Predicting USPS in-home delivery dates

Multiple times daily, we get asked, “When do you need files, so our mail piece can be in mailboxes by 'such and such' date?”

The short answer — no direct mail company can project or promise in-home dates, including Holland Litho. The graphics below show the Delivery Standards for First Class and Marketing Mail, provided by the USPS.

What we can tell you is how long we need for proofing and production and mailing to drop by a specific date at the Post Office. From that point we can help you pick the drop date based on the delivery standards below. Covid adds a twist: this year, actual deliveries have been taking longer in some cases. You can also expect delays around the holidays and the election.

We analyzed the delivery times for one non-profit's periodical that we printed and mailed. 10,000 pieces of a 20,000 mailing were delivered within eight days, some of the rest took a lot longer. This is a periodical mailing that is prioritized right behind First Class and ahead of Marketing/Standard/Non-Profit postage.

There has been some improvement in the past few weeks, but not back to where it was yet. For these reasons, we have been recommending to many of our clients that they consider using First Class if your deadline is crucial. Election season and the holidays are also times when all mailing slows down due to the sheer volume of mail going through the USPS.

Below are the Delivery Standards for First Class and Marketing/Standard/Non-Profit Mail.

According to the Urban Dictionary, "hauling the mail" is a phrase used to define a vehicle, human, or other object moving at an incredible rate, faster then the object would typically move. Rest assured we are doing everything we can to keep this true.