2024 holiday shipping deadlines: USPS, FedEx, UPS

Photo from USPS

LOS ANGELES – If you’re sending gifts to family and friends across the United States, the deadlines for shipping via the US Postal Service (USPS), FedEx and UPS are coming up this week.

USPS Chief Retail and Delivery Officer and Executive Vice President Joshua Colin said they are ready to handle the holiday surge,

“Our ability to move packages and mail throughout our network has never been stronger,” Colin said in a statement. “USPS continues to be the most affordable and reliable way to ship packages and mail this holiday season and year-round.”

The Postal Service has hired 7,500 seasonal employees to help with the holiday rush

USPS deadlines for holiday deliveries

Here are the the USPS recommended mailing and shipping send-by dates for holiday mail and packages for expected delivery before Dec. 25 for addresses in the contiguous United States (lower 48 states):

• USPS Ground Advantage service (2-5 business days): Dec. 18
• First-Class Mail service (1–5 business days): Dec. 18
• Priority Mail service (1-3 business days): Dec. 19
• Priority Mail Express service (1-2 day delivery): Dec. 21

The following are the recommended USPS holiday mailing and shipping dates for items sent to addresses in Alaska and Hawaii:

• USPS Ground Advantage service: Dec. 16
• First-Class Mail service: Dec. 18
• Priority Mail service: Dec. 19
• Priority Mail Express service: Dec. 20

Customers sending packages internationally or to military addresses may check the complete list of recommended holiday mailing and shipping dates here.

FedEx holiday schedule

Here are the recommended mail-by dates for getting your packages to their destination on or before Dec. 24.

• FedEx Home Delivery 5-Day Shipping: Tuesday, Dec. 17
• FedEx Home Delivery 4-Day Shipping: Wednesday, Dec. 18
• FedEx Home Delivery 2-to-3-Day Shipping: Friday, Dec. 20
• FedEx Home Delivery 1-Day Shipping: Monday, Dec. 23
• FedEx Overnight: Monday, Dec. 23
• FedEx Same Day: Tuesday, Dec. 24
• FedEx Ground Economy: Friday, Dec. 13
• FedEx Ground 5-Day Shipping: Tuesday, Dec. 17
• FedEx Ground 4-Day Shipping: Wednesday, Dec. 18
• FedEx Ground 3-Day Shipping: Thursday, Dec. 19

For freight or packages sent to Mexico, Canada or Puerto Rico, you can find more details here and shipping rates can be calculated here.

UPS holiday schedule

These are the recommended mail-by dates for shipping via UPS for Dec. 24 delivery:

• Ground: Check the UPS website for details.
• 3-Day Select: Dec. 19
• 2nd Day Air: Dec. 20
• Next Day Air: Dec. 23