USPS aims to deliver regular mail between about 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time, but in practice carriers can run later, especially during busy seasons or bad weather. It is not unusual in some areas for mail and packages to arrive as late as 7–8 p.m., though that is considered an exception rather than the norm.
Normal delivery window
- The official guidance is that all deliveries should be made by 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
- Typical daily delivery windows often fall somewhere between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., depending on the route and mail volume.
How late it can run
- During peak periods (like the holiday season) or when there are delays (traffic, staffing, weather), carriers may deliver into the evening, sometimes up to around 8:00 p.m. or slightly later in rare cases.
- Reports and guidance from mailing and logistics services note that mail showing up after 6–7 p.m. does occur but should be considered unusual rather than expected.
If your mail seems very late
- Check the tracking status for packages; if it shows “out for delivery,” it may still arrive that day even if it is already late afternoon.
- If delivery is repeatedly much later than normal or something is missing past its expected date, contact your local post office or USPS customer service for route-specific information.
