If you’re like most people, you’re familiar with the ins and outs of receiving mail, but have you ever wondered about the other side of the postal service — the when and how of mail collection?
Besides providing mail delivery services, the United States Postal Service (USPS) also provides a crucial mail collection service.
The USPS has a strong delivery game, with deliveries happening Monday through Saturday every week across the United States. But what about outgoing mail? When is mail picked up from mailboxes?
The collection schedule for emptying your mailbox can vary, depending on the type of mailbox you use. In this quick guide, we’ll highlight the details of when mail is picked up from mailboxes so you can better understand the flow of mail in your neighborhood.
Mail Collection Time for Different Mailboxes
USPS Drop Boxes
The blue USPS Drop Boxes are your handy public mailboxes for sending mail and prepaid packages. In bustling metropolises, these drop boxes stand nearly every couple of blocks and spots like street corners, shopping centers, and post offices, making sending mail a breeze.
And like personal drop boxes, a USPS Drop Box or blue collection box can handle parcels and large packages as long as they meet certain guidelines. Using these mailboxes is pretty straightforward; just drop your outgoing mail inside, and it’s on its way to your intended recipient.
While the mail pickup date and time can vary based on where your mail is heading, USPS Drop Boxes are usually emptied at least once every weekday, from Monday through Friday, and sometimes Saturday. And in places with lots of mail coming in, pickups can be twice on weekdays.
The precise timing of these pickups may differ, so keep an eye out for the schedule posted on the USPS collection box itself. Also, keep in mind that the collection schedule labels on USPS Drop Boxes come in two flavors: blue and gray. A blue label indicates pickup times for standard mail, while gray labels are for Priority Mail Express.
Residential Curbside Mailboxes
Collecting outgoing mail from a residential curbside mailbox doesn’t follow a strict schedule. Instead, it’s all part of the package when the mail carrier brings your incoming mail.
When the mail carrier delivers your incoming mail, they’ll also collect any outgoing mail you’ve left in the mailbox. Just remember to raise the mailbox flag to signal the carrier that there’s mail to pick up.
While there isn’t an exact pickup time, it usually happens during your regular mail delivery. Keep in mind that factors like inclement weather, heavy traffic, or road obstructions can occasionally affect the delivery schedule.
But what if you need to send something out but aren’t expecting any incoming mail? Simply schedule a pickup through the USPS website. The best part is that it won’t cost you a dime; USPS provides this service for free.
Cluster Mailboxes
If you live in a condo, apartment building, or other shared living spaces, you probably get your mail delivered in cluster mailboxes.
Like curbside mailboxes, cluster mailboxes have a convenient outgoing mail receptacle. If you have outgoing mail to send, simply drop it in.
The advantage of cluster mailboxes is their reliability or consistency, thanks to the hub of bustling mail traffic in shared living spaces, such as apartments. Frequent deliveries to apartment buildings ensure that outgoing mail is promptly collected, except for Sundays and holidays. This ensures that your messages and packages are on their way regularly.
At What Time of Day Is Mail Collected?
Getting a handle on when your mail gets collected can ensure your letters, parcels, and packages reach their destination as quickly as possible. The precise time mail will be picked up from your mailbox depends on a few factors:
1. Mailbox Type
The collection time for your mail depends on the type of mailbox you’ve got or use. Residential curbside mailboxes and cluster mailboxes have their pickup schedules coinciding with regular mail delivery times.
As for USPS Drop Boxes, you can usually count on them being cleared in the late afternoon or early evening, typically between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM.
2. Mail Carrier’s Route
When your mail gets picked up also depends on your mail carrier’s route. Things like the order of deliveries and how much mail is in their bag for that day can influence the carrier’s route and, in turn, when they pick up outgoing mail.
3. Local Variations
Mail collection times aren’t set in stone and can vary from place to place. In bustling urban centers, collection schedules may be more frequent than in rural spots. And even within the same neighborhood, specific streets or corners might have unique collection times.
4. Inclement Weather and Traffic
Unforeseen elements such as inclement weather and traffic congestion can disrupt delivery and pickup schedules. Your mail carrier’s route may need to be adjusted under these circumstances, which, in turn, can impact the timing of when your outgoing mail gets collected.
When Should You Not Send Out Mail?
Now that we’ve tackled the question of “When is mail picked up from mailboxes?”, let’s briefly discuss when it’s best to delay sending your mail or packages.
While mail collection is almost a daily service, there are a few occasions when it’s best to hold off on sending out mail:
- Sundays and holidays: As a federal service, the USPS doesn’t pick up outgoing mail on Sundays and during postal holidays. If you deposit your mail during these times, it might not be picked up until the next business day.
- Late afternoons and nights: It’s a good idea to check your mailbox’s last collection time. If you slip your mail in after that time, it may not be collected until the following day. If you prefer using USPS Drop Boxes, ensure you deposit your mail early in the day to prevent it from sitting overnight.
- Severe weather conditions: During extreme weather, such as blizzards or hurricanes, mail carriers may be unable to collect outgoing mail as scheduled. It’s often best to wait until conditions improve for the safety of both carriers and your mail.
