Get your holiday packages mailed: The USPS deadline for retail ground in the Lower 48 is Dec. 15

If you’re shipping holiday cards and gifts for Christmas, Dec. 25, or Kwanzaa, Dec. 26–Jan. 1, or other holiday traditions, it’s a time to make a plan to get your packages mailed.

The deadline for mailing packages through U.S. Postal Service ground to arrive by Dec. 25 is tomorrow, Dec. 15.

U.S. Postal Service

Contiguous U.S. – Lower 48

Retail ground – Dec. 15

First class mail – Dec. 17

Priority mail – Dec. 18

Priority mail express – Dec. 23

Alaska and Hawaii

Alaska

First class mail – Dec. 18

Priority mail – Dec. 18

Priority mail express – Dec. 21

Hawaii

First class mail – Dec. 17

Priority mail – Dec. 17

Priority mail express – Dec. 21

For international and military mail, most deadlines have passed except for global express guaranteed and priority mail express. See the USPS’ “Holiday Shipping Deadlines” for more information.

UPS

UPS ground – Check UPS Ground for details specific to your shipping destination

UPS 3 day select – Dec. 21

UPS 2^nd day air – Dec. 22

For information on UPS international deadlines, see UPS’ “2021 Year-End Holiday Schedule.”

FedEx

FedEx ground – Dec. 15

FedEx express – Dec. 21-24

For information on FedEx international deadlines, see FedEx’s “2021 Shipping Deadlines for Holiday Packages.”

For information on international deadlines, see FedEx’s “2021 Shipping Deadline for Holiday Packages.”