'Tis the season for shipping delays, so make sure you know the last day to mail Christmas packages so your gifts get there on time
This Is the Last Possible Day to Mail Christmas Packages and Have Them Arrive on Time
Published on Dec. 10, 2024
While it’s tempting to spend ages searching for the perfect gift for your impossible-to-shop-for family member, don’t wait until the last day to mail Christmas packages. Santa may be able to deliver all presents in a single night, but shipping companies can’t. So packages mailed at the last minute may not arrive in time for the holidays. Talk about a letdown!
That’s why it’s so important to know the deadlines for various shipping companies. The cutoff dates matter even if you’re shopping online and sending presents from a major retailer. Stores like Target, Walmart and Nordstrom rely on the U.S. Postal Service, UPS and FedEx to deliver their goods. (Most store websites note the date you need to order by if you want the package to arrive in time for Christmas.)
So leave last-minute shipping to the masses. After all, wouldn’t you rather be snuggled up watching a Christmas movie than standing in line for hours at the post office? With that in mind, we’re laying out all of the deadlines you need to know so that your gifts make it to where they have to go with time to spare.
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The U.S. Postal Service
Here are the U.S. Postal Service‘s recommended ship-by dates for expected delivery in the 48 contiguous United States by Dec. 25. (Note that if you are shipping to or from Hawaii or Alaska, you’re going to need to send your packages a couple of days earlier.) If you’re sending gifts for Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, you have a little more lead time, as these holidays run from Dec. 25 to Jan. 2 and Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, respectively.
- USPS Ground: Dec. 18
- First-Class Mail Service: Dec. 18
- Priority Mail Service: Dec. 19
- Priority Mail Express Service: Dec. 21
UPS
United Parcel Service is another option for sending gifts. You can use UPS’s online calculator to figure out the last day to mail Christmas packages via UPS Ground shipping, which depends both on your destination and where you are shipping to. The general shipping deadlines for other UPS services are:
- UPS 3 Day Select: Dec. 19
- UPS 2nd Day Air: Dec. 20
- UPS Next Day Air: Dec. 23
FedEx
To make sure your last-minute Christmas gifts are delivered by Dec. 25, FedEx suggests shipping by the following dates. You can actually wait as long as Dec. 24 if you’re willing to pay for FedEx SameDay delivery, but that service is very pricey (the total cost depends on your package’s destination and weight, among other things).
- FedEx Ground Economy: Dec. 13
- FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery: Dec. 17 to Dec. 23, depending on whether you choose one-, two-, three-, four- or five-day delivery
- FedEx Express Saver: Dec. 19
- FedEx 2Day and FedEx 2Day AM: Dec. 20
- FedEx First Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight, FedEx Standard Overnight and Extra Hours: Dec. 23
- FedEx Express Same-Day Delivery: Dec. 24
Amazon
Although Amazon doesn’t share an official holiday shipping calendar, you can see the shipping estimates on individual items on the product page and when you add them to your cart. (Depending on the item you search for, you may also be able to select “Get It by Tomorrow” in the left-hand sidebar while browsing.)
If you’re a Prime member, you may be able to get one-day, two-day and same-day shipping on certain products. But shipping delays can happen during high-volume times (like the holidays), so it’s best not to cut it too close.
When is the last day to mail Christmas packages?
Dec. 24 is the last day to mail Christmas packages, if you use FedEx Express Same-Day Delivery or if you have Amazon Prime and can use its same-day delivery service, which is available in more than 90 metro areas. (You can check your ZIP code here.)
The last word on mailing holiday gifts
You’ve bought the gifts and wrapped them with care—now don’t wait until the last minute to put those presents in the mail. While the aforementioned shipping companies will do their best to deliver your items by the cutoff dates above, various outside forces (like the weather) can delay packages from getting to their final destinations. So whether you are mailing thoughtful holiday cards or sending Mom a special gift, get everything in the mail as early as possible for peace of mind.
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Sources:
- U.S. Postal Service: “Holiday Shipping Deadlines”
- UPS: “2024 Year-End Holiday Schedule”
- FedEx: “2024 shipping deadlines for holiday packages”
- Amazon: “How to get your Amazon purchase delivered in just hours with Same-Day Delivery”
