Post office timings are not the same for every post office in India. Each office has its own counter hours, and they depend on the type of office, its size and local needs. This guide explains the general pattern, what usually happens on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and how to check the exact hours of your own post office before you go. pincodeoffice.com is an independent directory, not India Post, so always confirm the hours with India Post or the office itself.
Post office working hours in general
People often search for one India Post office timings chart or a single post office time table for the whole country. There is no such single table. India Post timings are set office by office.
Most post offices in India open their counters in the morning and close them in the late afternoon or evening on working days. The exact time differs from office to office. Even within one office, different counters can have different hours. For example, the counter for savings schemes may close earlier than the counter for letters and parcels.
Some offices also stop one or more counters for a short break in the middle of the day. If you have important work, such as opening an account, it is best to go in the first half of the day.
Indian post office timings by type of office
India Post runs three main kinds of post office. You can see the type of each office on our pincode pages, for example 110001.
| Type of office | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Head Post Office (H.O) | The main office of a postal division, usually in a city or district town. It has the most counters and often the longest hours. Some head post offices also run extended evening counters or limited Sunday services. |
| Sub Post Office (S.O) | A regular departmental post office in a town or locality. It works normal daytime counter hours on working days. |
| Branch Post Office (B.O) | A small office, mostly in villages, run by a Gramin Dak Sevak who works part time, about 3 to 5 hours a day. So a branch post office is open only for a few hours, often in a fixed slot. |
If you live in a village, the nearest sub post office or head post office will usually be open for longer than your branch post office.
Speed post timings in post office
The speed post timing in post office is usually the same as its counter hours. You can book Speed Post at any post office counter during its working hours. A few points to keep in mind:
- Many offices have a last time for booking items that go out the same day. Items booked after that time leave the next working day. Ask the counter clerk about this time.
- Larger head post offices and some city offices may keep the Speed Post booking counter open for longer. In some cities India Post has started extended hours, for example 8 AM to 8 PM at certain head post offices.
- You can also book Speed Post and parcels and ask for a pickup from home through India Post's Dak Sewa app.
After booking, use our speed post tracking guide to follow your item on the India Post website.
Post office timings on Saturday
Most post office counters work on Saturdays, so post office Saturday timings matter if you can only visit at the weekend. However, Saturday hours can be different from weekday hours at some offices, and some services may not be available. Saturday arrangements can differ from one office to another. If you plan a Saturday visit, check with your post office first.
Is post office open today? Sundays and holidays
In general:
- Sundays: most post offices are closed. A small number of large head post offices or main city offices may run limited counters on Sundays.
- Gazetted holidays: post offices are closed on national gazetted holidays.
- State and local holidays: post offices also follow holidays declared for their state or area, so an office in one state may be closed on a day when offices in another state are open.
To know if a post office is open today in India, or to check post office timings today, use one of the methods below. Look at the date in your state holiday list too. Search results that show "open now" can be out of date, so treat them with care.
How to check the timings of a specific post office
- India Post website. Go to www.indiapost.gov.in and use the post office locator to find your office and its contact details.
- Dak Sewa app. India Post's app can show the nearest post office and pincode details.
- Call customer care. India Post's toll free number is 1800 266 6868. As per India Post's contact page, agents are available from 8 AM to 8 PM.
- Phone or visit the office. Most post offices show their counter hours on a board near the entrance.
- Find the office name first. If you do not know which post office serves you, look up your area on pincodeoffice.com. Use pincode of my location or search by pincode. Our pages list the post offices for each pincode, their type and whether they deliver mail. They do not show timings.
Post office timings in Delhi, Hyderabad and other cities
The same rules apply in every city. For example, post office timings in Delhi depend on whether you visit a big head post office or a small local office. The same is true for Hyderabad. Big city head post offices and general post offices often have longer hours than small local offices, and some may offer evening or Sunday counters. To find offices near you, browse post offices in Delhi, post offices in Hyderabad or post offices in Mumbai, then check the hours of the office you choose using the steps above.
Tips before you visit a post office
- Carry an ID proof and any documents your work needs, such as a passbook for savings work.
- For parcels, pack the item well and write the address with the correct pincode. See how to write an address.
- Go early in the day if you need savings scheme or banking services, as these counters can close earlier.
- For banking at home, India Post Payments Bank offers doorstep service. See our India Post Payments Bank guide.