A UPS drop off is any location where you can hand over a package for UPS to ship, whether it’s a return you’re sending back to a retailer or a shipment you’ve created yourself. UPS operates several types of drop-off locations, from full-service retail stores to unmanned metal boxes on street corners. The right one depends on your package size, whether you already have a label, and how much help you need.
Types of UPS Drop-Off Locations
UPS gives you four main options, each with different hours, services, and restrictions.
- The UPS Store: These are franchised retail locations that offer the widest range of services. You can buy shipping supplies, have staff pack your item, print a label on the spot, or simply hand over a pre-labeled package. Most locations are open during standard business hours, typically Monday through Saturday.
- UPS Access Points: These are local businesses, like convenience stores, dry cleaners, or pharmacies, that partner with UPS to accept and hold packages. They handle drop-offs and pickups but don’t offer packing or labeling services. Your package needs to be sealed and labeled before you walk in. Access Points have size limits: packages generally cannot exceed about 44 pounds or 32 inches on the longest side.
- UPS Drop Boxes: These are the brown, self-service metal boxes you see near sidewalks, office buildings, and shopping centers. They’re available 24/7, which makes them convenient for after-hours drop-offs. The tradeoff is that your package must fit inside the box and already have a shipping label attached. There’s no one to help you.
- UPS Customer Centers: These are located at actual UPS operating facilities, the hubs where packages are sorted and loaded onto trucks. They offer basic shipping services but tend to have limited hours. They’re less common and not always easy to find, but they can be useful if one happens to be nearby.
You can find all four location types using the UPS website or app by entering your zip code. The locator tool shows hours, services available, and distance from your address.
What You Need Before Dropping Off
The single most important thing is a shipping label. If you’re returning something to an online retailer, the company may have included a printed return label in the box or emailed you one. Attach it to the outside of the package, making sure any old labels or barcodes are covered or removed, and you’re ready to go.
If you received a digital return label but don’t have access to a printer, you have a couple of options. You can save the label as a mobile barcode on your phone and have it scanned and printed at a UPS location. You can also email the label file to yourself or someone else to print later.
If you don’t have a label at all, you’ll need to create one. You can do this online through your UPS account, or you can walk into a UPS Store and have the staff create one for you. Creating a label at the store costs more than doing it yourself online because UPS Store locations charge retail shipping rates plus potential service fees for packing or label creation. If you’re just dropping off a package that’s already labeled, there’s no charge at any drop-off location for the drop-off itself.
Which Location to Use
If your package is already sealed, labeled, and relatively small, a Drop Box or Access Point is the fastest option. Walk in, hand it over (or slide it in), and leave. For a pre-labeled return, this takes under a minute.
If you need help with anything, like packing a fragile item, printing a label, or buying a box, head to a UPS Store. It’s the only drop-off option where staff will assist you with the full process. Expect to pay for supplies and services like packing or label printing.
For larger or heavier packages, a UPS Store or Customer Center is your best bet. Access Points have that 44-pound, 32-inch limit on the longest side, and Drop Boxes are physically too small for anything beyond a shoebox-sized parcel. The UPS Store locations accept packages up to UPS’s standard shipping limits, which go well beyond what Access Points handle.
What Happens After You Drop Off
Once your package is in UPS’s hands, it enters the regular shipping network. If you created or were given a tracking number (which is tied to your shipping label), you can follow the package’s progress online or in the app. Tracking typically updates within a few hours of drop-off, though packages left in Drop Boxes may not scan until the next scheduled pickup from that box.
Drop Boxes are collected on a set schedule, usually once per day on weekdays. Many boxes have the pickup time printed on them. If you drop off a package after the listed time, it won’t be picked up until the next business day. Access Points and UPS Stores hand packages directly to a UPS driver during regular routes, so turnaround is generally the same day.
Keep your tracking number or receipt until the package is delivered. If you drop off at a UPS Store, the staff can provide a printed receipt. At Access Points, you may or may not get one depending on the business, so having your tracking number saved separately is a good backup.