You can change a USPS delivery address, but only if the mail hasn't been delivered yet

USPS lets you redirect mail to a different address through a service called USPS Informed Delivery or by filing a change-of-address order. The catch: you must act before the mail carrier delivers the piece. Once it's in your mailbox or marked delivered, the post office cannot intercept it. If you catch it in time, you have two main routes — the free Informed Delivery method for individual pieces, or a formal address change if you're moving.

The speed matters. If a package is already out for delivery today, you have a narrow window — usually a few hours in the morning before your carrier leaves the post office. If it's still in transit between facilities, you have more time. Calling your local post office directly is the fastest way to know where your mail is and whether it can still be stopped.

Key Takeaways

  • USPS Informed Delivery lets you redirect a single piece of mail to a new address at no cost, but only before it reaches your mailbox.
  • Calling your local post office is faster than using the website if you need to stop a package that's out for delivery today.
  • A formal change-of-address order redirects all your mail for 12 months and costs $1.10 online, but takes a few days to set up.
  • Once mail is marked delivered or placed in your mailbox, USPS cannot retrieve it, even if you contact them when ready after.
  • For packages from retailers, contacting the sender directly is often faster than working through USPS if the package hasn't shipped yet.

Stopping a single piece of mail through Informed Delivery

If you have a USPS Informed Delivery account, you can see images of mail coming to your address the day before it arrives. When you spot something you don't want delivered there, click "Manage Delivery" on that piece and select "Hold at Post Office" or "Redirect to Another Address." You'll be asked to confirm the new address and your identity. USPS will attempt to intercept the mail before your carrier delivers it.

This works best for mail that's still one or two days away. If the mail is already out for delivery, the system may tell you it's too late. In that case, call your local post office directly — the carrier may not have left yet, and a phone call can sometimes stop a piece that the website says is unstoppable. Have your address and the piece of mail description ready when you call.

Informed Delivery is free and requires only an online USPS account. You can set it up at usps.com if you don't have one already. The account also shows you tracking for packages and lets you schedule package delivery holds.

Calling your post office to stop mail before delivery

Your local post office can often stop mail or packages before they go out for delivery, but only if you call early in the day — usually before 9 or 10 a.m., depending on when your carrier leaves the facility. Find your post office number on usps.com by entering your ZIP code, or call 1-800-275-8777 and ask to be transferred to your local branch.

When you call, have your address, the sender's name or return address, and the expected delivery date ready. Tell the clerk you want to redirect the mail or hold it at the post office. They can check whether the mail is still there and either redirect it or set it aside for you to pick up. If the mail has already left the facility with the carrier, they'll tell you it's too late.

This method is faster than the website if you're in a hurry, because you get an answer in minutes rather than waiting for the system to process a request. It also works for mail that hasn't arrived yet but is already in the post office system.

Filing a change-of-address order for all your mail

If you're moving or want all future mail sent to a different address, file a change-of-address order at usps.com. The cost is $1.10 if you do it online, or $1.10 in person at a post office. You'll need your current address, the new address, and a valid ID. You can choose an effective date up to 30 days in the future.

The order takes three to five business days to set up in the USPS system. During that time, mail sent to your old address will still arrive there. Once it's active, USPS will forward mail addressed to your old address to your new one for 12 months. Packages and first-class mail are forwarded automatically. Standard mail (bulk mail, magazines, advertisements) may not be forwarded, depending on how the sender addressed it.

A change-of-address order does not stop mail that's already been delivered or is out for delivery. It only affects mail that arrives after the order activates. If you have a specific piece you need to stop before then, use Informed Delivery or call your post office.

What to do if the mail has already been delivered

Once mail is in your mailbox or marked as delivered, USPS cannot retrieve it. The mail is no longer in their custody. If you need to stop a piece that's already been delivered, your options depend on what it is. For packages, contact the sender or retailer and ask them to issue a refund or reroute the next shipment. For mail from a company or organization, contact them directly and ask them to update your address in their system.

If the mail is a check or important document, you can write "Return to Sender" on it and put it back in your mailbox with the flag up. The carrier will return it to the sender, though this can take a week or more. This method works for some mail but not all — some senders ignore returned mail.

Redirecting packages from online retailers before they ship

If you ordered something online and realize the address is wrong before it ships, contact the retailer's customer service when ready. Most retailers can change the delivery address if the order hasn't been handed off to the carrier yet. Amazon, for example, lets you change the address in your account settings up until the package is picked up by the carrier. Other retailers may require you to call or email.

Once the retailer has given the package to USPS or another carrier, you'll need to use the carrier's tools to redirect it. For USPS, that means Informed Delivery or calling your post office. For UPS or FedEx, you can log into their tracking pages and request a delivery change. Acting fast — within hours of placing the order — gives you the best chance of catching it before it ships.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the address on a package that's already out for delivery?

Only if you call your post office before your carrier leaves the facility, usually by mid-morning. Once the carrier is on the route, it's too late. If the package is with UPS or FedEx instead of USPS, check their tracking page — they sometimes allow delivery address changes even on the day of delivery, but it depends on how far along the package is.

What happens if I put "Return to Sender" on mail that's already been delivered?

The carrier will pick it up on the next delivery day and send it back to the sender. This can take one to two weeks. It works for most first-class mail but not for packages or mail marked "Address Service Requested," which the sender may ignore.

Does a change-of-address order stop mail that's already in the mail stream?

No. Mail that's already been processed and is on its way to your old address will still arrive there. A change-of-address order only affects mail that arrives after the order activates, which takes three to five business days. For urgent pieces, use Informed Delivery or call your post office.

Can I redirect mail to someone else's address?

Through Informed Delivery or by calling your post office, you can redirect a single piece to a different address. For a permanent change-of-address order, USPS requires the new address to be your own or a business address you control. You cannot file a change-of-address to send all your mail to someone else's home.

Is there a fee to redirect mail through Informed Delivery?

No. Redirecting individual pieces through Informed Delivery is free. A formal change-of-address order costs $1.10 online. Calling your post office to hold or redirect mail is also free.