Your package is in transit and you want to pick it up at the carrier's facility instead of waiting at home all day. Or maybe you're worried about porch theft and want to intercept the delivery. Either way — can you actually do this?
Yes. Most major carriers let you request a package intercept or hold for pickup before the delivery attempt. But there's a timing window and specific steps for each carrier.
Here's how to do it with USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL — including what to bring and when it's too late.
What It Means
Picking up a package before delivery means requesting the carrier to hold your package at their facility or a pickup point, rather than attempting delivery to your address.
This is different from:
- Picking up after a failed delivery — the carrier already tried and you're collecting it now
- Package redirection — changing the delivery address entirely (we cover this in our guide on whether a package can be redirected after shipping)
- Intercept service — canceling delivery and rerouting (this article is about proactively requesting a hold)
Why people want to pick up before delivery:
- Not home during delivery window
- Porch theft concerns
- Time-sensitive package needing same-day access
- Privacy reasons
- Living in a multi-unit building where packages get misdelivered (see what happens if an apartment number is missing)
Why It Happens
Why this isn't always easy:
Timing is critical. Once a package is loaded onto a delivery truck in the morning, it's nearly impossible to intercept until the truck returns at the end of the day.
The window varies by carrier:
- USPS: Must request before 2am on the delivery date
- UPS: Must request before the package is loaded onto the delivery vehicle (typically before 7am)
- FedEx: Must request through Delivery Manager before the package dispatches for delivery
- DHL: Must contact before loading onto route vehicle
Why some requests fail:
- Package is already on the truck
- The system isn't updated fast enough
- Regional facility differences
- Package is not yet in the carrier's system (if very recently shipped)
If a pre-delivery intercept fails, your next option is to pick it up after a failed delivery — which is where our guides on how long USPS holds packages, UPS hold times, and FedEx hold times become useful.
How Long It Lasts
Your window to request a pre-delivery hold:
USPS — Hold Mail / Package Intercept:
- Must request by 2am CT on the delivery date
- Once in transit, use Package Intercept (fee applies)
- Cost: $14.65 per package
UPS — Hold for Pickup / Will Call:
- Must request before the package is sorted for local delivery
- If already loaded onto truck: wait for failed delivery, then pick up
- No fee for basic hold requests via UPS My Choice
FedEx — Hold at FedEx Location:
- Request via FedEx Delivery Manager
- Must submit before package is dispatched for delivery
- No fee for pickup at FedEx location
DHL:
- Call customer service before package is out for delivery
- No online self-service; phone only
- Cost: Free if caught in time
All carriers: Once a package is out for delivery, you cannot intercept it that day.
Should You Be Concerned?
No — this is a routine service. All major carriers support it.
The key concerns are:
- Timing: Request early enough (night before ideally)
- Tracking lag: Tracking sometimes lags 4–8 hours, so the package may already be dispatched even if tracking doesn't show it
- Communication: Confirm your request was accepted before assuming it worked
Best approach: Set up carrier management apps (USPS Informed Delivery, UPS My Choice, FedEx Delivery Manager) ahead of time so you can make requests quickly when needed.
What You Can Do
USPS — How to hold for pickup:
- Visit USPS.com and sign in to Informed Delivery
- Go to your tracking page and click "Change Delivery Instructions"
- Select "Hold at Post Office"
- Confirm the hold request before 2am on the delivery date
Or call 1-800-275-8777 and request a hold.
UPS — How to hold for pickup:
- Sign up / log into UPS My Choice at ups.com
- Find your package in the dashboard
- Select "Change Delivery" → "Hold at Location"
- Choose the nearest UPS Access Point or Customer Center
- Confirm
Or call 1-800-742-5877 before 7am on delivery day.
FedEx — How to hold for pickup:
- Go to FedEx Delivery Manager (fedex.com)
- Find your incoming package
- Select "Hold at FedEx Location"
- Choose your preferred FedEx Office or Walgreens pickup
- Confirm the request
Or call 1-800-463-3339.
DHL — How to hold for pickup:
- Call DHL customer service: 1-800-225-5345
- Provide your tracking number
- Request hold at DHL ServicePoint or facility
- Confirm the hold location and hours
When you pick up, bring:
- Photo ID (see our complete guide on what ID is required to pick up a package)
- Tracking number or order confirmation
- If someone else is collecting on your behalf, see whether someone else can pick up your package
When to Contact the Carrier
Contact the carrier if:
- You want to request a hold and can't do it online
- You want to confirm your hold request was processed
- The package is already in your carrier's network and you need to request urgently
Carrier contacts:
- USPS: 1-800-275-8777
- UPS: 1-800-742-5877
- FedEx: 1-800-463-3339
- DHL: 1-800-225-5345
Related guides: