If you visit UPS’s website, you’ll see the following message across the top of its Holidays page: “2019 Holiday Shipping Alert: The countdown is on.”
Because Thanksgiving fell on Nov. 28, everything got pushed back -- even Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
And now, all of a sudden, it’s mid-December. Have you mailed your gifts out yet?
Christmas is almost here ... next week, to be precise.
For what it’s worth, USA Today reports that the U.S. Postal Service’s busiest time of the season is two weeks before Christmas. We’re now past that point. So maybe your things will make it on time after all! You’ll likely have to pay for expedited shipping, but you had to know that was coming, right?
Also worth noting: this year, Hanukkah runs from Dec. 22 through Dec. 30.
So, let’s get you some dates, shall we?
Here are some recommended send-by dates for expected delivery by Dec. 25:
U.S. Postal Service
- Dec. 14: USPS Retail Ground shipments ✅
- Dec. 18: Alaska to mainland First-Class Mail ✅
- Dec. 19: Hawaii to mainland First-Class Mail and Priority Mail, also Alaska Priority Mail ✅
- *There’s still time for dates below!
- Dec. 20: First-Class Mail Service
- Dec. 21: Priority Mail; Also deadline for Alaska and Hawaii to the mainland through Priority Mail Express
- Dec. 23: Priority Mail Express
Trying to send something overseas or to a member of the military? Click or tap here to check out the guide we followed from USPS, and to learn more about your mailing specifics and guidelines.
FedEx
- Dec. 9: SmartPost ✅
- Dec. 16: Ground and home delivery ✅
- Dec. 19: Express Saver ✅
- *There’s still time for the dates below!
- Dec. 20: Several two-day options
- Dec. 23: Overnight options: Standard, Priority and First Class
- Dec. 25: FedEx SameDay, FedEx SameDay City Direct and City Priority
Learn more, including information about costs, through FedEx’s website.
United Parcel Service -- UPS
- Dec. 20: Last day to ship via 2nd Day Air.
From UPS’s website: “All UPS Next Day Air packages picked up (this day) will be scheduled for delivery on Monday, Dec. 23 unless processed and labeled for Saturday delivery on Dec. 21. Saturday Delivery is not available to all ZIP codes.”
- Dec. 23: Next Day Air
“(This) is the last day to ship UPS Next Day Air packages scheduled for delivery on Tuesday, Dec. 24 with a UPS On-Call, or scheduled, pickup, or by visiting a The UPS Store location or a UPS Authorized Service Location.”
Learn more UPS specifics.
As for Amazon deadlines, you’re likely looking at Dec. 22 or Dec. 23, depending on if you’re a Prime member, where you live and what you’re ordering.
Happy shopping!