What Does "Out For Delivery" Mean? - WikiHow

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• Postal System
• Business Shipping and Delivery

What Does "Out for Delivery" Mean? Download Article Explore this Article Sections 1 What does “out for delivery” mean? 2 When will my "out for delivery" package arrive? 3 Is “out for the delivery” the last step? 4 What's the difference between “in transit” and “out for delivery?" 5 USPS Shipping Statuses 6 UPS Shipping Statuses 7 FedEx Shipping Statuses + Show 4 more... - Show less... Other Sections Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Fahim and Seema Mojawalla and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: September 19, 2025 Fact Checked

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This article was co-authored by Fahim and Seema Mojawalla and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Fahim and Seema Mojawalla are Shipping and Logistics Experts based in Grand Island, New York. They are the Co-Owners of Island Ship Center, a shipping depot, print shop, small gift boutique, and business center. Founded in 2006, Island Ship Center is now one of the top three FedEx Authorized ShipCenters® in the country (out of 4,600 locations), is a FedEx Spotlight Store, and has the honor of being a PRINTING United spotlight store. They are also a USPS Approved Postal Provider and a UPS Authorized Shipping Outlet. The award-winning business has served as a training center and model in their industry for years, so much so that Fahim and Seema created AYM High Consultants, a contemporary business coaching enterprise for fellow business owners and purveyors in the printing and shipping industry. From their palletized freight packing and shipping warehouse operation, to their store serving individual clients’ mailing and shipping needs, Fahim and Seema have developed Island Ship Center to be the “Spa of Shipping.” There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 204,190 times.

Yay! You just got a notification that your package is out for delivery, but what does that actually mean? Before you refresh that shipping page again, check out this article—we’ve put together everything you need to know about mailing and shipping lingo, along with delivery timetables for well-known shipping companies. Although this article won’t make your package come any sooner, you'll feel more confident about when it’s arriving on your doorstep.

Out For Delivery Meaning

If your package is “out for delivery,” that means it’s on the truck and scheduled for delivery that day, explains FedEx Authorized ShipCenter owner Fahim Mojawalla. Unexpected emergencies or time constraints might mean the package is returned to the hub and delivered the next day—but generally, it arrives that day.

Steps

Section 1 of 7:

What does “out for delivery” mean?

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1. “Out for delivery” means your package is on the truck and en route to you. Your shipment has left your local shipping facility and is now sitting in the back of a delivery truck, headed to your home via a delivery route.[1]
   • “Out for delivery” means the same thing for all major carriers, including UPS, USPS, FedEx, Amazon, and DHL.
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Section 2 of 7:

When will my "out for delivery" package arrive?

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1. Packages marked as “out for delivery” usually arrive by the end of the day. Your package’s arrival time depends on how close you live to the delivery facility, as well as the length of the delivery route. Still, the vast majority of packages marked as “out for delivery” arrive by the end of the shipping company’s business day.[2] Here’s when each major shipping service ends deliveries:
   • USPS: 6:00 PM[3]
   • UPS: 7:00 PM[4]
   • FedEx: 8:00 PM[5]
   • DHL: 6:00 PM[6]
   • Amazon: 8:00 PM[7]

Section 3 of 7:

Is “out for the delivery” the last step?

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1. Yes, “out for delivery” is the last step of the delivery process. “Out for delivery” means that the package has reached the final mail/shipping facility and is en route to your home. There’s no extra shipping step that comes after this.[8]
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Section 4 of 7:

What's the difference between “in transit” and “out for delivery?"

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1. “In transit” means the package is moving, but it’s not yet out for delivery. A package is considered “in transit” as it moves from shipping facility to shipping facility. Only when it is loaded on the delivery truck is your package considered “out for delivery.”[9]

Section 5 of 7:

USPS Shipping Statuses

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1. 1 Delivery Status Not UpdatedThis means that your package is at your local post office, but it isn’t processed or out for delivery yet. If at least a day passes without any update on the status of your package, feel free to email a service request to get an update.
   • You can email USPS here: https://usps.force.com/emailus/s/
2. 2 Receptacle BlockedThe mail truck driver arrived at your home with the package, but your mailbox or front porch was completely blocked off. Don’t worry, though—if you see this memo attached to your delivery, you can either schedule a redelivery online or stop by your local post office to grab your package.
   • Schedule a redelivery here: https://tools.usps.com/redelivery.htm
3. 3 Notice LeftThe mail truck driver tried to drop off your package but wasn’t able to, so they left an official notice at your home. On the following business day, simply bring the notice along with an official form of ID to the post office so you can claim your package.[10]
4. 4 No AccessThe mail truck driver wasn’t able to drive to your address or get to your home for one reason or another. USPS will automatically try to redeliver your package the next day, but you can also schedule a redelivery over email if the “No Access” status doesn’t update after a day.[11]
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Section 6 of 7:

