Jump to deadlines for: Canada | United Kingdom | Australia
Why Do I Need To Know Holiday Shipping Deadlines?
For online sellers, getting orders out on time is crucial for a successful holiday season. Last-minute shoppers will expect ways to make a purchase days before December 25 and still get it on time. If you want to guarantee delivery by Christmas, you need to know which carrier services to use.
At ShipStation, we want you to delight your customers during the holidays. It’s important to tell your customers the last days to order if they need it by Christmas. So, we’ve compiled all the 2018 holiday shipping deadlines for the major carriers in the US.
Although you may need different information for international shipping during the holiday season, we’re going to go over how to handle domestic shipping this season.
Here are your deadlines for USPS, UPS, and FedEx:
USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines in the US
| Service | Shipping Cutoff Date |
| Retail Ground™ | Friday, December 14 |
| First Class Mail® | Thursday, December 20 |
| Priority Mail® | Thursday, December 20 |
| Priority Mail Express® | Saturday, December 22 |
View the 2018 Holiday Shipping Dates for International Mail.
FedEx Holiday Shipping Deadlines in the US
| Service | Shipping Cutoff Date |
| SmartPost® Services | Monday, December 10 |
| Ground® | Friday, December 14 |
| Home Delivery® | Monday, December 17 |
| Express Saver® | Wednesday, December 19 |
| 2Day® Services | Thursday, December 20 |
| Overnight® Services | Friday, December 21 |
View the last days to ship to Canada and Mexico.
UPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines in the US
| Service | Shipping Cutoff Date |
| Ground® | Friday, December 14 |
| 3 Day Select® | Tuesday, December 18 |
| 2nd Day Air® Services | Thursday, December 20 |
| Next Day Air® Services | Saturday, December 22 |
See the full 2018 year-end holiday schedule.
Amazon Holiday Shipping Deadlines in the US
| Service | Shipping Cutoff Date |
| Standard Shipping | Tuesday, December 18 |
| Prime FREE Two-Day Shipping | Saturday, December 22 |
| Prime FREE One-Day Shipping* | Sunday, December 23 |
| Prime FREE Same-Day Delivery* | Monday, December 24 |
| FREE 2-Hour Delivery with Prime Now* | Monday, December 24 |
*In select areas. See Amazon Prime for more info.
How Do I Use These Cutoff Dates For My Business?
Take these shipping cutoff dates and figure out the order-by dates for your customers. Consider the expected processing time you’ll need during this busy peak season. You might still be able to to pull off same-day turnaround, or you might need a few days before the deadline date. Use these dates as your building block for what you want to offer at checkout.
Download the 2018 Holiday Shipping Deadlines Infographic
With the shipping cutoff dates above, we also put together a handy timeline graphic that shows you what services are available.
If you use our holiday shipping deadlines infographic to start your holiday prep now, you’ll have plenty of time to calculate your own shipping cut off dates. And once you know your shipping schedule, you can start optimizing your shipping workflow to handle increased order volume. Plus, you’ll have more time to decide on which shipping promotions are best for your business and your customers.
Download Phone, Tablet, and Desktop Backgrounds
You won’t miss a shipping deadline with these screen backgrounds downloaded to your devices!
Here’s to a successful holiday season in ecommerce. The holidays can be hectic, so be sure to also check out our tips on ecommerce automation for the holidays to make sure you’re keeping up with your shipping. We wish you happy holidays and the best of luck! #ShipTheSeason
