How to Calculate USPS Postage Time

You can estimate how long it takes the U.S. Postal Service to deliver a letter.

If you mail an item for personal or business purposes, you want to make sure it gets to its destination on time. However, once you drop your letter or package off at a United States Postal Service office for delivery to a recipient, time is generally out of your control. You can choose expedited shipping methods, but even those more expensive options can have a bit of unpredictability. Nevertheless, if you need to calculate postage time, the USPS does provide a tool to assist you in that regard.

Instructions

1. Navigate to the USPS's "Postage Price Calculator" Web page (or see the link in Resources below).

2. Fill out and make selections in all four sections. Click "Continue" in the bottom right corner of the Web page.

3. Look in the "Expected Delivery" column to find the postage time.

Tips & Warnings

• Mail the letter or package via a service that offers tracking and delivery confirmation. Use the USPS's "Track and Confirm" link in Resources below to learn about these options.

References

• USPS: Frequently Asked Questions -- Domestic Mail Estimted Delivery Times
• USPS: A Customer's Guide to Mailing -- Choosing a Service For Mailing

Resources

• USPS: Postage Price Calculator
• USPS: Track & Confirm
• USPS: A Customer's Guide to Mailing