If you ship with USPS, you don't need to drive to the Post Office. USPS has a free service called Package Pickup: the carrier collects your prepaid packages from your home or business on their normal route. There's no fee, no matter how many packages you have.
Who qualifies
- Services: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, returns, and some international services. First-Class Mail can go too, but only together with one of those.
- Postage: it must already be paid. Labels bought online, through an app like Muvo, count.
- Size: each package up to 70 lb and 130 inches in length plus girth.
- Address: most addresses qualify, but not all. USPS checks your address when you book.
When to book
You can book, change or cancel a free pickup Monday to Saturday until 2:00 AM Central Time on the pickup day. The carrier comes on the next delivery day, at any time during their route, so free pickups don't come with a set time. You can also book up to six months ahead, or set a pickup that repeats.
If you need a set time, USPS also sells Pickup on Demand: you pick a two-hour window and pay a fee per trip. Most sellers don't need it.
Where to leave the packages
You don't have to be there. Tell USPS where the packages will be: front door, back door, side door, mailbox, porch, mail room or reception. Pick a safe, dry spot the carrier can reach. Carriers can skip a pickup if the spot isn't safe to reach (ice, a blocked path, a loose dog).
How to book it
- On usps.com: sign in, open Schedule a Pickup, enter your address, the number of packages and their total weight, and where they'll be.
- In your shipping app: apps that buy USPS labels can usually book the pickup for you.
Make it automatic with Muvo
Muvo books the free USPS pickup when you close the day. At your cutoff time, or when you press Done for today, Muvo makes the day's scan form and books the pickup for the next delivery day with the package count and weight already filled in. You can also schedule one yourself from the Pickups page, pick the day, and choose which labels go.
If USPS can't book a pickup for your address, Muvo shows the reason and links straight to usps.com with the details ready.
Source: USPS, What is Package Pickup. USPS rules can change, so check usps.com before you rely on a detail.