Is There Mail on Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Post Office Open Hours Today

Monday, January 15, 2024, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday to celebrate the work of the civil rights leader.

In 1983, then-President Ronald Reagan signed legislation making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday to be celebrated on the third Monday of January each year. This year, the holiday falls on Dr. King Jr.'s birthday as he was born on January 15, 1929.

Last year, President Joe Biden spoke about the federal holiday and Martin Luther King Jr.'s role as a civil rights leader.

"His activism and moral authority helped usher in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He gave a voice to the restless spirit of millions yearning for change. He gave us a roadmap to unify, to heal, and to sustain the blessings of the Nation to all of its people," he said.

On Monday, many offices, businesses, government buildings and schools will be closed to honor Martin Luther King Jr., but will the United States Postal Service (USPS) be delivering mail during the holiday?

USPS
Monday, January 15, 2024, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday to celebrate the work of the civil rights leader, but will the United States Postal Service (USPS) be delivering mail during the holiday? Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Does USPS Deliver on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

Since it is a federal holiday, post offices across the nation will be closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and mail delivery services will not be operating.

"In observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, Postal Service facilities will be closed for retail transactions on Monday, January 15, 2024. There will be no residential or business deliveries," a USPS spokesperson told Newsweek.

An operations policy memo sent out to local offices by the USPS, states that on Monday, January 15, 2024, "there will be no regular delivery service except for Holiday Premium Priority Mail Express and Holiday Same Day Package Delivery (HUB and spoke structure)."

Does UPS Deliver on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

Similarly, the United Parcel Service (UPS) states on its website that it will also be honoring the federal holiday and will not have pickup or delivery services on Monday.

However, the UPS website states that UPS Store locations may be closed and customers are encouraged to check with their local stores for opening and closing hours.

Does FedEx Deliver on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

While USPS and UPS will not be open or delivering mail on MLK Day, FedEx, however, will have most of its delivery services operational.

The FedEx holiday service schedule shows that FedEx Ground, FedEx Home Delivery, FedEx Freight and FedEx Office will be operational during the holiday. FedEx Express and FedEx Ground Economy will have modified service.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go