Office Supply Store Hours Guide

Typical Hours at Office Supply Stores

Office supply stores keep longer hours than most people expect. Unlike banks or government offices that close at 5:00 PM, Staples, Office Depot, and OfficeMax all stay open until 9:00 PM on weekdays. The logic makes sense - small business owners and remote workers often run out of ink or paper at the end of the workday, not the beginning. Teachers prepping for the next morning need a store that is open after school lets out. The extended evening hours serve the people who actually buy office supplies on a regular basis.

Another thing that sets office supply stores apart: they open earlier than most retail. While clothing stores and electronics chains wait until 10:00 AM, office supply stores open at 8:00 AM on weekdays. Business owners stopping in before the workday starts is a real pattern, and the stores schedule around it.

Staples: The Largest Office Supply Chain

Staples operates over 1,000 locations across the United States, making it the biggest office supply retailer by store count. Founded in 1986 in Brighton, Massachusetts, the chain built its reputation on warehouse-style pricing for office essentials. Today Staples sells far more than paper and pens - their stores carry laptops, printers, ergonomic furniture, and a full print services center.

Standard Staples hours run 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday, with Saturday hours from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Sunday is the short day at 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The print and copy center keeps the same hours as the rest of the store, though online print orders can be placed around the clock for in-store pickup.

Staples has particularly strong coverage in the Northeast, where the company got its start. If you are in New England or the Mid-Atlantic, chances are there is a Staples within a 15-minute drive. Their store layout tends to be clean and well-organized, with wider aisles than the competition - a small detail that matters when you are navigating a cart loaded with reams of paper.

The Staples Plus rewards program gives 5% back on most purchases, which adds up fast if you are buying supplies regularly. For businesses that place bulk orders, the Staples Business Advantage program offers dedicated account managers and free next-day delivery on orders over $50.

Office Depot: Strong in the South and West

Office Depot runs about 1,000 locations nationwide, with especially strong coverage in the South and Western United States. Since merging with OfficeMax in 2013, the two brands operate under the same parent company (ODP Corporation) and carry identical inventory, pricing, and services. If you see an Office Depot sign or an OfficeMax sign, you are walking into essentially the same store.

Office Depot hours match the industry standard: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekdays, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Saturdays, and 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sundays. The print and copy center is one of their biggest draws - small business owners rely on it for business cards, brochures, posters, and custom signage without needing to hire a professional print shop.

Beyond supplies and printing, Office Depot offers tech services including computer setup, data transfer, virus removal, and device recycling. Their document shredding service is popular during tax season when people need to safely dispose of sensitive paperwork. Many locations also handle UPS shipping, making them a convenient alternative when the post office is already closed.

The Office Depot rewards program returns 2% on most qualifying purchases. Their weekly ad frequently features significant discounts on tech products and furniture, especially during back-to-school season.

OfficeMax: Same Company, Same Hours

OfficeMax has been part of the Office Depot family since the 2013 merger, but plenty of locations still carry the OfficeMax name on their storefront. If your local store says OfficeMax, the hours, products, and services are identical to what you would find at an Office Depot location. The merger combined the two chains to better compete with online retailers, and the consolidation is essentially complete.

OfficeMax keeps the same 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM weekday schedule, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Saturdays, and 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sundays. The print center, tech services, and product selection mirror Office Depot exactly. The main reason to note OfficeMax separately is that many people still search for the brand by name, especially longtime customers who remember the chain from before the merger.

Weekend Hours for Office Supply Stores

Saturdays at office supply stores are busier than you might expect. Small business owners catching up on supply runs, parents shopping for school projects, and home office workers picking up furniture all converge on Saturday mornings. All three chains open an hour later on Saturday (9:00 AM instead of 8:00 AM) but keep the same 9:00 PM closing time. If you want the most help from staff and the shortest wait at the print center, get there right at opening.

Sundays are the quietest day by far. Hours shrink to 10:00 AM through 6:00 PM at all three chains. The reduced traffic means better attention from employees if you need help choosing a printer or picking out an office chair. It is also the best day to try out display furniture without feeling rushed - you can actually sit in three or four desk chairs without a crowd forming behind you.

For a full comparison of weekend hours across all stores we track, see the Weekend Hours page. You can also check which stores are open on Sunday across every category.

