Holiday shipping deadlines for 2025 have been announced, and if you’re planning to send packages to loved ones this Christmas, you might want to mark your calendar now.
Major carriers including USPS, FedEx, and UPS have released their recommended cutoff dates to ensure your gifts arrive before December 25, giving shoppers a roadmap for the upcoming holiday rush. The deadlines, which vary by service level and destination, highlight the need for early planning — especially for those sending packages to Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories.
USPS Deadlines
The U.S. Postal Service has announced December 17, 2025, as the send-by date for both Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail for deliveries within the contiguous United States to arrive before Christmas. Planning to send something to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or other U.S. territories? You’ll need to act even sooner.
For these destinations, USPS recommends December 16 for Ground Advantage and December 17 for First-Class Mail to ensure delivery before Christmas Day. These slightly earlier deadlines reflect the additional transit time needed to reach these more distant locations.
FedEx Options
FedEx offers more flexibility for procrastinators, with some services available right up until December 23. According to the carrier’s holiday schedule, December 23 is the last day for many overnight and one-day domestic FedEx Express services — including First Overnight, Priority Overnight, Standard Overnight, and one-day FedEx Ground transit options — to arrive by Christmas Eve.
However, not waiting until the last minute might be the wiser choice. FedEx suggests December 17 as the cutoff for five-day transit using FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery services for domestic parcels to arrive by December 24.
Planning to use FedEx’s expedited services during the holiday season? Be aware that from November 29 through January 4, “delivery commitment times will be extended by 90-minutes on select time-definite FedEx Expedited services,” including domestic FedEx First Overnight, Priority Overnight, 2Day AM, and Extra Hours services.
The shipping giant also cautions that its holiday operating schedules are subject to change, noting that “any updates will be posted on this page, so please check back as the date of the holiday approaches.”
UPS Deadlines
UPS similarly offers options for last-minute shippers, with December 23 set as the final day to send packages via UPS Next Day Air for delivery on Christmas Eve. Those willing to ship a day earlier can use UPS 2nd Day Air, with a December 22 cutoff for Christmas Eve delivery.
Need something delivered even closer to the holiday? You might be out of luck. UPS states there will be “no UPS pickup or delivery service” on both Thanksgiving Day (November 27) and Christmas Day (December 25). The only exception is UPS Express Critical service, provided by Marken, which remains available on these holidays for truly urgent shipments.
For those using UPS 3 Day Select, ShipStation’s holiday deadline roundup confirms December 19 as the cutoff date. The shipping platform also reminds customers that carriers may apply peak surcharges during the holiday season, and Saturday delivery options could incur extra charges.
Planning Ahead
What happens if you miss these deadlines? While premium, last-minute shipping options might still be available, they’ll likely come with premium price tags — and even those aren’t guaranteed during the holiday crush.
Local reporting has also summarized the various carrier deadlines, with slight variations in some markets. Some sources list USPS Ground Advantage cutoff as December 16, with Priority Mail options available until December 18 in certain areas.
The bottom line for holiday shippers: when in doubt, send it early. With potential weather disruptions, record shipping volumes, and the general unpredictability of the holiday season, building in extra time could be the difference between gifts arriving under the tree or after the celebrations have ended.
