Many customers search does UPS deliver on Thanksgiving as the holiday approaches, especially when planning gifts, business shipments, or time-sensitive deliveries. For 2025, the answer is clear and fully confirmed: UPS does not provide regular pickup or delivery services on Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving remains a full company holiday for the carrier, which means all standard services pause until the following day.
However, UPS does offer one highly specialized emergency option, and understanding how it works—as well as how all other UPS services operate around the holiday—can help both senders and recipients avoid unexpected delays.
This detailed, 1000-word guide covers everything U.S. shippers need to know: which UPS services shut down on Thanksgiving, which remain available in extreme situations, how the day affects transit timelines, and how customers should prepare for the busiest shipping period of the year.
Table of Contents
UPS Thanksgiving Status: What’s Open and What’s Closed
UPS follows a consistent holiday policy each year. On Thanksgiving Day:
- No UPS Ground deliveries
- No UPS Air deliveries
- No international deliveries
- No pickup services
- No UPS Store shipments (most store locations close)
- No scheduled commercial or residential service
Thanksgiving is one of the few days annually when UPS shuts down nearly all operations. All standard package movement pauses until the next business day.
The company makes this decision to give employees the holiday off while also preparing for the heavy volume that comes immediately afterward.
The One Service UPS Still Offers on Thanksgiving
While standard UPS services are paused, UPS Express Critical, the company’s emergency same-day and next-flight-out service, remains available every day of the year—including Thanksgiving.
This option is:
- Available only for urgent shipments
- Arranged by contacting UPS directly
- Significantly more expensive than standard shipping
- Used mainly by hospitals, manufacturers, aerospace companies, or customers with mission-critical needs
Most consumers will never need Express Critical, but it is important to know it exists for rare, time-sensitive emergencies.
What This Means for Shipments Before and After Thanksgiving
Because UPS does not deliver on Thanksgiving, customers must carefully plan their shipments to avoid delays that extend into the weekend.
Here’s how Thanksgiving affects transit times:
- Packages shipped the day before Thanksgiving may not move again until Friday.
- Next Day Air shipments dropped off on Wednesday may not arrive until Friday unless the destination participates in special routing.
- Ground shipments will pause for the holiday and resume movement the following business day.
- Weekend deliveries depend on the service level chosen and local availability.
If you are shipping items that need to arrive by the weekend, it’s essential to send them earlier than usual during Thanksgiving week.
Do UPS Stores Open on Thanksgiving?
Most UPS Store locations close on Thanksgiving Day.
These stores are independently owned and operated, so a handful may choose modified hours, but the overwhelming majority do not open at all.
Even if a UPS Store is open:
- No carrier pickup occurs
- Packages tendered will not begin transit until the next operating day
Customers should avoid dropping off time-sensitive packages on Thanksgiving because movement will not begin until Friday.
Does Tracking Update on Thanksgiving?
Tracking information typically does not update on Thanksgiving unless:
- The package is moving under UPS Express Critical
- The package is transferring inside a facility where automated scans occur
- A customer or driver performs a manual scan the day before the holiday
For most standard shipments, tracking will remain unchanged until Friday morning.
How Thanksgiving Impacts Businesses and Online Sellers
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of peak holiday season for many retailers. UPS’s closure affects:
E-commerce sellers
- Must adjust shipping cutoffs to avoid complaints
- Should clearly communicate holiday expectations to customers
- Need to account for carrier closures when planning promotions and order fulfillment
Small businesses
- Should avoid scheduling outgoing shipments on Thanksgiving week’s final day
- Need to plan inventory to prevent weekend backlog
- May benefit from sending out high-priority orders earlier in the week
Corporate shippers
- Should anticipate slower transit times for bulk shipments
- Must time freight pickups before the holiday shutdown
- Should communicate with UPS account representatives early in the week
Meeting customer expectations becomes more challenging during holiday closures, so proactive planning is essential.
How Consumers Should Prepare for Thanksgiving Delivery Delays
If you are waiting for a delivery around Thanksgiving, here are practical steps to avoid surprises:
Check expected delivery dates
UPS updates delivery windows before major holidays, so verify your package’s status early in the week.
Avoid expecting packages on Thanksgiving
No standard UPS packages arrive on the holiday, regardless of service type.
Plan ahead for gifts or business items
If you need something before the weekend, ship it by Monday or Tuesday at the latest.
Use UPS Access Point or UPS Store pickups
If you won’t be home on Friday, a pickup location can hold your parcel securely until you arrive.
What Happens on the Day After Thanksgiving?
UPS returns to full operating service on the Friday after Thanksgiving—one of the busiest delivery days of the year. Expect:
- Higher package volume
- More delivery trucks on the road
- Possible extended delivery windows
- Heavy traffic at UPS Stores
- Potential delays for non-urgent shipments
Some areas may extend pickup and delivery hours to manage increased demand.
Does UPS Deliver on Thanksgiving Weekend?
Here is how the weekend usually works:
- Thanksgiving Day: No standard deliveries
- Friday: All regular services resume
- Saturday: Saturday delivery available if it is offered in your region and selected at the time of shipment
- Sunday: Limited residential delivery depending on local markets and service type
Availability of weekend delivery varies by ZIP code, so customers should verify shipping options before selecting a service level.
Final Takeaway
For anyone asking does UPS deliver on Thanksgiving, the answer for 2025 is simple: UPS does not run standard delivery or pickup services on Thanksgiving Day. Only UPS Express Critical remains available for emergency shipments, and everything else resumes the following day.
Have you ever had a package delayed by Thanksgiving shipping schedules? Share your experience below and stay informed as more holiday delivery updates roll in.