Holiday 2025 Ship Dates
USPS holiday shipping deadlines
The 2025 USPS holiday shipping deadlines are below, but before diving in, it’s important to note that these dates are estimates—not guarantees. It’s always best to add a few buffer days to account for weather delays and other unforeseen circumstances that could disrupt carrier operations, if possible.
For expected delivery before December 25, the Postal Service recommends the following send-by dates:
| Destination | Service Level | 2025 Holiday Shipping Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Contiguous U.S. (Lower 48 States) | USPS Ground Advantage® | December 17 |
| First-Class Mail® | December 17 | |
| Priority Mail® | December 18 | |
| Priority Mail Express® | December 20 | |
| Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories | USPS Ground Advantage® | December 16 |
| First-Class Mail® | December 17 | |
| Priority Mail® | December 18 | |
| Priority Mail Express® | December 20 |
For a complete list of suggested dates for customers sending packages to military or international addresses, the Postal Service recommends visiting the USPS holiday shipping page.
FedEx holiday shipping deadlines
FedEx offers a wide range of shipping services, encompassing domestic and foreign deliveries at varying speeds and price points. This variability carries through to FedEx’s holiday shipping deadlines, so keep the following guidance in mind as you educate consumers on when to buy for Christmas delivery.
| Destination | Service Level | 2025 Holiday Shipping Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Domestic | FedEx SameDay® | December 24 |
| FedEx First Overnight®, FedEx Priority Overnight®, FedEx Standard Overnight®, Extra Hours | December 23 | |
| FedEx 2Day® & FedEx 2Day® AM | December 22 | |
| FedEx Express Saver® | December 20 | |
| FedEx Ground® (5-day transit) | December 17 | |
| FedEx Ground® (4-day transit) | December 18 | |
| FedEx Ground® (3-day transit) | December 19 | |
| FedEx Ground® (2-day transit) | December 22 | |
| FedEx Ground® (1-day transit) | December 23 | |
| FedEx Home Delivery® (5-day transit) | December 17 | |
| FedEx Home Delivery® (4-day transit) | December 18 | |
| FedEx Home Delivery® (3-day transit) | December 19 | |
| FedEx Home Delivery® (2-day transit) | December 22 | |
| FedEx Home Delivery® (1-day transit) | December 23 | |
| FedEx Ground® Economy | December 15 | |
| FedEx 1Day® Freight | December 23 | |
| FedEx 2Day® Freight | December 19 | |
| FedEx 3Day® Freight | December 18 | |
| FedEx Freight® Priority (5-day transit) | December 16 | |
| FedEx Freight® Priority (4-day transit) | December 17 | |
| FedEx Freight® Priority (3-day transit) | December 18 | |
| FedEx Freight® Priority (2-day transit) | December 19 | |
| FedEx Freight® Priority (1-day transit) | December 22 | |
| FedEx Freight® Economy & FedEx Freight® Direct | December 11 | |
| U.S. to Canada | FedEx® International Next Flight | December 23 |
| FedEx International First® | December 23 | |
| FedEx International Priority® | December 22 | |
| FedEx International Priority Distribution® | December 22 | |
| FedEx International Economy® | December 19 | |
| FedEx® International Connect Plus | December 18 | |
| FedEx Ground® (7-day transit) | December 15 | |
| FedEx Ground® (6-day transit) | December 16 | |
| FedEx Ground® (5-day transit) | December 17 | |
| FedEx Ground® (4-day transit) | December 18 | |
| FedEx Ground® (3-day transit) | December 19 | |
| FedEx Ground® (2-day transit) | December 22 | |
| FedEx Ground® (1-day transit) | December 23 | |
| U.S. to Mexico | FedEx® International Next Flight | December 23 |
| FedEx International First® | December 22 | |
| FedEx International Priority® | December 22 | |
| FedEx International Economy® | December 19 | |
| FedEx® International Connect Plus | December 18 | |
| U.S. to Puerto Rico | FedEx® International Next Flight | December 23 |
| FedEx International First® | December 23 | |
| FedEx International Priority® | December 22 | |
| FedEx International Economy® | December 19 |
For full details, see FedEx's official 2025 holiday deadlines.
UPS holiday shipping deadlines
UPS offers specific shipping deadlines for expedited domestic shipments, as well as for packages sent from the U.S. to Canada and Mexico.
For UPS® Ground services, the carrier requires you to use its cost and time calculator to estimate delivery timelines.
Pro tip: Use the calculator to determine how long it takes to ship to your farthest U.S. customer (those farthest from your headquarters, warehouse, or distribution center). Then, find the date that ensures those packages arrive before Christmas and make that your deadline for all UPS® Ground shipments. This approach helps guarantee every customer receives their holiday orders on time.
| Destination | Service Level | 2025 Holiday Shipping Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Domestic | UPS® Ground | Check ups.com/ctc for details |
| UPS 3 Day Select® | December 19 | |
| UPS 2nd Day Air® | December 22 | |
| UPS Next Day Air® | December 23 | |
| U.S. to Canada | UPS® Standard (from the 48 contiguous states only) | Check ups.com/ctc for details |
| UPS Worldwide Expedited® | December 22 | |
| UPS Worldwide Express® | December 23 | |
| U.S. to Mexico | UPS® Standard services (from the 48 contiguous states only) | Check ups.com/ctc for details |
| UPS Worldwide Expedited® | December 19 | |
| UPS Worldwide Express® | December 22 |
DHL Express holiday shipping deadlines
DHL Express keeps their shipping deadlines simple. Per the DHL Express Holiday Shipping Guide, "To meet your shipping deadlines and ensure your gifts arrive on time during the holiday season, we recommend scheduling your deliveries DHL Express to arrive a day before a public holiday. To ship during Christmas this year, the cut-off shipping delivery date would be 24th December (Christmas Eve)."