How Long Will UPS Hold a Package?

UPS holds packages in two main places:

1. UPS Customer Center (UPS facility) The actual UPS sorting and distribution facility. Packages here are held for business reasons: address issues, failed deliveries, customs.

2. UPS Access Point A retail location (CVS, Michaels, Advance Auto Parts, etc.) that UPS partners with for package pickup. Packages here were either sent directly to the Access Point or redirected after a failed delivery.

Hold periods:

| Hold Location | Hold Period | |---|---| | UPS Customer Center | 5 business days | | UPS Access Point | 7 calendar days | | UPS My Choice redirect | 7 calendar days | | Undeliverable (address issue) | 5 business days |

Important: Business days exclude weekends. A package held at a UPS Customer Center from Monday has until the following Monday (5 business days).

Note that if your package was held due to an address problem rather than a missed delivery, see our article on why tracking says address issue — the resolution steps are different.

Why UPS holds packages instead of delivering:

1. Missed delivery — signature required High-value shipments, adult signature required items, and some commercial deliveries need a signature. No one home = package returned to facility.

2. Package redirected to Access Point If you use UPS My Choice or the delivery driver decides it's safer, the package goes to a nearby Access Point instead of your door.

3. Address issue Address errors — like a wrong house number or missing apartment number — cause UPS to hold the package at their facility while investigating.

4. Three failed delivery attempts UPS typically makes up to 3 delivery attempts. After the third failure, the package is held at a UPS facility and you're notified to pick up.

5. Customer requested hold You requested UPS to hold the package via UPS My Choice app or by calling.

The critical numbers:

• UPS Customer Center: 5 business days
• UPS Access Point: 7 calendar days

After 3 failed delivery attempts: UPS holds the package at a Customer Center for 5 business days. After that, return to sender.

After redirecting to Access Point: You have 7 calendar days. UPS sends you an email/SMS when the package arrives. The 7-day countdown starts from arrival, not from the delivery attempt.

Can you extend? Yes — call UPS (1-800-742-5877) or use UPS My Choice to request an extension. Extensions are typically granted for 1–5 additional days.

Priority shipments (UPS Next Day Air, etc.) may have shorter windows. Check your tracking for specific hold expiration dates.

Moderately. UPS's windows are shorter than USPS's.

Five business days at a Customer Center sounds like a lot, but in practice it's often just 5 working days — not calendar days. A package held from Friday might expire the following Friday.

Be concerned if:

• You're notified on a Friday (weekend doesn't count for Customer Center holds)
• The package is at an Access Point and you're traveling
• The hold is due to an address issue that requires correction

You're fine if:

• You can get to the Access Point or Customer Center within 3–4 days
• You have a UPS My Choice account set up for easy management

Option 1: Pick up at UPS Access Point

Bring:

• Your tracking number (printed or on your phone)
• Government-issued photo ID matching the delivery name
• For rules on ID requirements, see our guide on what ID is required to pick up a package

Access Points are often open longer than UPS Customer Centers — many are 7 days a week.

Option 2: Pick up at UPS Customer Center

Bring:

• Photo ID and tracking number
• If someone else is collecting, read our article on whether someone else can pick up your package

Customer Centers are typically open Mon–Fri 8am–7pm, Sat 8am–4pm.

Option 3: Request redelivery

Use UPS My Choice (free account) to:

• Reschedule delivery for a specific date
• Redirect to a neighbor or Access Point
• Authorize release without signature

Option 4: Redirect the package

If you can't get to the pickup location in time, you can redirect the package mid-hold to a different address. Note that redirecting after shipment may incur a fee — our guide on whether a package can be redirected after shipping covers this in detail.

Option 5: Call UPS to extend the hold

Call 1-800-742-5877 and explain your situation. Extensions of 1–5 days are commonly granted.

Contact UPS if:

• You need to extend the hold period
• Your package is about to expire (within 1–2 days of cutoff)
• You want to redirect the package while it's held
• Tracking shows a hold but doesn't specify where

UPS contact: 1-800-742-5877

UPS My Choice (recommended): Set up a free account at ups.com/mychoice for complete control over delivery options.

Related guides:

• How long will USPS hold a package?
• How long will FedEx hold a package?
• Can I pick up a package before delivery?
• What ID is required to pick up a package?