Waiting for a check to arrive in the mail can test your patience. Living in a fast-paced, digital world, we’re used to receiving payments or refunds into our bank accounts or virtual wallets, sometimes within minutes. But snail mail will have you checking your mailbox constantly, wondering, “If my check was mailed on Thursday, when will I get it?”
While the United States Postal Service (USPS) is reliable, different factors can affect delivery. Understanding the process can help ease the anxiety of waiting for an important package to arrive.
In this Remitly guide, we show you what to expect, breaking down timelines, mail tracking, and potential delays. You won’t just get a clearer picture of when your check should arrive, but also what to do if that very important payment is held up.
When should you expect your check in the mail?
The simple answer is that checks sent via mail typically arrive within two to five business days.
However, not all checks or checks move through the US mail system at the same speed. The delivery timeline depends heavily on the specific USPS service used and who sent it.
Which USPS service should you choose?
While most checks are sent via First-Class Mail, USPS offers several other options. Below are the most common mailing services used for checks, legal documents, and official payments, along with estimated delivery times.
| USPS service | Estimated delivery |
| First-Class Mail | 1–5 business days |
| Priority Mail | 1–3 business days |
| Priority Mail Express | 2 days guaranteed, including Sundays |
If your check is sent by certified or registered mail, it doesn’t necessarily affect delivery time. They’re simply add-ons to the services you’ve already chosen, such as Certified First-Class.
Tip: Certified and registered mail requires a signature, so if you’re not home to sign for the check, it may cause a delay.
Breaking down the timeline, day by day
Once you choose the service you’ll use, it becomes much easier to know what to expect. And while we can’t predict the exact day your check will arrive, we can give you a good idea of when a check mailed on Thursday will reach your mailbox.
Many may count incorrectly, assuming Thursday is day one, but it’s not.
Here’s how the timeline will play out if your check is officially posted on Thursday using the First-Class Mail service:
Friday: Day 1
The check is moving through USPS processing facilities.
Saturday: Day 2
USPS delivers regular mail on Saturdays. If the check is sent locally or regionally, this could be the delivery day.
Sunday: No delivery
USPS doesn’t deliver on Sundays, except for packages sent through Priority Mail Express. Sunday, therefore, isn’t counted as a business day.
Monday: Day 3
A common day for deliveries, especially for nearby or regional mail.
Tuesday: Day 4
Typical for longer distances or cross-country mail.
Wednesday: Day 5
Your letter should arrive today if it hasn’t already. USPS maps show which areas will require a five-day delivery time, depending on the entry point.
If you don’t see your check in the mail on business day five, we’ve identified factors that could affect delivery and cause it to arrive later than usual.
Why delivery times vary: 4 real factors that matter
Understanding the USPS delivery process can make the wait much less stressful, especially when money is involved. If your check hasn’t arrived within the timeframes we’ve outlined above, there’s usually a reason.
These four factors not only explain such delays but also indicate the next steps you can take to ensure your check arrives securely—all the time.
Distance: across town vs. across the country
Distance is often the biggest variable in delivery times. A check mailed to you from a few miles or even a few counties away is much different than one sent from, say, San Diego, California, to Portland, Maine.
Here’s how distance can affect your check delivery:
- Local or same city: 1–2 business days
- Regional (same or nearby states): 2–3 business days
- Cross-country mail: 3–5 business days
Every piece of mail sent using USPS passes through a processing facility. The farther a package travels, the more processing steps and handoffs are required to get it to its destination.
USPS cut-off times
USPS can only offer same-day delivery on packages received before a certain time. This is known as the cut-off time, and it can cause some confusion when it comes to estimating when you’ll receive your check.
The most important thing to know is that mailing a check on Thursday doesn’t always mean USPS sorting facilities received it on that day. Mail processing and dispatch times all depend on when you drop off your check at the post office or collection box.
So, it’s important to note the final pickup time.
- Last pickups are often between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. However, you should check with your local post office for specific cutoff times.
- Official postal mailboxes will also display the times for the first and last pickups.
- Check online, as the USPS allows you to look up post office locations, kiosks, and collection boxes to see when the last pickup is scheduled at each.
If the check is dropped off on Thursday after the cut-off time, then USPS treats it as Friday mail.
Tip: A new procedure means that letters and packages will now have a postmark showing the day they’re officially processed at a sorting facility, not when they’re received or mailed at the post office. This could shorten delivery times, especially for time-sensitive mail.
Federal holidays: another day added
Like Sundays, USPS doesn’t deliver regular mail on federal holidays. For instance, say Monday is a holiday; delivery rolls over automatically because it’s not counted as a business day.
