Weekend & Holiday Shipping: Why “Next Day” Changes (and How to Plan)

Reality check: weekends and holidays don’t care about your payroll run.

But you can still plan like a pro—especially when you need fast checks on a tight timeline.

The short answer (save this)

• If you order on a weekend or a legal holiday, plan on processing starting the next business day.
• If you order on a business day, the cutoff time decides whether it can ship that day.
• Carrier holiday schedules can change pickups and deliveries, even with express service.

What changes on weekends and legal holidays

Here’s the key set of rules in one place: the standard cutoff is 2:00 PM Eastern, orders placed by 2:00 PM ET (Mon–Fri) are set up to ship the same day for next-day arrival, orders placed 2:00–5:00 PM ET (Mon–Thu) can still arrive next day with a $25 upcharge, and orders placed on Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays (or after the cutoff) are processed on the next business day.

That’s the planning anchor.

Why weekends and holidays shift the timeline

Two clocks are running:

• Production timing (when your order can be processed)
• Carrier movement (when the truck, plane, or network can move it)

On some holidays, carriers may run modified schedules (or close parts of their network), which can push movement to the next operating day. 2026 FedEx holiday operations schedule (PDF)

What counts as a “holiday” for planning

If you want a simple, dependable list, use the federal holiday calendar (including “observed” dates when a holiday lands on a weekend). OPM federal holidays list

You don’t need to memorize it.

Just check it when you’re ordering close to a long weekend.

What carriers typically do on holidays

USPS publishes a holiday schedule that covers Post Office closings and delivery changes, and it notes that Priority Mail Express deliveries can be limited to certain locations on some holiday dates (often with an extra fee). USPS holiday schedule

Bottom line: if a holiday is on the calendar, build a buffer.

A simple way to avoid surprises

Use this quick workflow:

1. Look at the date first. If it’s a weekend or holiday, plan for next-business-day processing.
2. Then look at the time. If it’s a business day, the cutoff time decides how fast things can move.
3. Keep your order clean. Confirm your address and contact info so nothing slows down approval or shipping.

What you should expect from shipping promises

When you order online, sellers are expected to ship within the timeframe they advertise (or within 30 days if they don’t give a timeframe), and they should notify you if there’s a delay and give you options. FTC guidance on the Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule

That’s why planning around cutoffs, weekends, and holidays matters.

FAQ

1) If I order checks on Saturday or Sunday, will they ship the same day?

Plan for your order to move into processing on the next business day. The safest approach is to treat weekends like a queue: place the order, then expect action to start when business-day processing resumes.

2) What happens if I order on a legal holiday?

Treat legal holidays the same way you treat weekends: plan for processing to start on the next business day. If you’re ordering near a holiday weekend, it helps to place the order earlier than you normally would.

3) Does the cutoff time still matter during holiday weeks?

Yes. Holiday weeks compress your available processing time, so the cutoff matters even more on the business days around the holiday. Ordering earlier in the day gives you more room for any quick confirmations.

4) Is there a cheaper shipping option than next-day express?

If you don’t need everything tomorrow, look for options that split speed and cost. A common money-saver is getting a small quantity fast, while the rest follows later.

5) Can I get some checks next day and the rest later?

Yes. If you’re trying to control cost while still covering an urgent need, getting a small batch next day and the remainder a few days later can be a practical compromise.