What:

To prepare for peak holiday mailing and package volume, the U.S. Postal Service has accelerated the installation of 100 new package sorting machines across the country to meet customers’ evolving mailing and shipping needs ahead of the 2023 holiday season. One of these new machines, the Small Delivery Unit Sorter (SDUS) is now up and running at Roseville Post Office.

Since 2021, the Postal Service has installed 348 new package processing machines across the nation, part of the $40 billion in new investments under the Delivering for America plan. This new machine is designed to help delivery units expedite package processing. “The small delivery unit sorter uses the best assets of the larger mail processing equipment in a scaled-down size,” said Berkeley Postmaster Katrina Scott.

Who:

Katrina Scott, Berkeley Postmaster

When:

Thursday, December 14, 2023, from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Please RSVP for additional instructions.

Where:

1150 8th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710

Background:

You are cordially invited to come see the SDUS in action. You’ll also have the chance to speak with Berkeley Postmaster Katrina Scott. These machines can process up to 3,000 pieces every hour. Since January 2021, USPS has added a total of 348 new package sorting machines to the Postal network, increasing its package processing capacity to 70 million packages per day this holiday season.

During the 2022 holiday season, the Postal Service accepted more than 11.7 billion letters, cards, flats, and packages for delivery, with an average 2.5 days to deliver a mail piece or package across the nation.

2023 USPS Holiday Shipping and Mailing Deadlines

To assist customers with their preparations for the upcoming busy holiday shopping and shipping season, the U.S. Postal Service is providing 2023 holiday shipping and mailing deadlines. The information below covers domestic, international and military shipping destinations to allow for the timely delivery of cards, letters and packages by Dec. 25th. 

Within the Lower 48 (excludes Alaska and Hawaii) 

• USPS Ground Advantage — Dec. 16 
• First-Class Mail (including greeting cards) — Dec. 16 
• Priority Mail — Dec. 18 
• Priority Mail Express — Dec. 20 

Alaska 

• USPS Ground Advantage — Dec. 16 
• First-Class Mail — Dec. 16 
• Priority Mail — Dec. 18 
• Priority Mail Express — Dec. 20 

Hawaii 

• USPS Ground Advantage — Dec. 16 
• First-Class Mail — Dec. 16 
• Priority Mail — Dec. 16 
• Priority Mail Express — Dec. 20 

Air/Army Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO), Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) 

• USPS Ground Advantage — Nov. 6 
• First-Class Mail — Dec. 9 
• Priority Mail — Dec. 9 
• Priority Mail Express Military Service — Dec. 15* 

* PMEMS not available for APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 093 

International Mail

Shipping deadlines for international mail vary depending on the destination. Check out International Mail and Shipping Services for details. The Postal Service is a secure shipping option that meets international mail shipping needs to over 180 countries.

USPS Is Ready for the Peak Shipping Season 

A new shipping option this year is USPS Ground Advantage, a service that provides a simple, reliable and affordable way to ship packages with day certain delivery of  2-5 business days based on distance. 

In addition to our convenient retail locations, customers can purchase their shipping labels, order Priority Mail packaging and schedule free carrier pick up via the Postal Service’s shipping platform  Click-N-Ship . Customers using the platform will have access to Commercial Shipping Rates that will apply to all domestic package labels — making it easier for customers to ship their packages.  

The Postal Service is built for the holidays, serving 165 million addresses across the country and covering every state, city and town. Everyone living in the United States and its territories has access to postal products and services.   

Review the details on how to ship packages to military and diplomatic addresses at domestic prices, even if you are sending mail overseas. Notably, the Postal Service is the only delivery service that ships to APO, FPO and DPO addresses.

More tools and tips to help customers prepare for the busy holiday season can be found in the USPS Holiday Newsroom. 

Postal Products 

Customers may purchase, stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon

Skip the Trip and Ship Online 

Consumers don’t have to leave home to ship their packages. They can visit usps.com for available at-home shipping options. It’s estimated nearly 500,000 consumers will use the Click-N-Ship feature and other online services on Dec. 14 to order free Priority Mail boxes*, print shipping labels, purchase postage and request free next-day Package Pickup. Usps.com is always open. 

More tips for a successful holiday mailing and shipping season:

• Use free Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes. They are available at Post Office locations or online at usps.com/freeboxes. 
• Make it easy with the Click-N-Ship feature. You can create shipping labels and pay for postage online at usps.com/ship. 
• Schedule a free Package Pickup when the carrier delivers your mail. It’s free regardless of the number of packages. Pickups can be scheduled at usps.com/pickup. 

Mail and packages that weigh more than 10 ounces or are more than a half-inch thick and using stamps as postage cannot be dropped into a collection box or left for a carrier to pick up. Instead, take them to a local Post Office. 

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