If you miss the cut-off and the next day is a holiday, it may add one or more days to the delivery schedule.
Holidays that will impact delivery times include:
- Memorial Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
Tip: During the Christmas season, USPS issues helpful reminders to ensure your presents are delivered on time. So, if you’re sending a check or waiting to receive one, it’s a good idea to mail it ahead of time.
Weather and unexpected delays
You may not know it, but the United States Postal Service has a motto guiding all its operations:
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
While USPS does its best to deliver mail regardless of weather, major or severe meteorological events can slow mail processing and transportation:
- Snowstorms can affect air or truck routes
- Hurricanes might disrupt regional distribution centers
- Wildfires or flooding could impact local delivery offices
It may be sunny where you are, but if your check is coming from a state or area experiencing severe weather, it could be delayed. So, if you’re already on day four and there’s no update, it’s best to check weather reports nationwide to see if any major events are behind the increased wait times.
Informed Delivery: track your check for free
Waiting for your check to arrive in the mail doesn’t have to be stressful. Luckily, USPS understands that delays can cause a lot of worry, and they offer services such as Informed Delivery to give you peace of mind.
What is it?
We’ve outlined various ways to estimate the delivery date, but they’re not foolproof for predicting when you’ll receive your check. Since you can’t track regular First-Class Mail or Priority Mail, Informed Delivery can help reduce the guesswork.
Informed Delivery is a free service provided by USPS. When you sign up, you’ll receive emails every morning with digital previews of incoming mail for that day.
How does it work?
Seeing the day’s mail before it arrives can help you prepare for any necessary next steps. Here’s how it works:
- Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery
- USPS scans the front of letter-sized mail (greyscale and address side only)
- Receive an email every morning with the day’s incoming mail
This service lets you know early on whether your check will arrive on time. This is especially helpful if you’re waiting to make a payment or send money home.
Still nothing? What to do if your check hasn’t arrived
If your check was mailed on Thursday and you still haven’t received it one week later, it’s a good idea to take action to ensure it hasn’t been lost or stolen.
Step 1: Give it one or two extra days
Mail delays happen. Take a look at the four factors above—are any of them applicable? If you’ve been having bad weather or know the check is coming from across the country during a holiday weekend, wait two more business days.
If business day seven arrives and there’s still no check in sight, follow the next two steps to ensure you do receive your payment.
Step 2: Contact the issuer (sender) immediately
If you haven’t received the check or are unable to track it, contact the issuer. Ask them to reconfirm:
- The exact mailing date
- Whether the check was returned or flagged
- That your address is correct
Step 3: Request a stop payment and reissue
If the check is truly lost:
- Ask for a stop payment to void the check
- Request a replacement check, or ask the issuer to send funds via direct deposit
It’s common to panic if you suspect your check has been lost or stolen. The best course of action is to remain calm, contact the sender, and have the check stopped immediately. Doing so will prevent it from being used in case it falls into the wrong hands.
A faster, safer alternative: direct deposits and digital transfers
While checks have been reliable in the past, digital payments are often faster, safer, and far more predictable. Whether you’re the recipient or the sender, there are some great alternatives to paper checks, including:
- Direct deposit
- Mobile banking apps
- Money transfer service apps like Remitly
When it comes to security, paper checks always run the small risk of being lost or stolen. If you regularly receive payments by mail, choosing an alternative might save you some time and worry. Digital payments also mean you won’t have to check the mailbox or weather reports for delays.
Tip: Agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration no longer issue physical checks. In fact, the IRS has only recently implemented this policy, effective September 2025. If you prefer physical checks, consider how this may affect you and your payments or refunds.
What to expect when you’re waiting for a check
If your check was mailed on Thursday, a realistic delivery window falls between Saturday through Tuesday, with Monday or Tuesday being the most common delivery days. While the USPS is generally dependable, distance, cut-off times, holidays, and weather conditions all affect how quickly your check arrives.
However, understanding the USPS delivery system and the factors that might impact delivery can make the wait less stressful. Be proactive if your check is delayed, and don’t hesitate to contact the sender if you suspect something is truly wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does mail move or get delivered on Sundays?
No, USPS does not deliver regular mail on Sundays, unless it’s Priority Express.
If my check was mailed Thursday, can I get it Saturday?
Yes, your check may arrive on Saturday, provided there are no delays, and it isn’t coming from out of state.
Is Monday considered a business day for mail?
Yes, Monday is a regular business day unless a federal holiday falls on this day.
Does a “postmark” mean the same thing as “mailed”?
A postmark is the official stamp of the post office placed on mail after processing. If a check is mailed after the Thursday cut-off, it won’t be postmarked, even if it was “mailed” that day.