Let’s face it, the same thing happens year after year. Things get busy with work, school, and life in general until you’re suddenly up against the clock as you race your gifts to your local post office, FedEx store, or UPS location. We’ve all been there, but we’d like to help as you plan your next move and begin sending out your holiday packages.
If you intend to send your gifts via traditional mail this year, we’ve compiled the domestic shipping deadlines for various carriers and major retailers, so you can plan ahead and ensure your packages arrive before the holidays. Hopefully, it will help you avoid some unwanted stress — well, assuming that’s even possible this time of year.
UPS 2025 Holiday Shipping Deadlines Final day to ship Ships via this service December 19th UPS 3 Day Select December 22nd UPS 2nd Day Air December 23rd UPS Next Day Air
With UPS, you have until Tuesday, December 23rd, to ship via Next Day Air and have your package arrive by Wednesday, December 24th. Packages shipped via Next Day Air after the 23rd won’t arrive until after Christmas. Monday, December 22nd, is the last day to ship via 2nd Day Air if you want your package to arrive by December 24th. You can opt for UPS’s 3 Day Select option until Friday, December 19th, to have it arrive by the 22nd. If you plan to ship your packages before then, you should be fine opting for the standard pickup and delivery service.
FedEx 2025 Holiday Shipping Deadlines Final day to ship Ships via this service December 20th FedEx Express Saver December 22nd FedEx 2Day and 2Day AM December 24th FedEx SameDay
FedEx says the cutoff for its SameDay delivery is Wednesday, December 24th, but it’s risky to ship packages that late, as even the slightest delay could result in them arriving after Christmas. However, if you ship it by Monday, December 22nd, you can choose either of the two-day shipping methods. And if you manage to get it to FedEx by Saturday, December 20th, you can go with the Express Saver option for a more reasonable shipping fee.
USPS 2025 Holiday Shipping Deadlines Final day to ship Ships via this service December 17th First-Class Mail December 17th USPS Ground Advantage December 18th Priority Mail December 20th Priority Mail Express
Saturday, December 20th, is the final day to send packages (to arrive by Christmas Eve) via USPS Priority Mail Express, while the cutoff date for packages to be delivered before Christmas via standard Priority Mail is Thursday, December 18th. First-Class Mail packages and those you intend to send via USPS Ground Advantage, meanwhile, must be sent by Wednesday, December 17th, if you want them to arrive in time for Christmas.
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Amazon holiday shipping deadlines
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