Redirect a USPS Package: Package Intercept Steps, Fees, and Limits

USPS Package Intercept lets you redirect an in-transit domestic package before it’s delivered. You can have it returned to the sender, held at a specific post office for pickup, or (in some cases) sent to a new address. The fee is approximately $19.45 in 2026 — and USPS only charges you if the intercept succeeds.

The window is narrow. You cannot intercept a package that’s “Out for Delivery” or already delivered. Submit the request while the package is still moving through the USPS network.

What Package Intercept Can Do

Option	Who Can Use	Notes
Return to sender	Retail and commercial customers	Most commonly successful option
Hold at post office for pickup	Commercial customers only	You collect with ID; hold period is 15 days
Send to a different address	Commercial customers only	Additional postage applies; not always available

Retail customers (individuals with personal USPS.com accounts) can only request return to sender. The other two options require a commercial USPS account.

If you’re a retail customer who needs the package held or rerouted, contact the sender and ask them to submit the intercept request from their commercial account.

Eligibility Requirements

Package Intercept works only for:

Domestic packages — no international, APO/FPO/DPO, or packages requiring customs forms
Packages with a tracking number or barcode — no standard letter mail or untracked flat parcels
Packages not yet out for delivery — the request must be submitted while the package is in transit through the USPS network
Packages under 108 inches in maximum dimension

Not eligible:

Standard Mail, USPS Marketing Mail, Periodicals
Packages addressed to Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies
Packages already delivered or currently out for delivery
International and military (APO/FPO/DPO) packages

How to Submit a Package Intercept Request

Log in to your USPS.com account — you need an account to use this service
Go to Manage → Package Intercept (or search “Package Intercept” on usps.com)
Enter your tracking number and confirm the package details
If eligible, select your intercept option: Return to Sender, Hold for Pickup, or New Address (depending on account type)
Confirm the destination and any additional details
Pay by credit or debit card — approximately $19.45. The card is charged only if the intercept succeeds

After submitting, USPS has 7 days to locate and redirect the package. If they can’t complete the intercept within that window, the request expires and no fee is charged.

Fee Breakdown

Cost Component	Amount
Package Intercept flat fee	~$19.45
Additional postage (if rerouted)	Varies — charged if original postage doesn’t cover new routing
Fee if intercept fails	$0

Postage note: All intercepted packages are treated as Priority Mail during transit after the intercept. If you originally shipped something via a lower-cost service, USPS will calculate the Priority Mail rate for the new routing and charge the difference.

After a Successful Intercept

Return to sender: The package comes back to the original shipper. Transit time depends on where the package was when intercepted — could be 1 day or up to Priority Mail standard (2-3 days).

Hold at post office: You’ll receive notification when the package arrives at the designated post office. Bring photo ID. USPS holds the package for 15 days before returning it to the sender.

New address: The package is rerouted to the new address via Priority Mail. Timeline varies.

Alternatives to Package Intercept

If the package is already delivered to the wrong address, Package Intercept is no longer an option. Use the USPS delivered to wrong address guide instead. Different problem, different fix.

If you haven’t shipped yet and want the recipient to pick up from a post office rather than have door delivery, use the Hold for Pickup option at checkout when placing an order — this is free and doesn’t require Package Intercept. And if you still need to create the label first, USPS Click-N-Ship is the simplest setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does USPS Package Intercept always work? No. USPS makes a best-effort attempt to locate and redirect the package within 7 days. Success depends on where the package is in the network when you submit the request. Early requests (when the package just left the origin) are more likely to succeed than late requests (when the package is already at the destination delivery unit).

Can I redirect a USPS package to a PO Box? No. Package Intercept cannot redirect to a PO Box — only to a new street address, the originating return address, or a post office for counter pickup.

Who can request a Package Intercept — the sender or recipient? Either can submit through USPS.com. However, only commercial account holders can access Hold for Pickup and Send to New Address options. Retail account holders can only request Return to Sender. If you’re the recipient using a personal account and need rerouting, ask the sender to submit from their commercial account.

What happens if I submit a Package Intercept and it fails? No charge. USPS only bills the $19.45 fee when the intercept succeeds. If the package can’t be located within 7 days, the request expires with no cost to you.

Can I use Package Intercept for an international package? No. Package Intercept is domestic-only. International packages, including packages to APO/FPO/DPO military addresses, are not eligible.