2020 USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines

By Rob Zaleski
Sep 22, 2020

Announcing 2020 holiday shipping deadlines for USPS!

The 2020 USPS holiday shipping deadlines have been announced, and it’s time to mark your calendars…or simply bookmark this page and check the dates below! Help your customers ensure their holiday purchases arrive on time for the big holiday by using these charts to set your shipping service levels.

In the following charts, you’ll find the last shipping date for primary services from USPS to ensure packages arrive before Friday, December 25. Use these dates to set shipping deadlines on your website and decide if and when to offer free shipping.

USPS Domestic Holiday Shipping Deadlines

Below are the USPS holiday shipping deadlines for the most popular domestic products from USPS.

USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines
USPS Product	Deadline
First Class Mail	18-Dec
Priority Mail	19-Dec
Priority Mail Express*	23-Dec

USPS Retail Ground	15-Dec
DNDC Drop Ship - Marketing Mail	19-Dec
DSCF Drop Ship - Marketing Mail	21-Dec
DDU Drop Ship - Marketing Mail	22-Dec
_{*Priority Mail Express postage refund eligibility is adjusted for shipments mailed December 22-25}

USPS Military Holiday Shipping Deadlines

The below charts break down various military and diplomatic locations and the cutoff times to arrive by December 25.

Priority Mail Express Military APO/FPO/DPO
Military Mail Addressed To/From APO/FPO/DPO	Priority Mail Express Military^TM Service (PMEMS) ^*1	First-Class Mail® Letters and Cards	Priority Mail®
AE ZIPs 090-092	18-Dec	11-Dec	11-Dec
AE ZIP 093	N/A	9-Dec	9-Dec
AE ZIPs 094-098	18-Dec	11-Dec	11-Dec
AA ZIP 340	18-Dec	11-Dec	11-Dec
AP ZIPs 962-966	18-Dec	11-Dec	11-Dec

_{^*1 PMEMS: is available to selected military /diplomatic post offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address.}

Priority Mail Express Military APO/FPO/DPO (cont.)
Military Mail Addressed To/From APO/FPO/DPO	Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) ^*2	Space Available Mail (SAM) ^*3	USPS Retail Ground^TM
AE ZIPs 090-092	4-Dec	27-Nov	6-Nov
AE ZIP 093	4-Dec	27-Nov	6-Nov
AE ZIPs 094-098	4-Dec	27-Nov	6-Nov
AA ZIP 340	4-Dec	27-Nov	6-Nov
AP ZIPs 962-966	4-Dec	27-Nov	6-Nov

_{^*2 PAL: is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for USPS Retail Ground items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface price for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.}
_{^*3 SAM: parcels are paid at USPS Retail Ground prices with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.}

USPS International Holiday Shipping Deadlines

If your customers are sending presents overseas, use the below dates to set expectations. Also, be aware that some locations are still currently blocked by USPS due to COVID-19 restrictions. We track those locations and update this page weekly to help you be aware of international locations USPS is not delivering to.

International Mail
International Mail Addressed To	Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG)***	Priority Mail Express International® (PMEI)	Priority Mail International® (PMI)	First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS)
Africa	Pending	7-Dec	30-Nov	30-Nov
Asia/Pacific Rim	Pending	14-Dec	7-Dec	7-Dec
Austriala/New Zealand	Pending	14-Dec	7-Dec	7-Dec
Canada	Pending	14-Dec	7-Dec	7-Dec
Caribbean	Pending	14-Dec	7-Dec	7-Dec
Central & South America	Pending	7-Dec	30-Nov	30-Nov
Mexico	Pending	14-Dec	7-Dec	7-Dec
Europe	Pending	14-Dec	7-Dec	7-Dec
Middle East	Pending	14-Dec	7-Dec	7-Dec

_{***GXG Notes: 1) Cutoff date does not take into account time needed for customs clearance.} _{2) Should allocate extra transit day(s) for delivery outside major cities.}

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