When USPS Tracking changes its status to “Out for Delivery,” we know it won’t be long until that parcel is in our hands.
After all, the United States Postal Service is out there six days a week, hustling through all kinds of weather to deliver our mailpieces.
But what if your USPS Out for Delivery package never came? Should you start panicking? I have the reason why you shouldn’t – and when you should. Keep going!
What Does It Mean If USPS Out For Delivery Never Came?
When a USPS order is out for delivery but never comes, this is typically caused when a postal worker is unable to deliver all the packages on board their truck on that given day. Customers should otherwise wait an additional business day and then take other measures if the package does not arrive during that time.
For more on some of the most common reasons an Out for Delivery package never arrived, how late is too late for delivery, what the most common delivery time is after a package is marked Out for Delivery, and more, find all the details below!
What Should You Do If USPS Says Out For Delivery But There’s No Package?
Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons USPS Tracking says “Out for Delivery,” but your package (seemingly) never arrived, and what you should do in each instance.
It Just Hasn’t Arrived Yet
Did you know that mail can be delivered as late as 10 p.m.?
Yes, the Postal Service attempts to get mail into your hands between its business hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., but things do not always go according to plan.
Factors like the weather, major traffic incidents, a particularly busy holiday season, and even a new, inexperienced mail carrier can affect delivery time.
If it’s five p.m. and you’re starting to get worried, don’t give in to panic. Keep an eye on your front door until as late as 8, 9, or 10 p.m.
If you have security cameras, this would also be a good time to review them to see if you missed the delivery (and perhaps someone stole it).
It Was Undeliverable
Before you head to bed for the night, check the USPS Tracking again. Has it been updated? Does it give you any additional info – like that the package was undeliverable?
Perhaps your dog wasn’t contained as well as he ought to have been. Maybe you just had a big snowfall, and your walkway was impassible.
If that’s the case, the Postal Service will try again tomorrow.
In the meantime, you can do your part to ensure that your property is safe for the mail carrier.
It Was Stolen
The worst possible scenario is that you check the tracking after it was Out for Delivery all day and find that it has updated to “Delivered” – but there’s no parcel.
Then you check your security cameras – and you catch a porch pirate in action.
As bad as that is, at least you have video proof that you can take to your Post Office (and to the sender, who is actually the one responsible for reimbursing you).
Here’s a good guide for what to do if your Out for Delivery package is stolen.
How Late Can a USPS Package Be Delivered?
It doesn’t happen terribly often, but in times of crisis, your Postal Service mail carrier might not get your package to you until 10 p.m.
Normal business hours are between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., but where there are humans, there is always room for human error.
Ultimately, don’t get too worried if your Out for Delivery parcel doesn’t show up until later than 5 p.m., even as late as 10 p.m.
When Will a USPS Out For Delivery Package Arrive?
The general rule of thumb is that when a parcel is marked Out for Delivery on USPS Tracking, it will be delivered that day.
If it is not delivered that day, it will often be delivered the following day at the latest.
One thing I have noticed is that my parcels and my letter mail don’t always arrive at the same time.
For example, my letter mail arrives around 11:30 a.m., but sometimes the parcels don’t appear until a few hours later.
My guess is that some postal carriers do all the letter mail and small packages first, then work on the fewer larger packages.
So don’t worry if your package still says Out for Delivery, but you have received your usual letter mail already. Give it a few hours, at least!
To know more about USPS, you can also see our posts on USPS delivered to the wrong address, USPS delivery instructions, and if USPS delivers on Saturdays.