Why You Can Trust CNET Will Your Gift Arrive On Time? Everything to Know About USPS, FedEx, UPS and Amazon Shipping Deadlines
With less than a week to go, you've still got a few options left for making sure holiday presents arrive before Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
You still have a few days left to send packages for the holidays (if you're willing to pay premium shipping rates).
We've already blown past the first shipping deadlines for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, but don't panic. If you're willing to spend a bit more you can still get your holiday gifts delivered on time.
Every year, the major shipping and delivery companies announce their holiday deadlines, usually focused on Christmas. These guidelines are generally the very last day that you can send packages and expect them to arrive on time. But nothing is guaranteed, and a late December storm can throw off the best shipping schedule.
Circle these drop-dead shipping dates on your calendar, and don't miss them if you want your presents to arrive on time. Here are the 2024 Christmas shipping deadlines for the major American package delivery services. If you're looking for great gift suggestions, check out CNET's favorite holiday gift picks.
(And if you do miss these shipping deadlines, be sure to check for in-store pickup or great digital gifts that can be delivered instantly.)
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FedEx shipping deadlines for Dec. 25, 2024 arrival
With Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year, you'll be able to take take advantage of overnight shipping from FedEx on Monday, Dec. 23. In a pinch, you can also ship FedEx SameDay on Tuesday, Dec. 24, to get your package delivered by Christmas. FedEx Express Saver, 2Day and 3Day deadlines are all the week before Christmas, and the FedEx Ground deadline is two weeks before, on Dec. 17.
Here are the dates FedEx recommends you ship by (PDF) to have your packages arrive on or before Dec. 25 in the US.
FedEx holiday shipping deadlines
| Domestic service | Ship date |
|---|---|
| Ground | Dec. 17 |
| Express Saver | Dec. 19 |
| 2Day and 2Day AM* | Dec. 20 |
| First Overnight and Priority Overnight* | Dec. 23 |
| SameDay | Dec. 24 |
*You can send FedEx 2Day and FedEx 2Day AM one day later on Saturday, Dec. 21, with an optional Saturday Delivery surcharge for $16 per package.
UPS shipping deadlines for Dec. 25, 2024 arrival
As with FedEx, UPS shipping deadlines are a little more reasonable this week, with the holiday landing on a Wednesday instead of a Monday, as it did in 2023. You'll need to send your very last packages by Dec. 23 to make sure they arrive by Dec. 25. Here are UPS' recommended shipping dates (PDF) for Christmas 2023.
UPS holiday shipping deadlines
| Domestic service | Ship date |
|---|---|
| Ground | Check the UPS website for deadlines |
| 3-Day Select | Dec. 19 |
| 2nd Day Air | Dec. 20 |
| Next Day Air | Dec. 23 |
USPS shipping deadlines for Dec. 25, 2024 arrival
The US Postal Service deadlines for shipping Christmas packages also a bit more favorable for last-minute shopping this year. Here are the dates the US Postal Service recommends you circle on your calendar if you want packages to arrive before Dec. 25, including for Alaska and Hawaii.
USPS holiday shipping deadlines
| Domestic service | Date (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) | Date for Alaska | Date for Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Retail Ground | Dec. 18 | Dec. 16 | Dec. 16 |
| First-Class Mail | Dec. 18 | Dec. 18 | Dec. 18 |
| Priority Mail | Dec. 19 | Dec. 19 | Dec. 19 |
| Priority Mail Express | Dec. 21 | Dec. 20 | Dec. 20 |
Amazon estimated shipping deadlines for Dec. 25, 2024
You may be able to streamline the shopping and mailing process by ordering straight from Amazon and shipping the package directly to your giftee. But heads up: Amazon has a habit of waiting until much closer to Christmas before it lists its holiday shipping deadlines. We can extrapolate the deadline this year from shipping dates for preceding holiday seasons.
Note that these are estimated delivery dates. If it were us, and Christmas was close, we might not risk everything on those one-day and same-day delivery dates and instead send an electronic gift certificate. All shipping dates except for e-gift cards and free shipping in five to eight days are exclusively for Prime members.
One thing to look for: Amazon said Same-Day Delivery is available in more than 90 metro areas, so check whether your area has Same-Day Delivery. You can also look for "free delivery today" next to the product name. And each Amazon product listing page will also provide an estimated shipping date.
Amazon holiday shipping deadlines
| Shipping type | Deadline to buy | Date delivered |
|---|---|---|
| Free shipping | Dec. 14 | Dec. 24 |
| 2-day shipping (Prime) | Dec. 22 | Dec. 24 |
| 1-day shipping (Prime) | Dec. 23 | Dec. 24 |
| Same day delivery (Prime) | Dec. 24 | Dec. 24 |
| e-Gift card delivery | Dec. 25 | Dec. 25 |
How to ship packages to arrive in time for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa this year
Shipping companies don't generally list specific deadlines for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. However, since both holidays mostly align with Christmas this year, you can use the same deadlines.
Hanukkah starts on the evening of Dec. 25 this year, and Kwanzaa begins the next day on Dec. 26. If you want any Hanukkah or Kwanzaa packages to arrive before the holiday begins, use the shipping deadlines for Christmas.
Nothing is guaranteed, and storms and package supply shortages may result in shipping delays, as happened a few years ago.
To make sure your packages are safely delivered, here's how to guard against porch pirates. And if you need a little inspiration, here are some cool gifts for under $100.