Holiday Hours for Office Supply Stores

Office supply stores take a practical approach to holidays. They stay open on most of them because businesses do not stop needing supplies just because it is a federal holiday. The exceptions are the two big ones - Thanksgiving and Christmas - when every office supply store shuts down.

Check our Holiday Hours page for a complete breakdown of every store's holiday schedule, or use the Holiday Calendar for a visual timeline of the year.

Back-to-School Season: The Busiest Time of Year

If there is one period that defines office supply stores, it is back-to-school season. From July through September, foot traffic at Staples, Office Depot, and OfficeMax surges as students, parents, and teachers stock up on notebooks, folders, pens, calculators, and backpacks. All three chains run aggressive sales during this window - notebooks for a penny, folders for a dime, and name-brand pens at steep discounts.

Some locations extend their hours during peak back-to-school weeks, especially in late July and early August. If you are shopping for school supplies, the best strategy is to go early in the season when shelves are fully stocked. By late August, the most popular items start running thin, and the best deals are already gone.

Teachers deserve a special mention here. Both Staples and Office Depot run teacher appreciation programs with additional discounts and exclusive deals during back-to-school season. If you are a teacher, ask about these programs at the register - the savings can be significant when you are buying supplies for an entire classroom.

Staples vs. Office Depot: Which One to Choose

With only two major office supply chains left in the United States (since OfficeMax merged into Office Depot), the comparison between Staples and Office Depot comes up constantly. Here is the honest breakdown.

Product selection is nearly identical. Both carry the same major brands across supplies, tech, and furniture. Pricing is also very close - both offer price matching against each other and against Amazon, so there is rarely a meaningful gap on any given item.

Where they differ is in the details. Staples tends to have a better in-store layout with wider aisles and a more organized feel. Their rewards program returns 5% versus Office Depot's 2%, which matters if you are a regular buyer. Office Depot counters with strong tech services and a print center that matches Staples in quality and turnaround.

The most practical advice: go to whichever one is closer to you. If both are equidistant, try both once and see which staff and layout you prefer. For printing specifically, both chains handle the same jobs at similar prices and quality.

You can compare Staples and Office Depot hours side by side with our comparison tool.

Print Services: A Major Reason to Visit

The print and copy center is arguably the biggest reason people still visit office supply stores in person instead of ordering everything online. All three chains offer professional-quality printing for business cards, flyers, brochures, posters, banners, and bound presentations. They handle laminating, binding, large-format printing, and custom signage.

For small business owners who need marketing materials without hiring a designer or a dedicated print shop, the in-store print center fills that gap well. You can walk in with a file on a USB drive, email it ahead of time, or upload through the website for in-store pickup. Turnaround is usually same-day for standard jobs, with complex orders taking 24 hours.

The print center follows the same hours as the rest of the store, so you have until 9:00 PM on weekdays to submit or pick up orders. For time-sensitive jobs, submitting online the night before and picking up first thing in the morning is the most efficient workflow.

Tips for Shopping at Office Supply Stores

• Sign up for rewards programs - Both Staples (5% back) and Office Depot (2% back) offer free loyalty programs. If you buy supplies regularly, the savings add up fast over a year.
• Check the weekly ad before going - Tech products and furniture frequently go on sale with meaningful discounts. The weekly ad is available online and in the store apps for both chains.
• Price match everything - Both Staples and Office Depot match prices from Amazon and each other. Bring proof of the lower price - a phone screenshot works fine.
• Buy ink in multi-packs - Single ink cartridges are a terrible value. Multi-packs cut the per-cartridge cost significantly. If you print regularly, buying in bulk is one of the easiest ways to save money at office supply stores.
• Shop furniture in person - Office chairs especially need a test sit before you commit. Both chains have display models on the floor. Spend a few minutes in each chair rather than guessing from an online photo.
• Go early for back-to-school - The best deals and fullest shelves are in early July. By late August, popular items are picked over and the deep discounts are gone.
• Use the print center strategically - Upload files online the night before and pick up in the morning. You skip the wait and your order is ready when you walk in.
• Tuesday mornings are the quietest - If you need staff attention for tech help, furniture questions, or a complex print job, mid-morning on a Tuesday or Wednesday is when stores are least crowded.

All Office Supply Stores

Explore detailed hours and schedule information for each office supply retailer:

Frequently Asked Questions