How Long Does A USPS Priority Package Take? (2024)

NOTE: We are NOT the United States Post Office and cannot answer your questions about personal shipments, rates, or other post office related matters. We make shipping software that’s compatible with USPS. For postage related questions please visit the USPS at: https://www.usps.com/

Figuring out how long does a USPS Priority package take can help you determine what shipping options to offer your customers, schedule operations better, and create a better opportunity for tracking for customers, too. A lot of this will depend on what you can integrate with your shipping management software. But more of it lies with your understanding of what you can expect from Priority Shipping time. Fortunately, once you understand the basics, you can use the online shipping calculator for the specifics.

How Long Does A USPS Priority Package Take?

The USPS flat rate delivery time ranges from 2 to 5 days. The factor that will most influence whether your package is received in 2 to 3 days, or 3 to 5 days isn’t the weight, it’s the shipping zones. The weight restriction on Priority Mail is in place to eliminate that as a concern for shipping delays. The continental US has been divided up into shipping zones by the USPS, and the shipping zone delivery times are very easy to estimate. All it takes is a few clicks of a button to know how long Priority Mail takes to delivery for your shipment.

Use The Online Shipping Calculator To Your Advantage

You can go online to the USPS site, or access their site via the plug-in attached to your integrated shipping software, and select the delivery calculator. Once the calculator is open enter, the zip code of the address the package is being sent from and the address the shipment is being sent, too. The calculator will automatically detect the zones the addresses fall in. If you are shipping within the same zone your package could get there in as little as 1 to 2 business days. If your zones are further apart, it could take up to 5 days. One very important thing to note is that these are all business days. Priority Mail is not delivered on Sundays and Holidays.

What About Priority Express Times?

If you do need a fast Priority Mail delivery time then you need to opt for a different service. There are two other choices for flat rate shipping. The first is Priority Express Mail and the second is Overnight Guaranteed. Please note that the same day business service for Priority Express Mail is not guaranteed; you must order the specific overnight service to do that.

For Shipments Outside The US

Only Priority Express Mail is used for shipments outside the US. Please note that the sizes available for shipping and the weight limits are different. Your best practice is to think through when your package really needs to arrive and to time the shipment to hit the most consecutive business days. Then select the service with the best USPS flat rate shipping time for your needs. When you are looking to find out how long does a USPS priority package take, you have to look at all the potential options, but also the realistic need for speed when it comes to delivery before making your decision.

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How Long Does A USPS Priority Package Take? (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take USPS to deliver a priority package? ›

Priority Mail® service includes tracking and delivery in 1-3 business days1. Check delivery time estimates on the Priority Mail Delivery Map. Priority Mail Flat Rate® lets you ship packages up to 70 lbs to any state at the same price.

Can USPS Priority take 5 days? ›

If you are shipping within the same zone your package could get there in as little as 1 to 2 business days. If your zones are further apart, it could take up to 5 days. One very important thing to note is that these are all business days. Priority Mail is not delivered on Sundays and Holidays.

Can Priority Mail take longer than 3 days? ›

Priority Mail takes between 1-3 days for domestic shipments. Priority mail transit times will vary depending on how far the package has to be delivered from its origin.

Can Priority Mail take 7 days? ›

USPS Priority Mail is always delivered between one and three days. However, the exact delivery time depends on where you are shipping from and to. On the USPS website, you will find a helpful map that allows you to add in your zip code and estimate the delivery time to the destination address.

Can Priority Mail take 2 weeks? ›

For more definitions, check out our Small Business Shipping Terms blog! How long does a Priority Mail package take? Priority Mail packages typically arrive within 1-3 days. For an even faster option in this mail class, you can opt for Priority Mail Express.

Does USPS Priority deliver faster? ›

Priority Mail is typically faster than First-Class, shipping in an estimated 1-3 business days, rather than 1-5 days. Priority Mail can be used to ship much larger packages (up to 70 lbs for some services). USPS Tracking and a small amount of insurance is typically included with your shipment.

What the longest priority mail can take? ›

Priority mail takes one to three days business based on where your package starts and where it's being sent domestically. Priority Mail is a domestic service offered by the USPS that includes a flat shipping rate and other perks.

Is USPS Priority mail guaranteed? ›

Next-Day to 2-Day Guarantee1 & Flat Rate Pricing

Priority Mail Express® provides next-day to 2–day delivery service by 6 PM with a money–back guarantee1. You get competitive prices and fast delivery every day, all year, with limited exceptions, to most U.S. addresses and PO Boxes3.

