USPS delivers packages Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM. Transit times range from next-day (Priority Mail Express) to 2-8 days depending on service. Here is how each mail class compares in 2026.
USPS packages can be dropped off at post offices, blue collection boxes, retail partners like Walgreens and Staples, or picked up free from your door. Each option has different weight limits and hours.
![USPS Certified Mail: Cost, Delivery Time, and How It Works [2026]](https://uploads.trackingadvice.com/2021/01/USPS-Certified-Mail-Service.jpg)
See what Certified Mail includes in 2026, what it costs on top of postage, how long it usually takes, and when Return Receipt is worth adding.
USPS bans some items outright — marijuana, gasoline, explosives — and restricts others with conditions. Lithium batteries, liquids, aerosols, and firearms each have specific rules. Publication 52 is the authoritative source.
USPS Click-N-Ship prints prepaid labels at commercial rates — up to 20% off retail — with no monthly fee. The 2024 upgrade added batch labels, Apple Pay, and a 1,000-address book. Third-party apps offer steeper discounts for high-volume shippers.
USPS closes 11 federal holidays in 2026. No carrier delivery, no post office counter service. Priority Mail Express is the exception — it delivers on most holidays.
