The Shopping Deadlines You Need To Know to Guarantee Delivery by Christmas (Plus, What to Buy!)
Looking for a silver lining this holiday season? How about three: no stressful hunts for a parking spot at packed malls, no battling long lines to enter stores, and no dread of facing empty shelves. Our holiday shopping is happening from the comfort of our couches, and we’re not complaining one bit! But be warned, the increase in online shopping means that deliveries will likely take even longer than usual this year, so make sure you get your orders in as early as possible to avoid the stress of dealing with delays. Below, we’ve rounded up the very last shipping dates from some of our favorite retailers to ensure that your gifts will arrive in time for Christmas morning. We even included some gift suggestions to save you even more time. Be sure to read the fine print on each retailer’s site to make sure you’re getting the latest shipping details. And check back often, because we’ll be updating this list as more dates are confirmed. Now get shopping!
Mail Services
FedEx — Whether you’re sending cookies or holiday cards, the last day to ship with FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery is Dec. 15. If you’re opting for FedEx Express, you have until Dec. 21. As for FedEx Standard or Priority Overnight, the cutoff date is Dec. 23. Here is the full list of FedEx shipping deadlines.
UPS — The last day to ship with UPS Ground is Dec. 15, and the last day to ship with UPS Three Day Select is Dec. 21. UPS Second Day Air must be sent by Dec. 22, and the last day to ship with UPS Next Day Air is Dec. 23. Here is the complete list of UPS shipping deadlines.
The U.S. Postal Service — The last day to ship using Postal Service Retail Ground Service is Dec. 15. The last day to ship with First Class Mail Service is Dec. 18, and the last day to ship with Priority Mail Service is Dec. 19. Priority Mail Express Service must be sent by Dec. 23. Here is the full list of Postal Service shipping deadlines.
AnnMarie Mattila contributed to reporting.