Make sure you get those holiday gifts shipped early this year.

The stores may still be full of Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations, but the nation’s shipping companies are already preparing for Christmas. The three biggest carriers—United States Postal Service (USPS), FedEx, and United Parcels Service (UPS)—have announced deadlines for December 25 deliveries. The ship-by dates aren’t much different than years' past, but retailers and consumers will have more obstacles in getting those gifts to loved ones.

Supply and labor shortages have slowed delivery times during the pandemic for everything, so shippers are warning consumers to get their shopping done early.

On top of pandemic troubles, the USPS announced it would be implementing slower mail delivery beginning on October 1. The postal service is also bumping up prices during the holiday season; 75 cents on priority mail packaging and between 25 cents and $5 depending on the weight and delivery address.

Here are the dates you will need to get your packages sent in order for them to get there in time for Christmas:

Unites States Postal Service

  • December 15: USPS Ground
  • December  17: First-class mail service, greeting cards, and First-class packages (up to 16)
  • December 18: Priority Mail service
  • December  23: Priority Mail Express* service

Ship times are earlier for Alaska, Hawaii, and military mail.

USPS mail truck
Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay 

FedEx

*These dates are for U.S. delivery only.

  • December 9: FedEx Ground Economy
  • December 15: FedEx Ground, contiguous U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii
  • December 15: FedEx Home Delivery, contiguous U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii
  • December 21: FedEx Express Saver
  • December 22: FedEx 2nd Day
  • December 23: FedEx FO, PO, SO, extra hours
  • December 24: FedEx Same Day

UPS

  • Ground service varies, check the website for a quote
  • December 21: 3-Day Select
  • December 22: 2nd Day Air
  • December 23: Next Day Air

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