Need to ship a holiday gift? Here's our shipping deadlines guide for FedEx, USPS, UPS

Sarah Ann Dueñas, Austin American-Statesman
·5 min read

Need to send packages to loved ones across the United States or overseas for the holidays?

FedEx, the U.S. Postal Service, UPS and others have released their cutoff days for holiday delivery.

International holiday shipping dates will vary slightly by carrier.

Here’s everything you need to know for your holiday shipping needs:

What is the cutoff date for Christmas delivery?

Cutoff dates will vary by carrier and method of delivery, but the date range is between 5 and 7 business days.

Holiday shipping deadlines: Postal carriers announce schedule early this year

Are packages delivered on holidays?

Yes. Generally speaking, if you sent your letter or package at least a week before the holiday, then the recipient should receive your package the day of or the day before Christmas.

Check below to see what carriers will deliver on Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24.

What is the last day to ship with FedEx for Christmas?

The following dates are the recommended last days for shipping holiday gifts within the U.S. for delivery before Sunday, Dec. 24. Shipping deadlines for international mail will vary by destination.

The Postal Service has also announced that there will be no peak, or demand, surcharge this holiday season, according to the USPS website.

  • FedEx Ground Economy: Wednesday, Dec. 13

  • FedEx Home Delivery, FedEx Ground: Friday, Dec. 15

  • FedEx Express Saver, FedEx 3Day Freight: Tuesday, Dec. 19

  • FedEx 2Day: Wednesday, Dec. 20

  • FedEx 1Day Freight, FedEx Extra Hours: Thursday, Dec. 21

  • FedEx SameDay: Friday, Dec. 22

FedEx holiday hours

Sunday, Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve

  • FedEx will offer FedEx Home Delivery on Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24 for select locations.

  • Some FedEx office locations will have modified hours on Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24. Contact your local FedEx location to check hours.

  • FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Ground Economy, and FedEx Freight will be closed.

Monday, Dec. 25 - Christmas Day

  • There will be no FedEx Home Delivery on Christmas Day, Monday Dec. 25.

  • FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Home Delivery, FedEx Ground Economy, FedEx Freight, FedEx Office, and FedEx Trade Networks5 will be closed.

  • FedEx Custom Critical will be open.

  • FedEx office locations will be closed.

Visit the FedEx 2023 shipping deadline page to check out the last days to ship holiday packages to Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico from the U.S.

What is the last day to ship with USPS for Christmas?

The following are the recommended “send-by-dates” for expected delivery of cards, letters and packages by Sunday, Dec. 24 in the contiguous U.S. (lower 48 states):

  • USPS Ground Advantage: Saturday, Dec. 16

  • First-Class Mail: Saturday, Dec. 16

  • Priority Mail: Monday, Dec. 18

  • Priority Mail Express: Wednesday, Dec. 20

USPS holiday hours:

  • USPS will deliver Priority Mail Express mail on Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24.

  • USPS will not deliver on Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25.

  • Local post office locations will be closed on Sunday Dec. 24 and Monday, Dec. 25.

  • Mail in blue collection boxes will not be picked up on Sunday Dec. 24 and Monday, Dec. 25.

  • USPS will not pick up Regular mail on Sunday Dec. 24 and Monday, Dec. 25.

What are USPS new change of address rules?

USPS has implemented a new address verification policy, which can be done online, in person at a retail office, or by mail.

The new policy requires customers to verify their identity before submitting a "change of address" request for packages.

According to the USPS website, the changes described were made sometime in August.

Read more about the policy change: New USPS address change policy customers should know about

What is the last day to ship with UPS for Christmas?

The following dates are the recommended last days for shipping holiday gifts for delivery on Saturday, Dec. 23. Shipping deadlines for international mail will vary by destination.

  • UPS Ground Shipping: Check ups.com/ctc for details

  • UPS 3 Day Select: Dec. 19

  • UPS 2nd Day Air: Dec. 20

  • UPS Next Day Air: Dec. 21

Visit the UPS 2023 shipping deadline page to check out the last days to ship holiday packages to Canada and Mexico. For other international destinations visit: ups.com/ctc.

UPS Holiday hours

UPS will not pickup or deliver on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 or Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

Items picked up or dropped off for Next Day Air on Saturday, Dec. 23 will be scheduled for delivery on Tuesday, Dec. 26.

Sunday, Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve

  • UPS® Domestic Ground, Air & International will be closed.

  • UPS Store locations will have limited hours. Contact your local UPS Store location to check hours.

  • UPS® Forwarding (Air and Ocean) will be closed.

  • UPS Express Critical will be available.

Monday, Dec. 25 - Christmas Day

  • There will be no pickup or delivery on Christmas Day, Monday Dec. 25.

  • UPS Store locations, UPS® Domestic Ground, Air & International and UPS® Forwarding (Air and Ocean) will be closed.

  • UPS Express Critical will be available.

Uber will now pick up, drop off your package

Ahead of the busy holiday shopping season, rideshare company Uber is launching a new way for its Austin customers to get their packages to the post office.

The new service, which Uber announced nationwide on Wednesday, is intended to help cut down the time it takes to ship and return packages. Uber and Uber Eats users will be able to have an Uber courier pick up prepaid and sealed packages and drop them off at the post office, UPS or FedEx.

Uber has been delivering some packages already through Uber Connect, which allows Uber users to send packages or other small items to other people locally. The service is available in Austin.

Read more: Uber will now pickup, drop off your package at FedEx, USPS, UPS through new service

What are USPS Christmas shipping deadlines for Alaska?

  • USPS Ground Advantage: Saturday, Dec. 16

  • First-Class Mail: Saturday, Dec. 16

  • Priority Mail: Monday, Dec. 18

  • Priority Mail Express: Wednesday, Dec. 20

What are USPS Christmas shipping deadlines for Hawaii?

  • USPS Ground Advantage: Saturday, Dec. 16

  • First-Class Mail: Saturday, Dec. 16

  • Priority Mail: Saturday, Dec. 16

  • Priority Mail Express: Wednesday, Dec. 20

What are USPS Christmas deadline for shipping military destinations?

Here are the deadlines for holiday packages sent to Air or Army post offices, Fleet Post Offices or Diplomatic Post Offices.

  • USPS Ground Advantage: Monday, Nov. 6

  • First-Class Mail: Saturday, Dec. 9

  • Priority Mail: Saturday, Dec. 9

  • Priority Mail Express Military Service: Friday, Dec. 15

Priority Mail Express Military Service is not available for APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 093.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: FedEx, USPS, and UPS holiday hipping deadlines for 2023 season