Where to Drop Off USPS Packages: All Locations and Rules

USPS packages can be dropped off at five types of locations: post offices, blue collection boxes, self-service kiosks, retail partner stores, and your own mailbox with free carrier pickup. Which one you should use comes down to three things: label status, package weight, and whether you need a receipt right now.

Drop-Off Options at a Glance

Post Offices: The Full-Service Option

Post offices accept any USPS shipment, whether or not you already have a label. You can purchase postage at the counter, drop a prepaid package with a receipt, ship internationally, buy flat-rate boxes, and buy money orders — all in one visit.

Over 34,000 locations nationwide. Use the USPS Post Office Locator to find the nearest location with its current hours and parking.

What to know:

• Counter service ends at varying times — typically 5 PM on weekdays, noon on Saturdays, closed Sundays
• If you arrive during counter hours and have a prepaid label, many post offices have a separate prepaid package drop slot (no waiting in line)
• For packages over 13 oz with postage affixed at home, you must hand-deliver to a USPS employee — you cannot drop an over-13-oz package in a collection box without a retail stamp

Blue Collection Boxes: Fastest and Most Convenient

Blue USPS collection boxes are the fastest drop-off option if you already have a prepaid label — no waiting, no counter interaction, available 24/7. There are approximately 139,000 across the country.

The rules that matter:

1. Prepaid label required. You cannot add postage at a blue box. If your package doesn’t have a label and postage, it won’t move.
2. 13 oz maximum. Packages over 13 oz (approximately 0.8 lbs) cannot be deposited in a blue mailbox regardless of service type. Packages at this weight limit that aren’t handed to a USPS employee in person will be returned.
3. No receipt. Dropping in a blue box provides no immediate scan. Your tracking status won’t update until the package reaches a facility during collection — typically the same day if dropped before the posted collection time.

How to find the nearest blue box: Use the USPS locator linked above and select “Collection Box” as the location type.

Self-Service Kiosks (APCs)

Automated Postal Center (APC) kiosks are located in post office lobbies and accept credit cards, debit cards, and cash. They can weigh your package, calculate postage, print labels, and give you a receipt with a tracking number — all without interacting with a postal worker.

APC lobbies are typically accessible 24/7 even when the counter is closed, making them the best option for after-hours package drop-offs where you need postage or a receipt.

Note: Not all post offices have APCs. Check the USPS locator for “Automated Postal Center” in your area.

Retail Partners: Walgreens, Staples, and CVS

USPS has expanded its retail partner drop-off network significantly. For prepaid packages:

Walgreens accepts prepaid USPS packages at most of its 8,000+ locations. The majority of Walgreens are open 24/7, making it the most accessible after-hours drop-off option for smaller packages. Weight limit is 13 oz — Walgreens is not set up to process oversized packages.

CVS similarly accepts prepaid USPS packages and maintains 24-hour pharmacy locations in most metro areas. Same 13 oz weight limit applies.

Staples functions as a full USPS Authorized Postal Service Provider. You can purchase postage and ship packages up to 70 lbs at Staples — it’s effectively a post office counter inside a retail store, with longer hours (typically open until 9 PM).

For any retail partner: the package gets handed to a USPS representative during periodic pickup, not scanned immediately at the store. Tracking won’t update until it reaches a USPS facility.

Free Carrier Pickup: The Easiest Option

If you have a prepaid label and are home during business hours, free carrier pickup is the most convenient option. Schedule a pickup at USPS.com by midnight for next-business-day pickup from your mailbox, door, or preferred location on your property.

Your carrier will pick up packages alongside their regular mail delivery — no additional cost, no trip to a post office. You can also leave packages in your mailbox with the flag raised, though the carrier may not pick them up if they don’t have outgoing mail on your route that day.

Package pickup works for: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, USPS Ground Advantage, and most other domestic services with prepaid labels.

What Counts as “Prepaid” for Drop-Off Purposes

A prepaid label means:

• Postage was purchased online (USPS.com, Pirate Ship, stamps.com, Shippo, etc.)
• The label shows a tracking number and a delivery confirmation barcode
• The weight on the label matches your actual package weight

If your package weighs more than the label says, it may be returned or held for additional postage — even at a collection box or retail partner. Weigh your package before printing the label, or add a small buffer.

Rules That Catch People Off Guard

The 13 oz rule applies even with a prepaid label. A package with a $15 prepaid Priority Mail label that weighs 14 oz cannot go into a blue mailbox. You have to hand it to a USPS employee.

Padded mailers count toward weight. The weight on your label should include the mailer, packaging materials, and contents — not just the product.

Packages with hazmat labels must go to the counter. Anything labeled as containing lithium batteries, liquids, or other restricted items cannot go in a blue box or self-service kiosk. See the USPS shipping restrictions guide for the full list.

If you still need to buy the label before you drop it off, USPS Click-N-Ship is the cleanest home workflow.

When to Go to the Counter vs. Drop in a Box

Use the counter when:

• Your package needs postage (you haven’t purchased a label)
• The package is over 13 oz
• You need a physical receipt with tracking confirmation
• You’re shipping internationally
• Your package contains restricted items requiring carrier acceptance
• You need to insure the package for more than the included coverage

Use a blue box, retail partner, or carrier pickup when:

• You have a prepaid label and the package is under 13 oz
• You want to avoid the counter line
• You’re dropping off outside post office hours

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drop off USPS packages at UPS? In limited cases — some UPS Store locations accept prepaid USPS returns as a courtesy, but this isn’t standard and there’s no guaranteed same-day forwarding to USPS. For a reliable drop-off with tracking, use a post office, blue box, or Walgreens.

Can I drop off a USPS package without a label? Only at post office counters and Staples (Authorized Postal Service Provider) — these can print labels and accept payment. Blue boxes, Walgreens, and CVS require a prepaid label already attached.

What’s the weight limit for blue USPS collection boxes? 13 ounces. Packages above this weight must be handed to a USPS employee — at a post office counter, at a Staples location, or through scheduled carrier pickup.

Is carrier pickup really free? Yes. USPS Package Pickup is free for all package types regardless of weight or service. Schedule at USPS.com by midnight for next-business-day pickup.

Do I need to be home for carrier pickup? No. You can leave packages at your door, mailbox, or in a designated location on your property. Specify the pickup location when scheduling.