USPS deadlines for 2026
The US Postal Service published its recommended mail-by dates on 22 September 2026. These are for expected delivery by 25 December.
Within the US
| Service | Contiguous US | Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and US territories |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | Thursday 17 December | Allow 10 days or more; check the estimate |
| First-Class Mail (cards and letters) | Thursday 17 December | Thursday 17 December |
| Priority Mail | Friday 18 December | Friday 18 December |
| Priority Mail Express | Saturday 19 December | Saturday 19 December |
International
| Service | All regions |
|---|---|
| First-Class Package International | Wednesday 9 December |
| Priority Mail International | Wednesday 9 December |
| Priority Mail Express International | Wednesday 16 December |
Military and diplomatic (APO, FPO, DPO)
| Service | Most addresses |
|---|---|
| Ground Advantage | Wednesday 4 November |
| First-Class Mail and Priority Mail | Wednesday 9 December |
| Priority Mail Express Military | Wednesday 16 December, where available |
The Ground Advantage date for military mail is very early. If you are sending to someone serving overseas, ship by 4 November or use Priority Mail.
FedEx deadlines for 2026
FedEx publishes "last day to ship" dates for delivery by Thursday 24 December. As reported in October 2026:
| Service | Ship by |
|---|---|
| FedEx Ground Economy | Tuesday 15 December |
| FedEx Ground and Home Delivery | 17 to 23 December, depending on transit time to the destination |
| FedEx Express Saver (3-day) | Monday 21 December |
| FedEx 2Day and 2Day AM | Tuesday 22 December |
| FedEx Standard Overnight and Priority Overnight | Wednesday 23 December |
For FedEx Ground, the date depends on how many transit days your route takes, from 17 December for a 5-day route to 23 December for a 1-day route. Check the transit time from your ZIP code to the recipient's on the FedEx website.
UPS
UPS publishes its holiday deadlines on its website. Regular UPS delivery runs on Thursday 24 December, and regular service is closed on 25 December. UPS bases its dates on the service and the transit time, so use the UPS Calculate Time and Cost tool with both ZIP codes to get the last ship date for your route. We could not confirm the full 2026 UPS table from UPS itself, so we have not listed dates here.
Tips to make sure gifts arrive
- Ship a few days before the deadline. The dates are recommendations, not guarantees, and weather and peak-season volumes cause delays.
- Use the full address, including apartment number and ZIP+4 where you know it.
- Pack properly, in a sturdy box with padding, and remove old labels and barcodes from reused boxes.
- Get tracking, and share the tracking number with the recipient.
- Ask for a signature or a pickup point for valuable items, so parcels are not left on a doorstep.
- Ordering online? Retailers set their own cut-offs, usually earlier than the carriers'. Check the delivery estimate at checkout, and look for buy online, pick up in store if time runs out. Our Cyber Monday guide covers shopping strategy, and how to tell if a website is legit helps you avoid fake shops.
Watch out for delivery scams
December brings a surge in fake delivery texts and emails claiming a parcel is held and asking for a small fee or your card details. USPS, FedEx and UPS do not send unsolicited texts asking for payment. Check tracking by typing the carrier's address into your browser, never through a link in a message. Our guide to scam texts and phishing explains the signs.
If a package is late or lost
- Check tracking and the recipient's safe places, neighbours and mailroom.
- Wait a day or two after the expected date; scans often lag in December.
- File a claim or a missing-mail search with the carrier online. Have the tracking number, receipt and package contents ready.
- If you bought it online, contact the retailer: the seller is usually responsible until the item is delivered.
Key takeaways
- USPS: Ground Advantage and First-Class by 17 December, Priority by 18 December, Express by 19 December.
- International by 9 December, and military Ground Advantage by 4 November.
- FedEx 2Day by 22 December, overnight by 23 December.
- Ship early, keep tracking, and ignore texts asking you to pay a delivery fee.
Deadlines are the carriers' recommendations as published in September and October 2026 and can change. Check the carrier's website before you ship.