You can change a package address through USPS Informed Delivery or by contacting USPS directly, but only before the package reaches your local delivery facility

USPS allows you to redirect a package to a different address, but the window to do it is narrow. Once your package enters your local post office's delivery system — usually the day before or morning of delivery — you cannot change the address through the online system. The earlier you catch the mistake, the better your options.

The fastest method is through USPS Informed Delivery, a free service that shows you incoming mail and packages. If you have an account and the package is still in transit, you can request a redirect directly from the notification email or the Informed Delivery dashboard. If you do not have Informed Delivery set up, or if the package is already at your local facility, you will need to call USPS or visit your post office in person.

Key Takeaways

  • USPS Informed Delivery is the easiest way to change an address if you catch the package before it reaches your local post office.
  • Once a package arrives at your local delivery facility, you must contact your post office directly by phone or in person to request a redirect.
  • Address changes work best when requested at least one business day before the scheduled delivery date.
  • USPS will redirect the package to the new address, but there is no may provide it will arrive on the original delivery date.
  • If the package has already been delivered to the wrong address, you will need to contact the sender or retrieve it from the recipient.

Using USPS Informed Delivery to redirect your package

Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery at informeddelivery.usps.com if you do not already have an account. You will need your address and a valid email. Once you are enrolled, USPS sends you daily notifications about incoming mail and packages, usually one to two days before they arrive.

When you receive a notification for the package you want to redirect, open the email or log into your Informed Delivery account. Click on the package and select the option to change delivery. You will be asked to enter the new address. USPS will show you whether the redirect is possible — if the package is still in the network, the system will allow it. If the package has already reached your local post office, the system will tell you that you cannot redirect it online and will direct you to call or visit in person.

The redirect request is free, and USPS will attempt to deliver to the new address. However, there is no may provide the package will arrive on the original delivery date. Redirects can add one to three business days to delivery time.

Calling USPS to change the address after it reaches your local post office

If Informed Delivery shows that you cannot redirect the package online, or if you do not have an Informed Delivery account, call USPS Customer Service at 1-800-275-8777. Have your tracking number ready. The representative will look up your package and tell you whether it can still be redirected.

If the package is still in transit to your local facility, the representative can process the redirect over the phone. If it has already arrived at your post office, they may be able to hold it for pickup or redirect it, depending on how close it is to delivery time. Ask the representative what your options are — some post offices can intercept packages on the delivery truck if you call early enough in the morning.

USPS does not charge a fee for redirects, but you will need to provide the tracking number and the correct new address. Make sure the address you give is complete and accurate, including apartment or unit numbers.

Visiting your post office in person to stop or redirect a package

If you need to change the address and cannot reach USPS by phone, go to your local post office with your tracking number. Bring a form of identification. Tell the clerk that you need to redirect a package and provide the tracking number.

The clerk can check whether the package is still in the facility or has already left for delivery. If it is there, they can attempt to redirect it or hold it for you to pick up. If it has already left the post office, the clerk may be able to radio the delivery driver, but this only works if you arrive before the driver has finished the route.

Going in person is most effective early in the morning, before packages leave the facility for delivery. Afternoon visits are less likely to result in a redirect, since most packages have already been loaded onto delivery trucks.

What happens if the package was already delivered to the wrong address

If the package has already been delivered and you missed the window to redirect it, you have two options: contact the sender to request a replacement or intercept the package at the wrong address.

If you contact the sender (the person or business who shipped it), explain that it was delivered to the wrong address and ask them to file a claim with USPS or send a replacement. Many sellers will reship at no cost if the error was theirs. If the error was yours — you gave them the wrong address — they may ask you to retrieve the package from the recipient or charge you for reshipping.

If you know who received the package, you can try to retrieve it from them directly. If the package went to a neighbor or another address in your building, they may be willing to return it. If it went to a stranger's address, contact USPS to report the misdelivery — they can attempt to recover it, though success is not may provide.

How to prevent address mistakes before they happen

The best way to handle a wrong address is to catch it before you place the order. Double-check your address in the checkout field before you submit payment. Many shipping errors happen because an old address is saved in your account or browser.

If you are expecting a package and have not yet received a tracking number, log into your account with the sender and verify the address is correct. Some sellers allow you to change the address before the package ships, which is faster and more reliable than redirecting after the fact.

For packages you order regularly, update your default address in your account settings. This prevents you from having to correct it each time and reduces the chance of a typo during checkout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the address if the package is out for delivery today?

Possibly, but it depends on timing. Call USPS at 1-800-275-8777 as early as possible in the morning. If the package has not yet left your local post office, they may be able to redirect it. If it is already on the delivery truck, the post office can sometimes radio the driver, but this only works if you call before the driver reaches your area.

Does USPS charge a fee to redirect a package?

No. USPS redirects are free whether you request them through Informed Delivery, by phone, or in person. You only pay if you ask the post office to hold the package for an extended period or if you request special handling.

How long does it take for a redirected package to arrive?

A redirect usually adds one to three business days to delivery time. The package has to be sorted again at the distribution center and routed to the new address. USPS does not may provide a specific delivery date for redirected packages.

What if I do not have a tracking number?

If you do not have a tracking number, you can look it up through Informed Delivery if you are enrolled. If the sender has not given you a tracking number, contact them and ask for it. Without a tracking number, USPS cannot locate your package.

Can I redirect a package to someone else's address?

Yes. You can redirect a package to any address, including someone else's home or a business address. The new address must be complete and accurate. USPS will deliver to the new address regardless of whose name is on the package.