2024 Holiday Shipping Deadlines to Ensure Delivery By Christmas
Christmas is fast approaching. Make sure your packages can be delivered on time. Keep reading to learn the shipping deadlines for the three major parcel services.
Sending Gifts to Your Loved Ones?
Whether it's a gift for your mom in your hometown, or a special toy for your favorite nephew a few states away, if you are sending a gift this holiday season, you want to be sure it arrives on time.
Three Shipping Options for Holiday Gifts
When it comes to holiday gift giving, there 3 options for shipping your packages - USPS, FedEx, or UPS. If you're like me, you procrastinate on just about everything and that likely includes getting your packages shipped off for the holidays. So how much time do we have before it's too late for holiday delivery? Well, that depends on which carrier you choose and which holiday you're celebrating.
USPS 2024 Holiday Shipping Deadlines
According to the United States Postal Service, the clock is ticking for you to get your packages delivered by December 25th. For shipping within the contiguous United States, Wednesday, December 18th is the deadline for USPS Retail Ground and First Class Mail service. If you ship via Priority service, you have until December 19th, and December 21st is the deadline to ship via Priority Mail Express Service.
If you're shipping holiday cards and gifts for Hanukkah (Dec. 25–Jan. 2), Christmas (Dec. 25), Kwanzaa (Dec. 26–Jan. 1), or other holiday traditions, find the USPS® recommended domestic, international, and military deadlines in these tables. The earlier you send, the better: Don’t delay, mail and ship today!
For dates outside the contiguous United States, as well as international or military mail, visit the USPS website.
UPS 2024 Holiday Shipping Deadlines
There is still time for you to ship with the big brown too. You can get your packages to their destination with UPS too. Friday, December 20th is the last day to ship for UPS 2nd Day Air and UPS for delivery on Tuesday, December 24th. Next Day Air are options with a deadline of December 23rd for delivery on December 24th. They won't be shipping or delivering anything on Christmas Day as they will be closed.
FedEx 2024 Holiday Shipping Deadlines
For FedEx, you will have a few more options than you do with USPS and UPS. December 13th will be the deadline for FedEx Ground Economy. December 19th is the deadline for FedEx Express Saver and FedEx 3-Day Freight. Wednesday, December 20th is the deadline for all 2-Day shipping including 2-Day Freight. For other FedEx shipping option deadlines including 1-day and same-day Christmas Day shipping, the deadline is December 23rd and 24th.
Practice Patience While Shipping Packages During the Holidays
Unfortunately, even with these deadlines, there is still a chance that your packages may not make it on time so it may just be best to keep those great gifts for yourself. I'm kidding of course but I do think it's important to extend a bit more patience and understanding. If you happen to be reading this and you work for any of these 3 delivery services, thank you!
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