How Does USPS Tracking Work?
Most domestic USPS services allow senders, recipients or anyone with a tracking number to learn a package’s whereabouts at any point in the delivery process, except for First-Class Mail service. But how exactly does USPS tracking work?
USPS Tracking provides end-to-end tracking for most domestic mail items except First-Class Mail envelopes and postcards (however, you can purchase tracking as an extra service for First-Class Mail items). This service is available for shipments addressed to U.S. locations, including select Army Post Offices (APOs), Fleet Post Offices (FPOs), and Diplomatic Post Offices (DPOs), as well as ZIP codes in U.S. territories, possessions, and freely associated states.
When you enter a shipment’s tracking number on the USPS Tracking page, you can view its current status along with detailed tracking updates. These include delivery or attempted delivery information, such as the delivery date, time, and location (e.g., mailbox, front desk, or neighbor).
Please note that USPS Tracking does not speed up or guarantee delivery. There is no additional charge for most products that include tracking because the service is included in the standard retail postage. USPS Tracking is automatically activated when you pay for postage at a post office or purchase a USPS shipping label online. Your package’s tracking number is located under the barcode on the shipping label. If you pay for postage at a post office, keep your receipt because it contains tracking information.
But how exactly does USPS shipping work? All trackable mail items have a shipping label with a barcode that is scanned multiple times as packages move through the mail system, whether handled by USPS directly or by one of its shipping partners.
A package becomes trackable as soon as the sender or USPS’s shipping partner alerts USPS electronically that the package is on the way. Tracking continues once USPS accepts the package and ends when it is delivered or picked up by the recipient or their authorized agent. The tracking number provides access to the latest available tracking information at every stage of delivery and is updated throughout the day as new scans are recorded and processed.
There are several ways to access USPS tracking information:
- Online, either by using the tracking tool on the USPS website or by entering your tracking number in any search box on the USPS website.
- By sending a text with your tracking number to 28777 (2USPS).
- By using the USPS mobile app, which is available for iPhones and Android devices.
- By calling 1-800-222-1811 (Monday – Friday 8 AM – 8:30 PM ET, Saturday 8 AM – 6 PM ET).
You can also receive automatic tracking notifications by text or email. To check if this option is available for your shipment, enter the tracking number on the tracking page of the USPS website. If you see a “Text & Email Upates” section, click it and follow the directions. You will receive email or text updates for two weeks after your request.
You can also track your package using a third-party tracking service. These services retrieve shipping updates from multiple carriers’ systems and compile them on one centralized platform. They usually do this through APIs or data-sharing agreements. These services don’t replace the carrier’s tracking system because carriers still handle scanning and status updates. However, they make it easier to track multiple packages delivered by different shipping carriers. For example, with PostageMaker, customers can purchase discounted USPS and UPS shipping labels and then track their shipments using their PostageMaker account, regardless of which carrier they’ve chosen.