Make the holidays more cheery with these fun gift giving ideas.
In addition to checking your shopping list twice, better check the calendar, too. Time is getting short if you still have gifts to ship to family and friends across the U.S. this holiday season.
The calendar gave us a shortened holiday season this year, so proper planning has been required. To help you know when you need to have gifts wrapped and on the way, the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and UPS have posted holiday deadlines for shipping packages.
In anticipation of the rush, most shipping services added employees ahead of the holiday season. The Postal Service hired 7,500 seasonal employees to help with the holiday rush. "So, ship early and enjoy your holiday season," said Steve Monteith, the Postal Service's chief customer and marketing officer and executive vice president, in a statement.
If you still have gifts and packages to send this holiday season, here are some dates you need to know.
US Postal Service shipping deadlines for holiday deliveries
Here are the Postal Service's recommended mailing and shipping send-by dates for holiday mail and packages for expected delivery before Dec. 25 for addresses in the contiguous United States (lower 48 states):
The 2024 recommended USPS holiday mailing and shipping dates for items sent to addresses in Alaska and Hawaii:
For customers sending packages internationally or to military addresses, the Postal Service suggests checking the complete list of recommended holiday mailing and shipping dates at usps.com/holidayshippingdates.
FedEx holiday schedule 2024
Here are FedEx's recommended mail-by dates for getting your packages to their destination on or before Sunday, Dec. 24. FedEx Home delivers packages 150 pounds or less to residences every day of the week (with a $5.15 residential surcharge per package). FedEx Ground delivers packages 150 pounds or less to businesses or commercial addresses Monday to Friday.
You can get more details on shipping dates for freight or packages sent to Mexico, Canada, or Puerto Rico here. Shipping rates can also be calculated here.
If you like to send personalized holiday cards, calendars or photo books from Shutterfly for the holidays, the deadline is quickly approaching for cards and gifts be made and delivered from the customized photo service. You can find the dates and other information on the site.
Creation and delivery times for personalized items can vary, so check your cart at checkout for the most current estimates.
This article contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.
What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day