2024 Holiday Shipping Deadlines for the US

By Maria Fagerland
Sep 1, 2024

With school back in session and the leaves slowly starting to change colors, it’s time to start preparing for the holiday season! Holiday shipping deadlines from carriers like USPS, UPS, and FedEx may seem far away, but they’ll be here before you know it. 

If you aren’t sure what holiday shipping deadlines are or need a refresher, here’s the gist: 

The TL;DR on Shipping Deadlines: Holiday shipping deadlines are the last possible date a package can be shipped with a carrier and arrive at its destination in time for the holidays. 

For example, a specific carrier service may require you to ship a package by December 16th to ensure your shipment arrives at its destination by December 25th due to high shipping volumes. Shipping deadlines provide your business and your customers with delivery cutoffs so that Aunt Susan can unwrap her new sweater on Christmas morning. 

Additionally, having holiday shipping deadlines before the holiday season is in full swing helps your business make big decisions like whether or not to offer free and/or expedited shipping options. The earlier your customers can find their available shipping options for the holiday season, the more likely they’ll have a great impression of your business. With Christmas falling on a Monday this year, it’s easy to let the weekend before the holiday slip away. This means offering customers overnight shipping options could benefit your business more than it has in the past. 

Table of Contents

  1. USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2024
  2. FedEx Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2024
  3. UPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2024

USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines in the US

  • USPS Ground Advantage™: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 
  • First-Class® Mail: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 
  • Priority Mail®: Thursday, December 19,  2024 
  • Priority Mail Express®*:  Saturday, December 21, 2024 

FedEx Holiday Shipping Deadlines in the US

UPS® Holiday Shipping Deadlines in the US

  • UPS 3 Day Select®: Thursday, December 19, 2024 (UPS 3 Day Select® packages picked up Dec. 20 will be scheduled for delivery on Friday, Dec. 27)
  • UPS 2nd Day Air® services: Friday, December 20, 2024 
  • UPS® Ground: Check ups.com/ctc for details
  • UPS® Ground Saver: Check ups.com/ctc for details
  • UPS Next Day Air® services: Monday, December 23, 2024 

Need a quick reference for upcoming shipping deadlines? Print out our calendar and share it with your team and customers.

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Maria Fagerland

Maria is a seasoned content marketing manager at ShippingEasy, bringing a wealth of expertise to the world of shipping and fulfillment. When she's not immersed in the world of logistics, Maria enjoys exploring her culinary creativity by experimenting with various recipes.

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