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Deadlines for 2023 holiday shipping with USPS, FedEx, UPS

If you are planning to ship holiday gifts this year, be sure to check this list of shipping deadlines from the United States Postal Service, UPS and FedEx so all your packages arrive on time.

Posted 2023-10-27T18:55:49+00:00 - Updated 2023-12-16T23:15:36+00:00

If you are planning to ship holiday gifts this year, be sure to check this list of shipping deadlines from the United States Postal Service, UPS and FedEx so all your packages arrive on time.

USPS 2023 Deadlines

Following are the recommended ship-by dates from the United States Postal Service for expected delivery before December 25. This is not a guarantee of delivery date so the earlier you ship, the better.

Post Office locations are closed on Christmas Day (Monday, Dec. 25) and on New Year’s Day (Monday, Jan. 1). Regular hours and mail delivery will resume they day after each of these holidays.

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Holiday shipping dates for contiguous U.S.

USPS Ground Advantage™ Service: Dec. 16

First-Class Mail® Service: Dec. 16

Priority Mail® Service: Dec. 18

Priority Mail Express® Service: Dec. 20

Holiday shipping dates for Alaska & Hawaii

Sending Packages to Alaska

USPS Ground Advantage™ Service: Dec. 16

First-Class Mail® Service: Dec. 16

Priority Mail® Service: Dec. 18

Priority Mail Express® Service: Dec. 20

Sending Packages to Hawaii

USPS Ground Advantage™ Service: Dec. 16

First-Class Mail® Service: Dec. 16

Priority Mail® Service: Dec. 16

Priority Mail Express® Service: Dec. 20

Holiday shipping dates for international mail

See USPS.com for recommended holiday shipping dates for Africa, Asia/Pacific Rim, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Caribbean, Central & South America, Mexico, Europe and Middle East.

Holiday shipping dates for military mail

If you are shipping packages to those in the military, there are different deadlines depending on the APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIP™.

For First Class Mail Service and Priority Mail Service, most packages have to be shipped by Dec. 9.

For Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMEMS), most packages have to be shipped by Dec. 15 (where available).

See USPS.com for the details regarding military mail shipping options by ZIP.

See all the information regarding holiday shipping through USPS on their website.

FedEx 2023 Deadlines

FedEx is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. There is no pickup or delivery service on these days. FedEx Custom Critical® is available.

Domestic holiday shipping dates

These dates are the recommended last days to ship for delivery before Dec. 25, 2023 through FedEx. This is not a guarantee of delivery date so the earlier you ship, the better.

FedEx Express®

FedEx Same Day®: Dec. 22

FO, PO, SO, Extra Hours: Dec. 21

2Day & 2Day AM: Dec. 20

FedEx Express Saver®: Dec. 19

FedEx 1Day® Freight: Dec. 21

FedEx 2Day® Freight: Dec. 20

FedEx 3Day® Freight: Dec. 19

FedEx Ground®

FedEx Ground®: Delivery times vary based on origin and destination. The FedEx website recommends shipping by 12/15 for 5 day shipping, 12/18 for 4 day shipping, 12/19 for 3 day shipping, 12/20 for 2 day shipping and 12/21 for 1 day shipping.

FedEx Home Delivery®: Delivery times vary based on origin and destination. The FedEx website recommends shipping by 12/15/23 for 5 day shipping, 12/18 for 4 day shipping, 12/20 for 3 day shipping, 12/21 for 2 day shipping and 12/22 for 1 day shipping.

FedEx Ground® Economy: Delivery times vary based on origin and destination. The FedEx website recommends shipping by Dec. 13, 2023.

FedEx Freight®

FedEx Freight® Priority (inclusive of FedEx Freight® Direct): Delivery times vary based on origin and destination. The FedEx website recommends shipping by 12/15 for 5 day shipping, 12/18 for 4 day shipping, 12/19 for 3 day shipping, 12/20 for 2 day shipping and 12/21 for 1 day shipping.

FedEx Freight® Economy (inclusive of FedEx Freight® Direct): Delivery times vary based on origin and destination. The FedEx website recommends shipping by Dec. 12, 2023.

For more information, including international shipping deadlines, see the FedEx website.

There are multiple locations to drop off a FedEx package including FedEx Office, FedEx Ship Center®, FedEx Authorized ShipCenter®, FedEx® Drop Box,* Walgreens, Walmart, Office Depot and Office Max, Dollar General, and more throughout the country. See all the locations in your area on the FedEx website.

UPS 2023 Deadlines

The following dates are the recommended last days to ship for delivery before Dec. 25 through UPS. Once again, this is not a guarantee of delivery date so the earlier you ship, the better.