What Does “Acceptance Pending” on a USPS Tracking Page Mean?

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Learn what this status means and when you'll get your mail

Co-authored by Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: February 26, 2024 Fact Checked

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“Package Acceptance Pending” Meaning

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Will your package be delayed?

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What to Do

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When will you get a tracking status?

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How long does it take to accept a package?

You just shipped out a package with USPS and go to check the tracking status. Huh, that’s weird. It says “Package Acceptance Pending”—what does that mean? “Package Acceptance Pending” is a common USPS tracking status that means the package is in a USPS truck or facility but hasn’t been sorted yet. Read on to learn more about this tracking status and what you can do about it.

Things You Should Know

“Package Acceptance Pending” means that USPS received your package, but it hasn't been scanned or sorted yet.
A “package acceptance pending” status is a good sign because it means that USPS has your package. Your mail will most likely still arrive on time.
If a package has a “Package Acceptance Pending” status for over 2 days, contact USPS Customer Service for assistance.

Section 1 of 5:

What does “Package Acceptance Pending” mean?

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“Package Acceptance Pending” means USPS received the package, but hasn't sorted it. This is a common occurrence when shipping packages with USPS. If you check your package’s shipping status and it says “Package Acceptance Pending,” it means that the package was taken by USPS but is waiting to be shipped out. This status update is typically the first one you’ll get after sending out a package as the sender. The status will change to “Accepted” once the package is sorted and scanned by a USPS facility and shipped out.^{[1]
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- You may see this status if your package arrived in a larger bundle of mail, but hasn't been scanned or entered into the tracking system individually yet.

Section 2 of 5:

Will your package be delayed if the acceptance is pending?

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In most cases, your package will still arrive on time. It's not uncommon for a package or piece of mail to get physically distributed, even if it hasn't been scanned individually by USPS yet. This means it may be well on its way to delivery, even with the "package acceptance pending" status. Monitor your package's tracking status for updates and contact USPS Customer Service if the status hasn't updated after 2 days.
- If you're worried about valuable or important outgoing mail going missing or getting damaged, consider purchasing shipping insurance.^{[2]
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Section 3 of 5:

What to Do If the Package Acceptance Is Pending

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Keep an eye on your package’s tracking status. The best thing you can do when dealing with a “Package Acceptance Pending” status is to keep a watchful eye on the tracking.^{[3]
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- Find your package’s tracking number on your shipping receipt or email confirmation. Then, enter the number into the USPS Tracking Page.
USPS receives thousands of packages a day, and things can unexpectedly get delayed. So, if you see a “Package Acceptance Pending” status on your package, don’t panic. Take a deep breath and know it’ll likely update within 48 hours.

Section 4 of 5:

When will you get a tracking status?

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You’ll typically get a tracking status within 48 hours of mailing the package. It’s not abnormal for it to take around 2 days for a status to pop up on your package’s tracking. USPS gets a lot of packages, so patience is key. If it takes more than 15 days to receive any status update, contact USPS for personalized assistance at 1 (800) 275-8777.^{[5]
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- Ultimately, “Package Acceptance Pending” is a good status. If your package doesn’t have any status even after a few days of shipping it out, it may be lost or stolen.
- The best way to stay on top of your package’s status is to apply for USPS’s shipping insurance. This way, you’ll be covered if your package is stolen or lost.^{[6]
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Section 5 of 5:

How long does it take USPS to accept a package?

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Most of the time, packages sent through USPS are received and processed within the first 24 hours of mailing. However, in rare cases, it can take as long as 14 days.^{[7]
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Research source} This is typically due to unforeseen circumstances, such as severe weather conditions, vehicle breakdowns, or company strikes.^{[8]
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