Finance

Is the Post Office Open on Black Friday?

November 28, 2025

Many people search for answers about seasonal operating hours, and is the post office open on Black Friday is one of the most common questions during Thanksgiving week. As of today, November 28, 2025, USPS facilities across the United States are open on Black Friday, and regular mail delivery, retail counter service, and package processing all resume after the Thanksgiving closure.

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Black Friday is not a federal holiday. Because USPS follows the federal holiday calendar, post offices reopened nationwide today after being closed on Thanksgiving Day. Normal retail lobby hours, window service, and carrier routes are running on their regular schedule. Priority Mail Express, the only service that operates 365 days a year, continues without interruption as well.

This means customers can visit post office counters, drop off packages, pick up held mail, and receive regular household mail today without any change in schedule.

Why USPS Is Open on Black Friday

USPS determines closures based on federal law. Federal holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day require full closure of post offices. Black Friday, while widely treated as a major shopping day, does not carry federal holiday status. That keeps the postal system functioning as usual.

USPS also remains open because Black Friday marks the beginning of the busiest shipping period of the year. Millions of Americans begin sending holiday gifts, return packages, and online orders. Running normal operations helps USPS avoid backlogs that would occur if service stayed paused an extra day.

USPS Operating Status: Thanksgiving Week Overview

The week of Thanksgiving typically brings adjusted schedules, so it helps to understand where Black Friday fits:

Thanksgiving Day (Closed): All post offices are closed. No mail delivery or retail service takes place.
Black Friday (Open): Normal operations resume. This includes delivery, retail counters, and package acceptance.
Saturday After Black Friday: Most branches follow their standard Saturday hours.
Sunday After Black Friday: Standard Sunday schedule applies, meaning some locations offer limited parcel pickup or self-service kiosks, but retail counters remain closed except in select regions.

Black Friday is the first fully operational day after the holiday pause, which makes it important for customers who rely on timely shipping.

What Services Are Available on Black Friday

Customers can expect all major USPS services to function normally today. This includes:

Retail Counter Services

Stamps
Money orders
Package acceptance
Insurance and certified mail
PO box access during lobby hours

Regular Mail Delivery

Letters
Magazines
Standard mail
Packages through standard USPS routes

Package Shipping

Priority Mail
Priority Mail Express
First-Class Package Service
Ground Advantage

Increased Parcel Volume Expected

Because Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping rush, carriers may experience heavier package loads. While USPS plans staffing and routes to handle increased demand, customers should still allow slightly more delivery time during the holiday season.

Typical Black Friday Hours

While USPS is nationally open on Black Friday, hours may vary by location. Most branches follow their regular weekday schedule, often between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or similar local timings.

Here’s what customers should keep in mind:

Rural offices may close earlier than city branches.
Some urban locations extend lobby access even if counters close earlier.
Self-service kiosks inside many lobbies remain available 24/7.

Because today is a business-as-usual day, no special holiday hours or reductions are applied.

Shipping After Thanksgiving: What Customers Should Expect

The day after Thanksgiving begins the most intense period of the year for mail and package traffic. With online shopping peaks, holiday sales, and gift shipments all happening at once, USPS sorting centers and delivery routes become extremely active.

Here are a few patterns customers can expect:

1. Higher Package Volume

Black Friday and the week following it mark one of the largest surges of the year. Even though service is normal, delivery trucks may carry significantly more packages.

2. Possible Minor Delays

USPS prepares for the increase, but package-heavy days can still lead to occasional delays, especially in high-demand regions.

3. International Shipping Ramps Up

Many customers mail gifts overseas. International mail can take several weeks, so USPS recommends shipping internationally as early as possible after Black Friday.

4. More Customers Visiting Retail Counters

Longer lines are common in the days after Thanksgiving. Those who prefer shorter wait times may benefit from using USPS kiosks or arriving earlier in the day.

Why Today Matters for Holiday Shipping

Because Black Friday is the first fully operational day after Thanksgiving, it allows USPS to restart the flow of mail quickly. This prevents backlog and keeps the holiday shipping season moving.

Reasons today is especially important:

Many customers held packages during the holiday closure and ship them today.
Online retailers send out the first batch of Black Friday orders.
USPS begins preparing for Cyber Monday, which pushes even heavier mail volume.
Families often send early Christmas packages this weekend.

Staying open ensures that postal operations maintain momentum without additional delays.