority Mail, Ground Advantage, and regular letters, waits for the next service day.
There is one more twist. USPS has delivered Amazon packages on Sundays for years under a special arrangement, and in many areas you may see a USPS carrier bring an Amazon box on a Sunday. That does not mean other USPS packages will arrive, and it does not apply to every address.
Picture this. You order a birthday gift on Thursday, and the seller ships it with Priority Mail. On Friday the tracking page says “Expected Delivery: Saturday.” On Saturday it does not arrive, and Sunday is a no-delivery day, so it comes Monday. That is normal. It is not lost, and nothing is wrong with your tracking number.
USPS Holidays in the Rest of 2026
USPS observes federal holidays, and there are a few left this year. Based on the 2026 calendar, these are the ones to watch.
- Columbus Day, Monday, October 12. No regular mail delivery, and post offices are closed.
- Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11. No regular mail delivery, and post offices are closed.
- Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26. No regular mail delivery, and post offices are closed.
- Christmas Day, Friday, December 25. No regular mail delivery, and post offices are closed.
It is a good idea to confirm any date on the USPS website close to the holiday, because schedules for special events can change. Also keep in mind that a package that was out for delivery the day before a holiday may be held over, then delivered on the next service day along with a stack of other mail. That often makes the day after a holiday a very heavy day for carriers.
UPS: Mostly Monday Through Saturday
UPS delivers packages to homes Monday through Saturday in most areas. Saturday delivery for ground packages is common in many places, but it can depend on the shipper and the service. Sunday delivery is not part of normal UPS service for everyday online orders. UPS does run special express services that can move on Sundays, but those are priced for urgent business needs and are rarely used for a regular online purchase.
That means if your UPS tracking page shows “Scheduled Delivery: Sunday,” you should treat it with caution and check the details. In most cases, a Sunday date on a UPS package is a sign that the shipper paid for a special service, or that the date is an estimate that the system has not yet corrected. If the date moves later in the day or the next morning, it is usually the system catching up. For more on this, see our article on why a package’s estimated delivery date changes.
UPS Holidays
UPS observes several holidays, including Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and regular pickup and delivery pause on those days. It does not always match the federal calendar exactly. For example, UPS may deliver on a day when USPS is closed, such as Columbus Day or Veterans Day, depending on your area. That is a useful tip: if a USPS package is stuck on a federal holiday, a UPS or FedEx package may still arrive the same day.
FedEx: Sunday Delivery in Many Areas
FedEx has gone further than UPS on weekends. FedEx Home Delivery is its service for residential packages, and in many parts of the country it can deliver on Sundays and into the evening. FedEx also runs a service for retailers that ship fast to local customers. Whether a particular package comes on a Sunday depends on the sender’s service, the weight, and where you live.
Take this example. Priya orders a space heater from a large retailer on Saturday morning. The retailer ships from a warehouse near her town using FedEx. By Saturday evening she sees “Out for Delivery” on Sunday. That is possible, but it is not a promise for every order. If the same retailer ships from a warehouse several states away, the box might arrive Tuesday instead.
As with UPS, FedEx slows or stops for major holidays like Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. It may also deliver on federal holidays when USPS is closed. If you want the full picture for your own ZIP code, the quickest way is to check the “Delivery Options” or “Delivery Management” tools on the FedEx tracking page after you enter your tracking number.
Amazon: The Seven Day Exception
Amazon runs its own delivery network, called Amazon Logistics, and it often delivers packages seven days a week, including Sundays, in many cities and suburbs. If you want to know why your Amazon order does not show UPS or USPS on the tracking page, read our article on why Amazon shows a package delivered by “Amazon Logistics.” On holidays, Amazon often cuts back its schedule, but it may still run on days when others do not. Prime members may also see more weekend options for certain items.
Do not count on it, though. Amazon can still run late, especially around the end-of-year holiday rush. If your Amazon package is late, check the live tracking map in the Amazon app, and if it says “Delivery attempted,” read our article on what happens if no one is home.
Why a Holiday Can Delay a Package by More Than One Day
A holiday is more than one lost day. It is a lost day plus a pile-up. Think of a highway where one lane suddenly closes. Cars do not vanish; they bunch up and take time to clear. Packages work the same way. If a holiday falls on a Monday, the weekend’s packages and the Tuesday packages arrive in the same few days, and carriers have to deliver all of them with the same number of drivers and trucks.
Here is a simple example. A package leaves the sender on Friday and is supposed to arrive Tuesday. If Monday is a holiday, it may sit at a local facility until Tuesday morning, get loaded with the extra volume, and be delivered Tuesday evening or Wednesday. Most delays like this are one day and not more than two, but if your package also crosses another busy period, it can be longer. Our article on why packages take longer during the holiday shipping season goes into those busy periods.
Another factor is the “business day” counting that carriers use. When a company promises delivery in “three business days,” Sundays and holidays do not count. So a package shipped on Wednesday before Thanksgiving, with a three business day promise, might arrive the following Tuesday or later, not on Saturday. This is a common cause of surprise for shoppers.
What to Do When Your Package Is Due on a Sunday or Holiday
Check the Exact Service on the Tracking Page
Look for the service name, such as Priority Mail Express, FedEx Home Delivery, UPS Ground, or Ground Advantage. This one detail tells you more than the date does. If the service name is a regular ground service from USPS or UPS, plan on the next business day.
Do Not Panic if the Date Slips
A date that moves from Sunday to Monday is almost always the system correcting itself, not a sign of a problem. If your package shows no movement for more than a few business days after the holiday, then it is time to dig in. Our guide on why a package is stuck in transit for so long explains the usual causes and what to do.
Secure Your Delivery Spot
Holiday weekends are also times when porch packages are more at risk, because people are away. Ask a neighbor to grab your box, use a delivery locker, or have the package held at a pickup location. See our guide on keeping packages safe from porch thieves for more ideas.
Use Delivery Tools
Each carrier gives you free tools to choose a delivery day or hold a package. USPS has Informed Delivery, UPS has My Choice, and FedEx has Delivery Manager. These tools let you pick a day when you are home instead of leaving it to chance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does USPS deliver packages on Sunday?
Not regular packages. USPS delivers Priority Mail Express on Sundays and holidays where the service is available, and in many areas it also delivers Amazon packages on Sundays.
Does UPS deliver on Sunday?
Standard UPS service for online orders does not include Sunday delivery in most areas. UPS offers special express services that can move on Sundays, but they are meant for urgent shipments.
Does FedEx deliver on Sunday?
FedEx delivers to homes on Sundays in many areas, through services like FedEx Home Delivery. It depends on your ZIP code and the sender’s service.
Is there mail delivery on Columbus Day 2026?
No. Columbus Day falls on Monday, October 12, 2026, and USPS does not deliver regular mail or packages on that day. Priority Mail Express may still be delivered.
Why did my package not arrive on the date the tracking page gave me?
Estimated dates are based on business days. A Sunday or a holiday in the middle can push the arrival to the next service day.
If you track packages for other people, such as in a mailroom, apartment complex, or business receiving area, TekCore’s parcel management software can help you log holiday and weekend deliveries as they come in.
