Peak Holiday Shopping Season: Plan Ahead to Ensure Gifts Arrive on Time
USPS
The United States Postal Service recommends the following send-by dates for delivery before December 25 in the 48 contiguous states:
- USPS Ground Advantage Service: December 18
- First-Class Mail Service: December 18
- Priority Mail Service: December 19
- Priority Mail Express Service: December 21
For Alaska and Hawaii, the deadlines are earlier:
- USPS Ground Advantage Service: December 16
- First-Class Mail Service: December 18
- Priority Mail Service: December 19
- Priority Mail Express Service: December 20
UPS
If you want to use UPS Ground to ship a package, you can use UPS’s online calculator to figure out the deadline shipping date. For UPS’s other services, the deadlines for domestic delivery by December 24 are:
- UPS 3 Day Select: December 19
- UPS 2nd Day Air: December 20
- UPS Next Day Air: December 23
FedEx
FedEx’s delivery deadlines are similar. You can wait as long as December 24 if you’re willing to pay for FedEx SameDay delivery, but the more economical services take longer.
- FedEx Overnight: December 23
- FedEx 2Day: December 20
- FedEx Express Saver: December 19
- FedEx Ground: December 17-23
- FedEx Home Delivery: December 17-23
- FedEx Ground Economy: December 13
Amazon
Amazon doesn’t post an official holiday shipping calendar, but you can see shipping estimates on individual products as you add them to your cart. Prime members may be able to get one-day, two-day, and same-day shipping, depending on the product.
Conclusion
To ensure your gifts arrive on time, plan ahead and check the shipping deadlines for your chosen carrier. Whether you’re using USPS, UPS, FedEx, or Amazon, make sure to leave enough time for your packages to arrive at their destinations.
FAQs
Q: What is the peak holiday shopping season?
A: The peak holiday shopping season is the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when most people are doing their holiday shopping.
Q: What are the shipping deadlines for USPS?
A: The shipping deadlines for USPS vary depending on the service and the destination. For delivery before December 25 in the 48 contiguous states, the deadlines are: USPS Ground Advantage Service – December 18, First-Class Mail Service – December 18, Priority Mail Service – December 19, and Priority Mail Express Service – December 21.
Q: What are the shipping deadlines for UPS?
A: The shipping deadlines for UPS vary depending on the service and the destination. For UPS’s other services, the deadlines for domestic delivery by December 24 are: UPS 3 Day Select – December 19, UPS 2nd Day Air – December 20, and UPS Next Day Air – December 23.
Q: What are the shipping deadlines for FedEx?
A: The shipping deadlines for FedEx vary depending on the service and the destination. For FedEx Overnight – December 23, FedEx 2Day – December 20, FedEx Express Saver – December 19, and FedEx Ground – December 17-23.
Q: What is the shipping deadline for Amazon?
A: Amazon doesn’t post an official holiday shipping calendar, but you can see shipping estimates on individual products as you add them to your cart. Prime members may be able to get one-day, two-day, and same-day shipping, depending on the product.
