Christmas shipping deadlines 2026
The last days to send cards and packages with USPS, UPS, FedEx and Amazon for delivery by Christmas, Friday, December 25, 2026.
To arrive by Christmas 2026, USPS says to send Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail by Thursday, December 17; Priority Mail by Friday, December 18; and Priority Mail Express by Saturday, December 19. FedEx's last days to ship run from Tuesday, December 15 (FedEx Ground Economy) to Thursday, December 24 (FedEx SameDay). UPS and Amazon haven't published their 2026 dates yet; last year's are below.
Next deadline: Wednesday, November 4 (in 22 days), for USPS Ground Advantage to military addresses.
USPS
2026 datesContiguous U.S.
ThuUSPS Ground Advantage65 days left
ThuFirst-Class Mail65 days left
FriPriority Mail66 days left
SatPriority Mail Express67 days left
Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories
WedUSPS Ground Advantage
USPS says Ground Advantage to or from these ZIP codes can take longer than usual, so check the estimated delivery date and send earlier if needed.64 days left
ThuFirst-Class Mail65 days left
FriPriority Mail66 days left
SatPriority Mail Express67 days left
Military (APO/FPO/DPO)
WedUSPS Ground Advantage22 days left
WedFirst-Class Mail57 days left
WedPriority Mail57 days left
WedPriority Mail Express Military Service
Not offered to ZIP 093, and only available at some military post offices.64 days left
These are the send-by dates USPS recommends for expected delivery before Dec. 25, not guarantees: actual delivery depends on where the item starts and ends and when the Post Office accepts it. The military dates are for APO, FPO and DPO addresses. Source (September 22, 2026)
FedEx
2026 datesContiguous U.S.
TueFedEx Ground Economy63 days left
ThuFedEx Ground / FedEx Home Delivery
This is the date for the longest (5-day) routes. Shorter routes can ship later: 4-day by Dec. 18, 3-day by Dec. 21, 2-day by Dec. 22 and 1-day by Dec. 23, so look up the transit time between your ZIP codes.65 days left
MonFedEx Express Saver69 days left
TueFedEx 2Day / FedEx 2Day AM70 days left
WedFedEx First Overnight / Priority Overnight / Standard Overnight71 days left
ThuFedEx SameDay72 days left
FedEx's dates are its recommended last days to ship for arrival by Dec. 24, a day before Christmas, and FedEx says they can change. They come from the trade site Value Added Resource's Sept. 24, 2026 report of FedEx's 2026 chart, not from fedex.com directly. Source: Value Added Resource
Common questions
What is the last day to ship for Christmas 2026?
The latest published dates are for the fastest services: Priority Mail Express by Saturday, December 19 and FedEx SameDay by Thursday, December 24. Slower services need to go out earlier.
What are the USPS Christmas deadlines for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories?
USPS says to send Ground Advantage by Wednesday, December 16; First-Class Mail by Thursday, December 17; Priority Mail by Friday, December 18; and Priority Mail Express by Saturday, December 19.
What is the USPS Christmas deadline for military mail?
For APO, FPO and DPO addresses, USPS says to send Ground Advantage by Wednesday, November 4; First-Class Mail and Priority Mail by Wednesday, December 9; and Priority Mail Express Military Service by Wednesday, December 16.
Has UPS announced its Christmas 2026 shipping deadlines?
Not as of October 13, 2026. Last year (2025): 3 Day Select by Friday, December 19; 2nd Day Air by Monday, December 22; and Next Day Air by Tuesday, December 23.
Has Amazon announced its Christmas 2026 shipping deadlines?
Not as of October 13, 2026. Last year (2025): Same-Day Delivery by Wednesday, December 24.
Is the post office open on Christmas Eve?
Yes. The post office is open on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 2026.
Is the post office open on Christmas?
No. The post office is closed on Christmas, Friday, December 25, 2026.
Are these dates guaranteed?
No. They're each carrier's recommended last days to ship. Weather and holiday volume can slow deliveries, so send earlier when you can, and check the delivery estimate when you buy postage.
UPS
Not announcedLast year (2025), for comparison
2025UPS 3 Day Select2025
2025UPS 2nd Day Air2025
2025UPS Next Day Air2025
UPS had not posted its 2026 last days to ship when the trade site Value Added Resource reported on Sept. 24, 2026. Last year's dates, as reported by Fox Business, were for arrival by Christmas Eve, and UPS Ground had no single cutoff because it depends on the route. Source · 2025 dates: Fox Business
Amazon
Not announcedLast year (2025), for comparison
2025Same-Day Delivery
Eligible areas (more than 9,000 U.S. cities and towns)2025
Amazon had not published order-by dates for Christmas 2026 when checked. Last year it gave no cutoff date for each delivery speed: it pointed shoppers to the "Arrives before Christmas" label on search and product pages, and offered Same-Day Delivery through Christmas Eve in more than 9,000 U.S. cities and towns while delivery windows lasted. Source · 2025 dates
Mail and deliveries on Christmas Eve
Everything openNot a postal holiday: Post Offices open and mail is delivered.OpenUPS
Partly: UPS delivers, but picks up only prearranged Air shipments.LimitedFedEx
Yes, with earlier pickups and some FedEx Office locations closing early.LimitedAmazon delivery
Amazon delivers on Christmas Eve: for the 2023 and 2025 holidays it offered Same-Day Delivery through Christm…Open
Mail and deliveries on Christmas
Everything openChristmas Day (Fri., Dec. 25) is on USPS's 2026 holiday list: Post Offices closed and no regular mail deliver…ClosedUPS
UPS holiday: no UPS pickup or delivery service.ClosedFedEx
FedEx closed.ClosedAmazon delivery
Amazon hasn't said whether it delivers packages on Christmas Day; check the delivery date shown at checkout o…Not announced
Each carrier's recommended dates, checked October 13, 2026; none is a guarantee. We update the page as carriers publish their dates. What's open on Christmas · All holiday hours