Happy Holidays from Descartes! As Peak Season approaches, prepare for on-time holiday deliveries. This year, Hanukkah is Dec. 25–Jan. 2, Christmas is Dec. 25, and Kwanzaa is Dec. 26–Jan. 1.
These holiday shipping deadlines from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and Sendle will help you plan for Peak Season and ensure customer satisfaction. Plus, check out our shipping automation rules to streamline shipping operations this year.
USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2024
Contiguous U.S. (Lower 48)
USPS Ground Advantage®: December 18
First-Class Mail®: December 18
Priority Mail®: December 19
Priority Mail Express®: December 21
U.S. - Alaska
USPS Ground Advantage®: December 16
First-Class Mail®: December 18
Priority Mail®: December 19
Priority Mail Express®: December 20
U.S. - Hawaii
USPS Ground Advantage®: December 16
First-Class Mail®: December 18
Priority Mail®: December 19
Priority Mail Express®: December 20
For more information, visit the USPS holiday shipping deadlines page. Actual delivery date may vary and is based on origin, destination, Post Office™ acceptance time, and other conditions.
UPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2024
U.S. Domestic
UPS® Ground: Check ups.com/ctc for details
UPS 3 Day Select®: December 19
UPS 2nd Day Air®: December 20
UPS Next Day Air®: December 23
U.S. to Canada
UPS® Standard: Check ups.com/ctc for details
(From the 48 contiguous states only)
UPS Worldwide Expedited®: December 20
UPS Worldwide Express®: December 23
U.S. to Mexico
UPS® Standard: Check ups.com/ctc for details
(From the 48 contiguous states only)
UPS Worldwide Expedited®: December 19
UPS Worldwide Express®: December 20
FedEx Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2024
FedEx Express®
FedEx SameDay®: Tue. December 24
FO, PO, SO, Extra Hours: Mon. December 23
2Day®* & 2Day® AM*: Fri. December 20
FedEx Express Saver®: Thu. December 19
FedEx 1Day® Freight: Mon. December 23
FedEx 2Day® Freight: Fri. December 20
FedEx 3Day® Freight: Thu. December 19
FedEx Ground®
FedEx Ground 5-Day: Tue. December 17
FedEx Ground 4-Day: Wed. December 18
FedEx Ground 3-Day: Thu. December 19
FedEx Ground 2-Day: Fri. December 20
FedEx Ground 1-Day: Mon. December 23
FedEx Ground Economy: Fri. December 13
FedEx Home Delivery®
FedEx Home Delivery® 5-Day: Tue. December 17
FedEx Home Delivery® 4-Day: Wed. December 18
FedEx Home Delivery® 3-Day: Fri. December 20
FedEx Home Delivery® 2-Day: Fri. December 20
FedEx Home Delivery® 1-Day: Mon. December 23
Customers select shipping days based on origin and destination to ensure delivery before Tuesday, December 24th.
*With optional Saturday delivery (a $16 per package surcharge), your last day to ship can be extended to 12/21 for FedEx 2Day and 2Day AM.
Sendle Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2024
Contiguous U.S. (Lower 48)
4G Saver: December 16
Saver: December 17
Preferred: December 18
3-Day Guaranteed: December 19
2-Day Guaranteed: December 20
Automation Rules for Holiday Shipping Savings
Remember, with ShipRush’s automation rules, you can automatically select the fastest, cheapest holiday shipping service for each order. ShipRush rate shops your connected shipping carriers’ services to identify the most cost-effective way to ship your order by the required delivery date.
Instead of letting shipping costs eat your holiday profits, take a few minutes to set up our Rate and Set to Fastest Shipping automation rule. This will save you time and money this holiday season.
Previous Years’ Holiday Shipping Deadlines
2022 USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines
USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines in the US
| USPS Service | 2022 Shipping Deadline |
| USPS Retail Ground™ | Sat., December 17, 2022 |
| First Class Mail® | Sat., December 17, 2022 |
| Priority Mail® | Mon., December 19, 2022 |
| Priority Mail Express®* | Fri., December 23, 2022 |
*Priority Mail Express postage refund eligibility is adjusted for shipments mailed December 22-25 Peak surcharges go into effect at 12:00 a.m., Central Time, on Oct. 2, 2022, and remain in place until 12:00 a.m., Central Time, Jan. 22, 2023.
2022 UPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines
UPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines in the US
| UPS Service | 2022 Shipping Deadline |
| UPS® Ground Shipping | Check ups.com/ctc for details |
| UPS 3-Day Select® | Mon., December 19, 2022 |
| UPS 2nd Day Air® services | Wed., December 21, 2022 |
| UPS next Day Air® services | Thu., December 22, 2022 |
2022 FedEx Holiday Shipping Deadlines
FedEx Holiday Shipping Deadlines in the US
| FedEx Service | 2022 Shipping Deadline |
| FedEx Ground® Economy | Thu., December 8, 2022 |
| FedEx Ground® | Wed., December 14, 2022 |
| Home Delivery® | Wed., December 14, 2022 |
| Express Saver® | Tue., December 20, 2022 |
| 2Day® Services | Wed., December 21, 2022 |
| FedEx Same Day | Fri., December 23, 2022 |
2021 USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines
Retail Ground: December 15, 2021
First Class Mail: December 17, 2021
Priority Mail: December 18, 2021
Priority Mail Express: December 23, 2021
2021 UPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines
UPS Ground: Check ups.com/ctc for details
UPS 3 Day Select: December 21, 2021
UPS 2nd Day Air: December 22, 2021
UPS Next Day Air: December 23, 2021
2021 FedEx Holiday Shipping Deadlines
FedEx Ground: December 15, 2021
FedEx Express Saver: December 21, 2021
FedEx Express 2-Day: December 22, 2021
FedEx Standard Overnight: December 23, 2021
