Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2026: USPS, UPS, FedEx
Most packages need to go out by Thursday, Dec 17 to be sure of Christmas: that is the USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class cutoff, and the UPS and FedEx Ground dates depend on your ZIP codes. Faster services run later, up to Wed, Dec 23 for overnight air.
- USPS Ground Advantage cutoff for military mail (APO, FPO, DPO)
- USPS last day for First-Class and Priority Mail to military and abroad
- USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class last day for Christmas
- UPS 3 Day Select and FedEx Express Saver last day
- UPS Next Day Air and FedEx overnight last day
Dates below come from each carrier's own 2026 schedule and are for delivery by Dec 24 (UPS, FedEx) or Dec 25 (USPS). USPS, UPS and FedEx do not deliver on Christmas Day, and military and international mail has to go much earlier.
USPS: domestic
The Postal Service recommends these send-by dates for delivery by Dec 25 to addresses in the lower 48.
| Service | Last day to ship | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | Thu, Dec 17 | Contiguous U.S., for delivery by Dec 25 | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
| First-Class Mail (including greeting cards) | Thu, Dec 17 | Contiguous U.S., for delivery by Dec 25 | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
| Priority Mail | Fri, Dec 18 | Contiguous U.S., for delivery by Dec 25 | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
| Priority Mail Express | Sat, Dec 19 | Contiguous U.S. Postage for the 1-Day guarantee is not refunded on Dec 22 to 25 mailings if delivery or an attempt came within two business days | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
| Media Mail, Parcel Select | Not yet posted | USPS lists four domestic classes: Ground Advantage, First-Class, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
Actual delivery depends on origin, destination, Post Office acceptance date and time and other conditions.
USPS: Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and territories
These places get the same dates for faster services, but Ground Advantage takes much longer.
| Service | Last day to ship | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Advantage to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, territories | See notes | USPS expects 10 days or more between the lower 48 and these places. Check a ZIP-to-ZIP date at postcalc.usps.com | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
| First-Class Mail to those places | Thu, Dec 17 | For delivery before Dec 25 | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
| Priority Mail to those places | Fri, Dec 18 | For delivery before Dec 25 | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
| Priority Mail Express to those places | Sat, Dec 19 | For delivery before Dec 25. Refunds on the guarantee are not processed for these items (loss claims still are) | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
USPS: military mail (APO, FPO, DPO)
Packages to overseas military and diplomatic addresses have the earliest cutoffs of the season.
| Service | Last day to ship | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground AdvantagePassed | Wed, Nov 4 | All AE ZIPs listed (090-099, 340) and AP 962-966. This date has passed | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
| First-Class Mail | Wed, Dec 9 | All AE ZIPs listed and AP 962-966 | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
| Priority Mail | Wed, Dec 9 | All AE ZIPs listed and AP 962-966 | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
| Priority Mail Express Military Service | Wed, Dec 16 | AE 090-092, 094-099, 340 and AP 962-966. Not offered to AE 093. Only at select military and diplomatic Post Offices | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
USPS: international
The same send-by dates apply to every region USPS lists, for delivery before Dec 25.
| Service | Last day to ship | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class Package International Service | Wed, Dec 9 | Every region USPS lists: Africa, Asia/Pacific, Australia/NZ, Canada, Caribbean, Central/South America, Europe, Mexico, Middle East | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
| Priority Mail International | Wed, Dec 9 | Same date for every region listed | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
| Priority Mail Express International | Wed, Dec 16 | Same date for every region listed. Customs delays can push delivery later | USPS holiday mailing deadlines |
UPS
UPS lists recommended last days to ship for delivery on Thursday, Dec 24.
| Service | Last day to ship | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Ground | No fixed date | UPS points to its time-in-transit tool at ups.com/ctc for your ZIP codes. Some Ground packages need extra time Nov 16 to Jan 8 | UPS 2026 year-end holiday schedule |
| UPS 3 Day Select | Mon, Dec 21 | For delivery Thu, Dec 24. A limited number tendered Dec 14 or 15 may need an extra day | UPS 2026 year-end holiday schedule |
| UPS 2nd Day Air | Tue, Dec 22 | For delivery Thu, Dec 24. A limited number tendered Dec 14, 15, 16 or 21 may need an extra day | UPS 2026 year-end holiday schedule |
| UPS Next Day Air | Wed, Dec 23 | For delivery Thu, Dec 24, with On-Call Pickup, Smart Pickup, other scheduled pickup, or at a UPS Store or Authorized Service Location | UPS 2026 year-end holiday schedule |
UPS says its Service Guarantee is suspended except for select Air and International services. Check ups.com/ctc at the time of shipping.
FedEx: U.S. domestic
FedEx lists last days to ship for delivery by Thursday, Dec 24. Ground and Home Delivery dates depend on transit time.
| Service | Last day to ship | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx Ground Economy | Tue, Dec 15 | For delivery by Thu, Dec 24 | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| FedEx Ground and Home Delivery, 5-day transit | Thu, Dec 17 | For delivery by Thu, Dec 24. Based on your origin and destination ZIP codes | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| FedEx Ground and Home Delivery, 4-day transit | Fri, Dec 18 | For delivery by Thu, Dec 24 | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| FedEx Ground and Home Delivery, 3-day transit | Mon, Dec 21 | For delivery by Thu, Dec 24 | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| FedEx Ground and Home Delivery, 2-day transit | Tue, Dec 22 | For delivery by Thu, Dec 24 | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| FedEx Ground and Home Delivery, 1-day transit | Wed, Dec 23 | For delivery by Thu, Dec 24. Dates assume a regular pickup or drop-off at a staffed FedEx location | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| FedEx Express Saver | Mon, Dec 21 | For delivery by Thu, Dec 24 | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| FedEx 2Day and 2Day AM | Tue, Dec 22 | For delivery by Thu, Dec 24 | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| FedEx First, Priority and Standard Overnight, Extra Hours | Wed, Dec 23 | For delivery by Thu, Dec 24 | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| FedEx SameDay | Thu, Dec 24 | Same-day delivery. FedEx lists it as available 24/7, 365 days a year | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
Ground and Home Delivery transit is typically 1 to 5 business days in the contiguous U.S. FedEx says the dates are subject to change.
