How to Change the Address on a USPS Package in Transit

You cannot change the address on a package that is already in the mail

Once USPS accepts your package at the post office or picks it up from your home, the address is locked in. You cannot call USPS and have them reroute it to a different street address or city. The carrier will deliver to the address on the label, period.

What you can do depends on whether the package has already been delivered. If it has not yet arrived, you have two real options: intercept it before delivery, or refuse it and have it returned so you can send it again with the correct address.

Key Takeaways

USPS cannot change an address once the package is in transit; the carrier will deliver to the label address only.
If the package has not been delivered, you can use USPS Informed Delivery to request a return to sender or intercept it at the delivery facility.
Interception works only if you contact USPS within one business day of mailing and the package has not yet left the local facility.
If the package has already been delivered to the wrong address, you will need to contact the recipient or retrieve it yourself.
To prevent this problem, double-check the address before you pay for postage and use tracking to monitor the package's progress.

How to intercept a package before delivery

USPS offers a service called Package Intercept that stops a package at the delivery facility and returns it to the sender. This works only if you act fast — you must request it within one business day of mailing, and the package must not have already left the local post office for delivery.

To request an intercept, go to USPS.com and sign into your Informed Delivery account. Find the package in your tracking list, click on it, and look for the option to "Intercept Package" or "Return to Sender." You will need the tracking number. USPS charges a fee for this service, usually around $15 to $20, and the money is refunded to your original payment method if the intercept succeeds.

If the intercept fails because the package has already left the facility or been delivered, USPS will tell you so. In that case, you will be charged the fee and the package will continue to its original address.

What to do if the package has already been delivered

If the package arrived at the wrong address, you have two paths. The first is to contact the person who received it and ask them to return it to you or refuse delivery so it comes back. This works best if the address is close to yours and the recipient is willing to help.

The second is to file a claim with USPS for a misdelivered package. Go to USPS.com, find the tracking number, and select "File a Claim." You will need to describe what happened and provide proof of the correct address. USPS will investigate, but this process can take weeks and does not always result in recovery of the package.

If the package contains something valuable or time-sensitive, contact the sender (the person or business who mailed it) and ask them to file a claim on your behalf. They have more standing with USPS than you do as the intended recipient.

How to prevent address mistakes before you mail

The easiest fix is to avoid the problem. Before you hand a package to USPS or put it in the mailbox, read the address label out loud and compare it to what you wrote down or what the sender gave you. Check the ZIP code especially — a wrong ZIP code is the most common reason a package goes to the wrong place.

If you are mailing something yourself, use USPS.com to look up the correct address and ZIP code. Type in the street address and city, and USPS will show you the format it recognizes. Copy that exactly onto your label.

Once the package is in the mail, turn on tracking notifications in your Informed Delivery account so you know the moment it is out for delivery. This gives you a window to spot a problem and request an intercept if needed.

Using Informed Delivery to monitor your package

USPS Informed Delivery is a free service that shows you what mail and packages are coming to your address. You sign up at USPS.com with your address and email. Each morning, you get an email showing what is scheduled to arrive that day, including tracking numbers for packages.

If you see a package arriving at your address that should not be there, you can refuse delivery when the carrier arrives. Write "Return to Sender" on the package and hand it back. The carrier will take it and it will go back to the sender at no cost to you.

Informed Delivery also lets you see if a package you sent is on track. If you notice it is going to the wrong address, you have until the end of that business day to request an intercept.

When the sender mailed it to the wrong address

If someone else mailed the package and used your address incorrectly, contact them first. They may be able to request an intercept on their end, or they may be willing to send a replacement to the correct address.

If the sender is unresponsive or the package has already been delivered, you can still file a claim with USPS, but you will need to prove you are the intended recipient. Have the sender provide a receipt or order confirmation showing your correct address. USPS will use that to investigate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can USPS change the address on my package while it is in transit?

No. USPS delivers to the address printed on the label only. Once the package is accepted into the mail system, the address cannot be changed. Your only option is to intercept it before delivery or refuse it when it arrives.

How much does it cost to intercept a package?

USPS charges around $15 to $20 for Package Intercept, depending on the service type. The fee is refunded if the intercept fails. You pay at the time you request the intercept on USPS.com.

What if I request an intercept but the package has already left the facility?

USPS will tell you the intercept cannot be completed, and you will be charged the fee. The package will continue to the original address. At that point, your options are to contact the recipient or file a claim for misdelivery.

How long does it take to get a package back after I refuse delivery?

Once you refuse a package and hand it back to the carrier, it typically takes five to ten business days to return to the sender, depending on distance and mail volume. The sender will receive it and can then send it to the correct address.

Can I change the address on a package I am receiving?

Not after it is mailed. If you know the package is coming to the wrong address, contact the sender and ask them to request an intercept. If it has already been delivered, you can refuse it or retrieve it from the recipient and have the sender mail it again to your correct address.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.