USPS announces updated service standards for mail and packages

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C., (KBSI) — The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced updates to its national service standards for multiple mail and package categories as part of its Delivering for America 10-Year Plan. The changes are designed to improve reliability, streamline operations, and strengthen financial sustainability while maintaining most existing delivery timelines.

USPS said that service standards are being refined for First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Marketing Mail, Package Services (Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, Library Mail), USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express.

Under the new plan, most mail and packages will retain their current delivery standards, while some will see either slightly faster or slower delivery expectations.

The First-Class Mail standard remains at 1–5 days.

The Priority Mail Express standard is now 1-, 2-, or 3-day service, depending on distance.

Delivery expectations for Marketing Mail, Periodicals, and Package Services will be shortened.

USPS Ground Advantage will continue to have a 2–5-day delivery window.

USPS emphasized that these refinements aim to make mail delivery more predictable and reliable, while enabling the Postal Service to operate more efficiently.

The agency projects the refined standards will yield $36 billion in savings over 10 years through reduced transportation, processing, and facility costs.

USPS has already achieved $2.2 billion in annual transportation cost reductions by optimizing air and surface routes.

Productivity improvements and facility consolidation have reduced work hours by 50 million, saving $2.5 billion annually.

The agency has also increased annual revenue by $3.5 billion through modernized product offerings.

More than 80% of Market Dominant mail volume will remain unchanged. For rural customers, USPS said individual impacts will be minimal, and in many cases, delivery times will improve. Delivery frequency—six or sometimes seven days per week—will not change, nor will Post Office hours or carrier pickup schedules.

Delivery times are now based on 5-digit ZIP code pairs rather than 3-digit zones, allowing for more precise delivery estimates. Customers can view expected delivery times by visiting the Service Commitments page at usps.com, which now accounts for Sundays and holidays being excluded from transit day calculations.

Implementation of the new standards is occurring in two phases:

Phase 1: Began April 1, 2025

Phase 2: Begins July 1, 2025

Improved reliability: USPS aims to deliver 75% of First-Class Mail under the same standard, upgrade 14% to faster service, and slightly slow 11%, keeping all within the 1–5-day window.

Operational efficiency: Earlier dispatch times and streamlined logistics will increase throughput and reduce delays.

Transparency: New measurement systems at the 5-digit ZIP code level will allow customers to track performance with greater accuracy.

Expanded regional service: Two- and three-day turnaround service will now be available across entire Regional Processing and Delivery Center (RPDC) areas.

The U.S. Postal Service is an independent federal establishment mandated to be self-financing, serving 169 million addresses six—and often seven—days a week. USPS receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, relying instead on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund its operations.

For more information and to access interactive maps or downloadable data on updated delivery standards, visit Service Standards | USPS
or USPS | PostalPro.