FedEx: international lanes
Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico have their own last days.
| Service | Last day to ship | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| To Canada: Next Flight, International First, International Priority | Wed, Dec 23 | FedEx notes these dates do not allow for customs clearance | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| To Canada: International Priority Distribution | Tue, Dec 22 | Same note on customs | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| To Canada: International Economy, Connect Plus | Mon, Dec 21 | Same note on customs | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| To Canada: FedEx Ground | Dec 15 to Dec 23 | Last day depends on transit: 7-day Dec 15, 6-day Dec 16, 5-day Dec 17, 4-day Dec 18, 3-day Dec 19, 2-day Dec 22, 1-day Dec 23. Check ZIP codes | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| To Mexico: Next Flight, International First, International Priority | Tue, Dec 22 | Customs time not included | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| To Mexico: International Economy, Connect Plus | Mon, Dec 21 | Customs time not included | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| To Puerto Rico: Next Flight, International First, International Priority | Wed, Dec 23 | FedEx lists Puerto Rico as an international lane | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
| To Puerto Rico: International Economy | Tue, Dec 22 | FedEx lists Puerto Rico as an international lane | FedEx 2026 shipping deadlines |
Holiday delivery days
Days when carriers do not pick up or deliver, or run reduced service, around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.
| Date | What happens | Source detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 26 (Thanksgiving) | USPS, UPS and FedEx closed | USPS lists Thanksgiving Day as a postal holiday. UPS has no pickup or delivery and no package movement. FedEx is closed | UPS 2026 year-end holiday schedule |
| Fri, Nov 27 | FedEx modified service | UPS lists normal pickup and delivery | FedEx holiday operations schedule |
| Thu, Dec 24 (Christmas Eve) | Not a USPS postal holiday | FedEx has modified service with early pickups and modified Ground pickups. UPS has normal delivery, with pickup only for prearranged air | USPS holidays and events |
| Fri, Dec 25 (Christmas Day) | No USPS, UPS or FedEx service | USPS lists Christmas Day as a postal holiday. UPS and FedEx show no pickup or delivery, and UPS moves no packages | USPS holidays and events |
| Sat, Dec 26 | FedEx open, UPS air only | UPS delivers Air and International Air packages labeled for Saturday delivery only | UPS 2026 year-end holiday schedule |
| Thu, Dec 31 (New Year's Eve) | FedEx modified service | UPS delivers Air and International Air only, with pickup if prearranged | FedEx holiday operations schedule |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 (New Year's Day) | No USPS, UPS or FedEx service | USPS lists New Year's Day as a postal holiday. UPS and FedEx show no pickup or delivery | USPS holidays and events |
Post Office hours and collection boxes
USPS sets retail hours office by office, so check the one you plan to use.
| Topic | Status | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extended Post Office hours | Not yet posted | USPS says it will offer extended retail and pickup delivery hours at popular Post Office locations. It names no Boston-area offices or dates | USPS holiday season announcement |
| Saturday and Sunday retail hours | Check your office | The USPS locator shows each office's hours and has a Sunday Hours filter | USPS Find Locations |
| Blue collection boxes | Check the box | The USPS locator lists Collection Boxes by address. Last-pickup times are on each box and its listing | USPS Find Locations |
| Regular mail on Sundays | Not offered | USPS delivers regular mail Monday through Saturday except postal holidays. Priority Mail Express and Amazon parcels are the Sunday exceptions | USPS: No mail delivery? |
Common questions
What is the last day to mail a package so it arrives by Christmas?
For USPS in the lower 48, Thursday, Dec 17 for Ground Advantage and First-Class, Friday, Dec 18 for Priority Mail and Saturday, Dec 19 for Priority Mail Express. UPS and FedEx list Dec 21 to 23 for their faster services and Ground by transit time.
Do carriers deliver on Christmas Day?
No. USPS lists Friday, Dec 25 as a postal holiday, and UPS and FedEx show no pickup or delivery that day.
Is Christmas Eve a shipping holiday?
USPS does not list Thursday, Dec 24 as a postal holiday. UPS runs normal delivery, with pickup only for prearranged air, and FedEx runs modified service.
Sources
Every entry above links to the page it was read from. Each page was checked on November 10, 2026.
- USPS holiday mailing deadlinesfaq.usps.com · checked Nov 10
- UPS 2026 year-end holiday scheduleassets.ups.com · checked Nov 10
- FedEx 2026 shipping deadlinesfedex.com · checked Nov 10
- FedEx holiday operations schedulefedex.com · checked Nov 10
- USPS holidays and eventsabout.usps.com · checked Nov 10
- USPS holiday season announcementabout.usps.com · checked Nov 10
- USPS Find Locationstools.usps.com · checked Nov 10
- USPS: No mail delivery?faq.usps.com · checked Nov 10
- USPS holiday newsroomabout.usps.com · checked Nov 10