Can I get a refund if USPS Priority mail is late? ›

Priority Mail Express® service items may be eligible for a refund. The United States Postal Service® refunds the postage and, if purchased, the Sunday or holiday premium fee: When the item is not delivered by the guaranteed delivery date and time specified at the time of mailing.

What if my priority Mail package is late? ›

If your Priority Mail Express mailpiece is not delivered by the guaranteed time, you can request a refund at USPS.com. Refunds will no longer be processed at Post Office locations.

How long will Priority Mail take from zip code to zip code? ›

Priority Mail is the USPS's expedited mailing service. You can use Priority Mail for packages that weigh more than 13 ounces. For people wondering “how fast is Priority Mail”, the USPS guarantees delivery within two to three days for Priority Mail.

Can Priority Mail take 1 day? ›

Priority Mail Express is the fastest mail service offered by the Postal Service. It provides guaranteed 1-Day or 2-Day expedited service by 3 p.m. for any mailable matter and includes $100 of insurance coverage. Priority Mail Express delivery is offered 365 days a year in many locations.

Does Priority mail Move on weekends? ›

The USPS delivers all Priority Mail® on Saturdays at no extra cost, as well as Priority Mail Express® packages on Sunday for an additional fee.

Why is my package still in transit? ›

Generally, when USPS says a package is stuck in transit, it means your package has not been scanned at any distribution depot in the last 24 hours; therefore, nobody knows the current location of your shipment.

Why is my USPS package not moving 2022? ›

If the USPS tracking is not updating, it may be because the information was not updated due to inclement weather. Weather can cause your mail or package to be slower to reach the next station.

Which is better UPS or USPS priority? ›

While UPS® Ground has an average delivery duration of 2.75 days, USPS Priority has an average of 1.7 days. Therefore, USPS is the better option if your product needs to arrive quickly. In addition, USPS Priority offers a cheaper rate when the package is small and less than 2lbs.

Is Priority Mail delivered on Sunday? ›

Yes. The Postal Service currently delivers Priority Mail Express and certain Amazon packages on Sundays. Due to increased package volume, we are expanding the types of packages that will be delivered on Sundays.

Which is faster FedEx or USPS priority? ›

USPS Priority Mail is twice as fast as FedEx Ground, delivering in two days rather than four. The Postal Service also has the advantage of being able to deliver to PO box addresses. FedEx Ground is cheaper than USPS Priority Mail: $38.90 vs.

Can USPS priority be lost? ›

Priority Mail® Service

If seven (7) or more days have passed since the date of mailing and the recipient has confirmed the item has not arrived, you may either submit a search request for your lost mailpiece and/or email us.

How accurate is priority mail? ›

100% accurate information will be made available when the USPS themselves are handling the Priority Mail pieces you have sent (usually when you hand them off at the post office to be sent out and then again when they are sorted near the ultimate destination and later by the individual mail carrier and Mobile Delivery ...

Can I sue USPS for late delivery? ›

You may file a civil action in an appropriate United States district court: Within 90 calendar days of receipt of either the Postal Service's final action on the complaint or its final agency decision provided you have not appealed to OFO as described above.

How does Priority mail get lost? ›

It may be misdelivered, or sometimes, it cannot be delivered due to wrong addressing, or the address label may come off. Undeliverable mail is either returned to the sender, or if not possible to do so, sent to the Mail Recovery Center, where mail may be opened, and sent to the sender or addressee, if possible.

Why do you have to pay $39 to apply for USPS? ›

Protect Yourself from Employment Scams

USPS will never charge you a fee to apply for a job or take a Postal Service exam. Be wary of websites that claim to be able to help you apply for a USPS job or that charge a fee to get you a job.

What happens if USPS doesn't deliver my package on time? ›

Why can I request a refund? USPS has a money-back guarantee for all Priority Mail Express packages. These packages should be delivered within two days and by 6:00pm local time at the recipient's address. If your shipment is not delivered by the label's Scheduled Delivery Date, you can request a postage refund.

What happens if priority package is lost? ›

Complete a Help Request Form

We recommend that you complete our online help request form before you start a missing mail search. Please use a desktop computer to submit your form. We'll forward your request to your local Post Office facility to help locate any missing items.

Can I call USPS to see where my package is? ›

Who do I contact for additional help? You may call this phone number to obtain additional information on USPS Text Tracking: 1-800-222-1811. To obtain help from your mobile device, use any of the following: HELP, INFO, or AIDE.

What happens if no one signs for priority mail? ›

If nobody is available to sign for the package or the recipient cannot find/does not have a suitable, valid ID, the mailman will take the package away and attempt redelivery at some other time. A note will be left to let the recipient know that delivery was attempted, and that USPS will redeliver at a later date.

