What Is the Busiest Sending Day of the Year for the U.S. Post Office?

Despite the constant admonitions to send presents early, the U.S. Postal Service says most Americans wait until less than two weeks remain before Christmas to get their packages in the mail. The high volume of mail during the Christmas holiday season makes it the busiest time for mail processors and carriers.

Date

Dec. 14 is traditionally the heaviest mailing day of the year, according to the U.S. Postal Service. Depending on what day that falls, that leaves about seven or eight days for mail to arrive in time for Christmas.

Volume

In 2009, the Postal Service said it expected to process at least 830 million pieces of mail on Dec. 14, which fell on a Monday.

Percentage

Historically, on Dec. 14 the Postal Service sees a 40 percent increase in the daily volume of mail it handles, according to a statement released by the Postal Service in December 2009 titled "It's the Busiest Day of the Year."

Methods

Many customers send their packages and cards without setting foot in a post office. In 2009, the Postal Service said, it expected 41 million people to use the Internet to send their mail from their homes or offices.

Delivery Times

The hundreds of millions of customers who send Christmas mail on Dec. 14 can still use parcel post, which generally will have all mail sent by Dec. 16 delivered by Dec. 24. After Dec. 16, customers have to pay higher rates for first class, priority or express service to make sure their presents are delivered by Christmas.

References

• U.S. Postal Service