After the COVID-19 pandemic caused shipping delays last holiday season, the U.S. Postal Service is recommending that people mail their packages before peak season begins this year.
The Postal Service anticipates between 850 million and 950 million packages will be delivered between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
In 2020, with many quarantining at home, post offices saw a boom in packages as people continued to order goods and supplies online. In Cleveland, dozens of trucks were lined up outside the processing and distribution center waiting to unload.
The Postal Service said it has been planning all year for peak season, and has made several adjustments to help avoid delays this year. It leased 7.5 million square feet of additional space to handle the influx of packages, including 400,000 square feet of a former General Motors transmission plant in Parma. Beginning Nov. 28, it will expand Sunday delivery to locations with high package volumes, according to a news release.
More than 40,000 seasonal workers will also be hired to help process the additional mail, the news release says.
In addition, mail carriers in select locations will also be delivering packages on Christmas Day for an additional fee.
The Postal Service announced the following changes this year:
Price increases
The cost of the Forever stamp has increased to 58 cents from 55 cents.
There are also temporary price increases in place through Christmas for various retail and commercial shipping options.
Here are all the temporary pricing increases for Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Parcel Select Ground and USPS Retail Ground and First-Class Package Service, according to the news release.
- Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Boxes and Envelopes: 75 cents
- Zones 1-4, 0-10 pounds: 25 cents
- Zones 5-9, 0-10 pounds: 75 cents
- Zones 1-4, 11-20 pounds: $1.50
- Zones 5-9, 11-20 pounds: $3
- Zones 1-4, 21-70 pounds: $2.50
- Zones 5-9, 21-70 pounds: $5
- First-Class Package Service: 30 cents
A zone-pricing calculator can be found online.
Deadline for shipping packages
The Postal Service recommends the following mailing and shipping deadlines for expected delivery by Dec. 25 to all domestic address, and to Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office locations.
- Dec. 9 — APO/FPO/DPO (all ZIP Codes) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
- Dec. 15 — USPS Retail Ground service
- Dec. 16 — APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) USPS Priority Mail Express Military service
- Dec. 17 — First-Class Mail service (including greeting cards)
- Dec. 17 — First-Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)
- Dec. 18 — Priority Mail service
- Dec. 23 — Priority Mail Express* service
Alaska to/from continental U.S.
- Dec. 18 — First-Class Mail
- Dec. 18 — Priority Mail
- Dec. 21 — Priority Mail Express
Hawaii to/from mainland
- Dec. 17 — Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
- Dec. 21 — Priority Mail Express
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