Holiday 2023 Shipping Deadlines - USPS, UPS & FedEx

As the busy Q4 2023 holiday shopping season heats up, shipping carriers are posting deadlines for packages to be delivered before Christmas.

USPS

2023 USPS Holiday Shipping and Mailing Deadlines

Within the Lower 48 (excludes Alaska and Hawaii)
USPS Ground Advantage — Dec. 16
First-Class Mail (including greeting cards) — Dec. 16
Priority Mail — Dec. 18
Priority Mail Express — Dec. 20

Alaska
USPS Ground Advantage — Dec. 16
First-Class Mail — Dec. 16
Priority Mail — Dec. 18
Priority Mail Express — Dec. 20

Hawaii
USPS Ground Advantage — Dec. 16
First-Class Mail — Dec. 16
Priority Mail — Dec. 16
Priority Mail Express — Dec. 20

Air/Army Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO), Diplomatic Post Office (DPO)
USPS Ground Advantage — Nov. 6
First-Class Mail — Dec. 9
Priority Mail — Dec. 9
Priority Mail Express Military Service — Dec. 15*
PMEMS not available for APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 093

International Mail
Shipping deadlines for international mail vary depending on the destination. Check out International Mail and Shipping Services for details. The Postal Service is a secure shipping option that meets international mail shipping needs to over 180 countries.

UPS

Holiday Season Recommended Last Days to Ship For Dec. 23 Delivery

SHIPPING VIA SHIP DATE

US Domestic

UPS Ground - check ups.com/ctc for details

UPS 3 Day Select - Dec. 19

UPS 2nd Day Air services - Dec. 20, Dec. 21 with Saturday Delivery options

UPS Next Day Air services - Dec. 21, Dec. 22 with Saturday Delivery options

U.S. TO CANADA

UPS Standard services (From the 48 contiguous states only) Check ups.com/ctc
for details

UPS Worldwide Expedited - Dec. 19

UPS Worldwide Express services - Dec. 20

U.S. TO MEXICO

UPS Standard services (From the 48 contiguous states only) Check ups.com/ctc for details

UPS Worldwide Expedited - Dec. 19

UPS Worldwide Express services - Dec. 20

FedEx

Holiday shipping schedule & details:

FedEx Same Day - Fri. Dec. 22

FO, PO, SO, Extra Hours - Thu. Dec 21 (Fri.Dec. 22 with Sat. delivery selected)

2Day & 2Day AM - Wed. Dec 20

FedEx Express Saver - Tue. Dec 19

FedEx Express 1Day Freight - Thu. Dec 21

FedEx Express 2Day Freight - Wed. Dec 20

FedEx Express 3Day Freight - Tue. Dec 19

With optional Saturday delivery (a $16 per package surcharge), your last day to ship can be extended by an additional day to 12/22 for FedEx First Overnight and FedEx Priority Overnight and to 12/21 for FedEx 2Day.

For FedEx Ground and Freight, the last day to ship varies depending on origin and destination from 12/12 to 12/22

They've also provided last day to ship dates for US to Canada, US to Mexico, and US to Puerto Rico.

Of course, experienced buyers and sellers should know these are just estimates and may in some cases be highly aspirational or subject to weather or delays, so it wouldn't hurt to give yourself a couple extra days, just in case!