Does Priority Mail move overnight? ›

Our speediest domestic service, Priority Mail Express®, delivers your packages overnight to most locations. Its benefits include: Guaranteed overnight delivery to most locations in the U.S. Tracking Services.

Does Priority Mail require a signature? ›

Priority Mail Express with additional insurance. A signature is required if additional insurance is purchased or for Priority Mail Express Collect on Delivery (COD).

What time is priority mail cut off? ›

Orders must be entered by 9:30 a.m. to go out the same day. Due to processing time, documents might take up to three business days to arrive—SendOvernightMail considers USPS Priority Mail Saturday delivery but not Sunday delivery when estimating delivery time.

How long can USPS packages be in transit? ›

USPS Retail Ground: 2 to 8 business days. Package Services (including Media Mail, Bound Printed Matter, and Library Mail): 2 to 8 business days. Parcel Select (including Parcel Select Lightweight): 2 to 9 business days. Periodicals: 3 to 9 business days.

Can a package be lost in transit? ›

In a year, that adds up to more than 146 billion mail items sent through the USPS. While most of that mail will arrive safely to its intended destination, inevitably, some packages get lost in transit.

How long should a package stay in transit for? ›

The transit time for the standard is about 3 working days, for the express is the next or same day, while for the economy, the transit is longer, up to 4-6 days. Note that the specific transit time is hard to predict and highly depends on the location and other factors.

Should I be worried if USPS tracking hasn't updated in 3 days? ›

Not necessarily. While it is required that packages with tracking numbers be scanned at every stop along the way from origin to destination, these scans are sometimes missed or skipped.

Why has my package not moved in 5 days? ›

Your package could be stuck in transit for many reasons: loss, damage, or even a USPS tracking system failure. More likely, though, the short-staffed US Post Office has misplaced, mislabelled, or simply overlooked your package. This means it can be located easily enough once you call attention to its absence.

Why isn t my USPS Priority Tracking not updating? ›

If the tracking information for your package has not been updated in a few days, it's possible that there was an issue with the scan, or that the package has been temporarily misplaced. Sometimes packages just aren't scanned into the carrier's system at intermediary stops, so it looks like nothing is happening.

Is USPS Priority faster than ups? ›

That said, it's also important to note that your Priority Mail shipment will be delivered more quickly than your UPS Ground® and FedEx Ground® shipments. USPS Priority Mail® is again estimated to be a two-day delivery while the others measure in at 4 days.

Is 2 day priority Mail guaranteed? ›

Priority Mail Express® provides next-day to 2–day delivery service by 6 PM with a money–back guarantee1. You get competitive prices and fast delivery every day, all year, with limited exceptions, to most U.S. addresses and PO Boxes3.

Is USPS Priority Overnight? ›

Our speediest domestic service, Priority Mail Express®, delivers your packages overnight to most locations. Its benefits include: Guaranteed overnight delivery to most locations in the U.S. Tracking Services.

How long does UPS priority take? ›

It will either be two or three days, depending on which product you select.

How fast is UPS priority shipping? ›

1-3 business days

Can I get a refund if USPS Priority Mail is late? ›

Priority Mail Express® service items may be eligible for a refund. The United States Postal Service® refunds the postage and, if purchased, the Sunday or holiday premium fee: When the item is not delivered by the guaranteed delivery date and time specified at the time of mailing.

Does Priority Mail take longer? ›

If you're sending a letter or postcard, you only need one stamp if sending domestically. First-Class Mail takes on average one to three days, the same as Priority Mail. The major difference between the two services is that Priority Mail comes with the benefits previously mentioned, like tracking and insurance.

Does Priority Mail deliver on Sunday? ›

Yes. The Postal Service currently delivers Priority Mail Express and certain Amazon packages on Sundays. Due to increased package volume, we are expanding the types of packages that will be delivered on Sundays.

How reliable is USPS Priority mail? ›

USPS delivers over 700 million pieces of mail daily with a delivery success rate of upwards of 99% USPS Priority 2-Day shipping offers free tracking updates until your shipment arrives at its destination.

Do weekends count for priority mail? ›

The USPS delivers all Priority Mail® on Saturdays at no extra cost, as well as Priority Mail Express® packages on Sunday for an additional fee. No matter what you sell online, you know that the pressure is on to provide the best shipping experience possible to your customers.

Can Priority mail take 1 day? ›

Priority Mail Express is the fastest mail service offered by the Postal Service. It provides guaranteed 1-Day or 2-Day expedited service by 3 p.m. for any mailable matter and includes $100 of insurance coverage. Priority Mail Express delivery is offered 365 days a year in many locations.

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