UPS Shipping Statuses

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1. 1 ExceptionThe “Exception” status shows up when your package’s delivery gets delayed for some reason. UPS will update your tracking page as soon as possible so you can get a better idea of when your package is arriving.[12]
2. 2 Transferred to Post Office for DeliveryYou’ll only see this memo if the sender submitted a request for your package to be transferred to your local post office. This status update means that your former UPS package has arrived at the post office—it just might take an extra day or 2 before it lands on your doorstep or in your mailbox.[13]
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Section 7 of 7:

FedEx Shipping Statuses

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1. 1 No Scheduled Delivery Date at This TimeThis status means that your local FedEx facility may not have gotten your package yet, so they don’t have an accurate delivery date at the ready.[14]
2. 2 Scheduled Delivery Is Now PendingThis update means that your package ran into some sort of delay, but that FedEx is working really hard to get it delivered as soon as possible. FedEx officially recommends keeping tabs on your package with the original tracking number when you see this status update.[15]
3. 3 Delivery ExceptionThis update means that a random delay has unfortunately popped up, preventing your package from being delivered on its expected date. Issues at customs and holidays can lead to delivery exceptions.[16]
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Tips

• Some shipping services will occasionally deliver past their normal business hours. For instance, a package shipped via UPS might land on your doorstep at 7:30 PM rather than 7:00.[17] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If your package seems to be running late, call up the customer service line of the courier that’s transporting your item. You can reach USPS at 1-800-275-8777, UPS at 1-800-742-5877, FedEx at 1-800-463-3339, and DHL at 1-800-225-5345. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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References

1. ↑ https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/tracking-support/where-is-my-package/understanding-tracking-status.page
2. ↑ https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/tracking-support/where-is-my-package/understanding-tracking-status.page
3. ↑ https://www.usps.com/ship/mail-shipping-services.htm
4. ↑ https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/tracking-support/where-is-my-package/understanding-tracking-status.page
5. ↑ https://www.fedex.com/en-us/tracking/guide-for-tracking-managing-deliveries.html
6. ↑ https://www.dhlecommerce.be/en/consumer/support/delivery/delivery-times
7. ↑ https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GEW3XT9JEMBLTKRV
8. ↑ https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Where-is-my-package
9. ↑ https://www.fedex.com/en-us/tracking/guide-for-tracking-managing-deliveries.html

More References (8)

10. ↑ https://faq.usps.com/s/article/PS-Form-3849-Redelivery-Notice
11. ↑ https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Where-is-my-package
12. ↑ https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/tracking-support/where-is-my-package/understanding-tracking-status.page
13. ↑ https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/tracking-support/where-is-my-package/understanding-tracking-status.page
14. ↑ https://www.fedex.com/en-us/tracking/guide-for-tracking-managing-deliveries.html
15. ↑ https://www.fedex.com/en-us/tracking/guide-for-tracking-managing-deliveries.html
16. ↑ https://www.fedex.com/en-us/tracking/guide-for-tracking-managing-deliveries.html
17. ↑ https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/tracking-support/where-is-my-package/understanding-tracking-status.page

About This Article

Co-authored by: Fahim and Seema Mojawalla Shipping and Logistics Experts This article was co-authored by Fahim and Seema Mojawalla and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Fahim and Seema Mojawalla are Shipping and Logistics Experts based in Grand Island, New York. They are the Co-Owners of Island Ship Center, a shipping depot, print shop, small gift boutique, and business center. Founded in 2006, Island Ship Center is now one of the top three FedEx Authorized ShipCenters® in the country (out of 4,600 locations), is a FedEx Spotlight Store, and has the honor of being a PRINTING United spotlight store. They are also a USPS Approved Postal Provider and a UPS Authorized Shipping Outlet. The award-winning business has served as a training center and model in their industry for years, so much so that Fahim and Seema created AYM High Consultants, a contemporary business coaching enterprise for fellow business owners and purveyors in the printing and shipping industry. From their palletized freight packing and shipping warehouse operation, to their store serving individual clients’ mailing and shipping needs, Fahim and Seema have developed Island Ship Center to be the “Spa of Shipping.” This article has been viewed 204,190 times. 34 votes - 77% Co-authors: 4 Updated: September 19, 2025 Views: 204,190 Categories: Business Shipping and Delivery

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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Fahim and Seema Mojawalla Shipping and Logistics Experts 34 votes - 77% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 4 Updated: September 19, 2025 Views: 204,190

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What Does “In Transit” Mean & How Long Will It Take to Get Your Package?USPS Status “Awaiting Delivery Scan” ExplainedWhat Does "In Transit From Origin Processing" Mean?What Does UPS "On the Way" Mean?

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