2021 Holiday Shipping Deadlines

You've made the list, checked it twice, and got everyone the perfect gift for this holiday season. Now you have to figure out when to send your packages so they arrive at just the right moment. The general rule of "the earlier, the better" always applies to everything holiday-related. From planning to shopping and all the way to the final step of sending out your gifts, we recommend starting this often laborious process as soon as possible and to always make note of important deadlines ahead of time.

For the 2021 holiday season, the USPS anticipates that between 850 to 950 million packages will be delivered. Make sure that you get everything you’re planning to send by mail – cards, presents, baked goods galore – out the door by these recommended holiday shipping deadlines so your friends and family can receive everything right on time.

Domestic Holiday Shipping Deadlines

USPS Domestic

USPS Retail Ground® Service Dec. 15
Priority Mail® Service Dec. 18
First-Class Mail® Service Dec. 17
Priority Mail Express® Service Dec. 23
USPS Retail Ground® Service to Alaska Dec. 2
Priority Mail® and First-Class Mail® Service to Alaska Dec. 18
Priority Mail® and First-Class Mail® Service to Hawaii Dec. 17

FedEx Domestic

FedEx Ground® Economy Dec. 9
FedEx Ground® Dec. 15
FedEx Home Delivery® Dec. 15

FedEx Express Saver® Dec. 21
FedEx 2Day® Dec. 22
FedEx 1Day® Freight Dec. 23
FedEx Standard Overnight® Dec. 23
FedEx SameDay® Dec. 24

UPS Domestic

UPS® Ground Check here for details
UPS 3 Day Select® Dec. 21
UPS 2nd Day Air® Dec. 22
UPS Next Day Air® Dec. 23

International Holiday Shipping Deadlines

USPS International Mail

Please refer to the USPS website for regional specific deadlines

USPS Military Mail

Please refer to the USPS website for APO/FPO/DPO specific deadlines

FedEx to Canada

FedEx International Ground® Canada Domestic Dec. 15
FedEx International Ground® Northbound Dec. 13
FedEx International Ground® Southbound Dec. 14
FedEx International Economy® Dec. 22
FedEx International Priority® Dec. 23
FedEx International First® Dec. 23
FedEx® International Next Flight Dec. 24

FedEx to Mexico

FedEx International Economy® Dec. 21
FedEx International Priority® Dec. 22
FedEx International First® Dec. 23
FedEx® International Next Flight Dec. 24

UPS to Canada

UPS Standard Check here for details
UPS Worldwide Expedited® Dec. 21
UPS Worldwide Express® services Dec. 23

UPS to Mexico

UPS Standard Check here for details
UPS Worldwide Expedited® Dec. 21
UPS Worldwide Express® services Dec. 22