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Knowing the exact post office timings is essential whether you want to send a Speed Post, deposit money in a Post Office Savings Account, or access services like Aadhaar updates, PLI, or parcel booking. While India Post follows standard working hours across the country, the actual opening, lunch, and closing times may slightly differ depending on the type of post office and location. To help you plan your visit without inconvenience, this guide clearly explains the daily post office timings, Saturday working hours, and service-wise counter schedules in one place.

Post Office Working Hours in India (At a Glance)

Post offices across India follow a standard working schedule, but exact timings may vary slightly depending on the branch, city, or region. Below is a quick overview of the usual operating hours to help you plan your visit without any confusion.

Service

Standard Timing

Details

Opening Time

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Most branches open by 8 AM; smaller or rural branches may open closer to 10 AM.

Lunch Break

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Some branches follow staggered lunch timings, so essential counter services may still be available.

Closing Time

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Counters usually stop accepting new requests 15–30 minutes before closing time.

Saturday Working Hours

9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Saturday is a half-day for most post offices; banking services also close early.

Sunday

Closed

All post offices remain shut on Sundays.

Public/Gazetted Holidays

Closed

Working hours follow the official India Post holiday list.

Post Office Opening Time

Most post offices in India open between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM, depending on the type of branch and its location. Head Post Offices usually start earlier, around 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM, while many Sub Post Offices and Branch Offices begin operations closer to 10:00 AM. However, exact opening timings may differ slightly from one branch to another, so checking your local post office schedule is always recommended.

Post Office Closing Time

Post Office closing times generally fall between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM, depending on the branch and the volume of daily operations. While most Head Post Offices remain open until around 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM, many Sub Post Offices and rural Branch Offices close earlier, often by 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM. Counter services for Speed Post, parcels, and banking transactions may shut down 30 minutes before the official closing time, so customers are advised to visit earlier to avoid delays.

Post Office Lunch Time

Post Office lunch breaks are usually scheduled between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM, though the exact timing can differ by branch. During this period, some counters may pause services completely, while others follow a rotational system so basic services continue. Smaller branches may adjust their lunch break based on staff availability, so checking the local notice board is helpful before visiting.

Post Office Timings on Saturday

Post Offices in India remain open on Saturdays, with opening times starting at 08:00 AM, 09:00 AM, or 10:00 AM depending on the branch. The closing time may be 04:00 PM, 05:00 PM, or 06:00 PM. Although officially a working day, most counter services operate only for a half-day. Post Offices work from Monday to Saturday, while Sunday is a holiday.

Speed Post Timing in Post Office

Speed Post services are available during regular counter hours in most post offices, but the exact timing may vary depending on the branch and location. Generally, customers can book Speed Post items from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, after which counters stop accepting parcels to ensure same-day processing and dispatch.

Standard Speed Post Booking Timings

  • Weekdays (Mon–Fri): 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
  • Saturday: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (limited hours)
  • Sunday: Closed
  • Holidays: Closed

Important Points to Note

  • The last booking time for same-day dispatch varies between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM, depending on the branch.
  • Head Post Offices may offer slightly extended hours compared to sub-post offices.
  • Heavy parcels and outstation shipments may have an earlier cut-off time.
  • Tracking and enquiry services remain available online 24×7, even when counters are closed.

Speed Post timings may differ across regions, so it’s best to confirm with your local post office for accurate cut-off hours, especially if you are sending urgent documents or parcels.

Post Office Working Days

Post offices in India operate throughout the week except on Sundays and official holidays. While most branches follow a uniform schedule, the exact working days can vary slightly in rural areas or head post offices. Understanding the weekly working pattern helps customers plan visits for postal, banking, and government-related services without delays.

Below is a quick look at the standard working days for India Post:

Day

Status

Monday

Open

Tuesday

Open

Wednesday

Open

Thursday

Open

Friday

Open

Saturday

Open

Sunday

Closed

Public/Gazetted Holidays

Closed

Major Cities Post Office Timings

City

Opening Time

Closing Time

Saturday Timings

Post Office Timings in Delhi

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Post Office Timings in Mumbai

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Post Office Timings in Bangalore

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Post Office Timings in Chennai

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Post Office Timings in Kolkata

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Post Office Timings in Hyderabad

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Post Office Timings in Pune

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Conclusion

Indian post office timings follow a fairly consistent pattern, but slight variations can occur depending on the city, branch type, and local workload. Knowing the exact opening, lunch, and closing hours helps you plan your visit better—whether you need to send a Speed Post, update your savings account, or access government services. Since major cities may operate with extended hours on busy days, it’s always a good idea to check the timing of your nearest post office before you go. Clear information and proper planning can save you time and ensure your postal tasks are completed smoothly.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the timing of post office in India?

Most post offices in India open between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM, depending on the branch type and location. Head Post Offices usually start earlier around 8:00–9:00 AM, while sub-post offices may open closer to 9:30–10:00 AM. Timings can vary, so it’s best to check your local post office schedule before visiting.

2. What time does the post office close today?

Most post offices in India close between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM, depending on the branch and location. Counter services usually stop earlier - around 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM - while internal work continues till closing time.

3. What is the lunch time in post offices?

The usual lunch break is 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM, during which counter services may stop. However, some branches follow a lunch break from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, especially in rural locations.

4. Do post offices work on Saturdays?

Yes, post offices work on Saturdays, usually from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, while Sunday remains a holiday.

5. Are post offices closed on the second Saturday like banks?

No. Post offices do not follow the bank holiday rule. They remain open on all Saturdays, unless it is a national or notified public holiday.

6. What time does the post office close for public services?

Most post offices close their counters between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM, but some services like Speed Post or parcel booking may stop 15–30 minutes before closing.

7. Can I withdraw or deposit money in the post office after 4 PM?

Cash-related banking services generally stop 30 minutes to 1 hour before closing time, so most post offices do not allow deposits or withdrawals after 4:00 PM.

Disclaimer: This page includes information that has been compiled from many sources and is only offered for informational purposes. Since this type of data might change over time, we cannot guarantee that the information supplied or included within it is accurate. It is anticipated that the user would confirm with the relevant source prior to taking any choices or actions.

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