Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday, which squeezes the shipping calendar more than people expect. The last full shipping week runs Monday, December 14 to Friday, December 18, and by the time most people think about wrapping, the cheap options are already gone.
Here are the dates that matter, in one place: the U.S. Postal Service’s official recommended mail-by dates, the FedEx cutoffs, what we know about UPS, plus military and international deadlines that come much earlier than you might think.
Bookmark this one. You will want it in December.
The short version
- USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail: send by Thursday, Dec. 17
- USPS Priority Mail: send by Friday, Dec. 18
- USPS Priority Mail Express: send by Saturday, Dec. 19
- Military APO/FPO by ground: Wednesday, Nov. 4, just two weeks away
- International (most services): Wednesday, Dec. 9
- All three carriers are closed on Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25
Short on time? See the key points in our web story.
USPS holiday shipping deadlines 2026
These are the Postal Service’s own recommended send-by dates for delivery before December 25 within the contiguous U.S. (the lower 48 states).
| USPS service | Send by |
|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | Thursday, Dec. 17 |
| First-Class Mail (cards and letters) | Thursday, Dec. 17 |
| Priority Mail | Friday, Dec. 18 |
| Priority Mail Express | Saturday, Dec. 19 |
USPS calls these “recommended” dates for a reason. They are the latest dates the Postal Service expects to deliver on time, not a guarantee. Mailing a few days earlier costs nothing and removes most of the risk.
Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories
The Postal Service lists the same dates for First-Class Mail, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the territories. The big exception is Ground Advantage: between the mainland and those places it carries a service expectation of ten days or more, so do not leave it until mid-December. Send ground packages by the first week of December to be safe.
Military mail: the deadline that sneaks up on everyone
If you are sending something to a service member overseas, the clock is much shorter.
| APO/FPO/DPO service | Send by |
|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | Wednesday, Nov. 4 |
| First-Class Mail | Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
| Priority Mail | Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
| Priority Mail Express Military Service | Wednesday, Dec. 16 (where available) |
That November 4 ground date is two weeks from now. Priority Mail Express Military Service is only offered at selected military and diplomatic post offices, so ask at the counter before counting on it.
International holiday shipping deadlines
For Africa, Asia and the Pacific Rim, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East, USPS lists the same dates:
| International service | Send by |
|---|---|
| First-Class Package International | Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
| Priority Mail International | Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
| Priority Mail Express International | Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
Customs is the wild card. Fill in the customs form completely, describe the contents honestly, and avoid sending anything the destination country restricts, such as certain foods or batteries.
FedEx holiday deadlines 2026
FedEx has published a last-day-to-ship chart for packages that need to arrive by Thursday, December 24:
| FedEx service | Last day to ship |
|---|---|
| FedEx Ground Economy | Tuesday, Dec. 15 |
| FedEx Express Saver | Monday, Dec. 21 |
| FedEx 2Day | Tuesday, Dec. 22 |
| FedEx Standard and Priority Overnight | Wednesday, Dec. 23 |
| FedEx SameDay | Thursday, Dec. 24 |
FedEx Ground and Home Delivery do not have a single date; they depend on how far the package is going. Use the transit-time map on fedex.com with your origin and destination ZIP codes.
UPS holiday deadlines 2026
UPS dates reported by third-party sites do not all match, so we are not going to print a list we cannot stand behind. For air services, the usual pattern puts the last day for Next Day Air close to December 23 and for 2nd Day Air around December 22, but confirm your exact service and ZIP code with the time-in-transit calculator on ups.com before you rely on it. UPS Ground, like FedEx Ground, depends on distance.
Seven ways to make sure your gifts arrive
- Aim for December 11. Shipping by the second Friday of December takes almost all the stress out of it, at ground prices.
- Double-check the address, including apartment numbers. A wrong unit number is the most common reason a package bounces back.
- Use a box, not a bag, for anything breakable, with at least two inches of padding on every side.
- Get tracking and keep the receipt. If something goes missing, the receipt and tracking number are your claim.
- Insure anything valuable. Basic coverage is limited; for expensive items, buy extra.
- Protect against porch pirates. Ask for signature confirmation, send to a workplace, or use a pickup locker.
- Order online gifts early too. Retailers ship through the same carriers. Our Black Friday 2026 guide has the key dates: Thanksgiving is Nov. 26, Black Friday Nov. 27 and Cyber Monday Nov. 30.
Beware the “missed delivery” text
- Fake USPS, FedEx and UPS texts spike every December, asking you to “update your address” or pay a small redelivery fee
- Real carriers do not text you a link asking for card details to deliver a package
- Track packages by typing the carrier’s website address yourself, not by tapping a link in a text
See our guide to spotting and reporting scam texts.
Missed the deadline?
All is not lost. Priority Mail Express and overnight services buy you a few extra days, at a price. You can also send a gift card or a digital gift, or buy online and choose in-store pickup near the person you are shopping for. And a card that arrives on December 28 with a good note is still a gift.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last day to ship with USPS for Christmas 2026?
For addresses in the lower 48 states, USPS recommends sending by Thursday, December 17 for Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail, Friday, December 18 for Priority Mail, and Saturday, December 19 for Priority Mail Express.
When should I mail packages to military APO/FPO addresses for Christmas 2026?
USPS recommends Wednesday, November 4 for Ground Advantage, Wednesday, December 9 for First-Class Mail and Priority Mail, and Wednesday, December 16 for Priority Mail Express Military Service where it is available.
What is the USPS international shipping deadline for Christmas 2026?
Wednesday, December 9 for First-Class Package International Service and Priority Mail International, and Wednesday, December 16 for Priority Mail Express International.
What are the FedEx holiday shipping deadlines for 2026?
For delivery by Thursday, December 24, FedEx lists December 15 for Ground Economy, December 21 for Express Saver, December 22 for 2Day, December 23 for Overnight and December 24 for SameDay. FedEx Ground and Home Delivery depend on your origin and destination ZIP codes.
Are USPS, FedEx and UPS open on Christmas Day 2026?
No. All three are closed on Friday, December 25, 2026.
When are the UPS holiday deadlines for 2026?
Check ups.com for the confirmed 2026 dates for your service and ZIP code. UPS dates reported by third parties have not all matched, so use the carrier calculator rather than a secondhand list.
More holiday money guides
- When is Black Friday 2026?
- The best gifts under $25
- How to find cheap Thanksgiving and Christmas flights
- How to check a charity before donating
Sources: USPS 2026 holiday shipping dates page; FedEx 2026 holiday shipping chart as reported; ups.com. Dates are current as of October 2026 and carriers can change them.
