With the holiday shopping season well underway, it is important to start communicating the holiday shipping deadlines for this year to ensure that your customers' gifts arrive on time. Being transparent about shipping deadlines will create a sense of urgency while also protecting your gift shopper’s experience.. Read on for a breakdown of carrier deadlines and how to avoid disappointing delivery outcomes this season.
2022 Holiday Season: Carrier Deadlines
USPS Holiday Deadlines
- USPS Retail Ground: Dec. 17 (Dec. 2 for Alaska)
- USPS First-Class Mail: Dec. 17 (Dec. 17 for Alaska / Dec. 17 for Hawaii)
- USPS Priority Mail: Dec. 19 (Dec. 17 for Alaska / Dec. 17 for Hawaii)
- USPS Priority Mail Express: Dec. 23 (Dec. 21 for Alaska / Dec. 21 for Hawaii)
Full list of the cutoff dates for December 25 via USPS
FedEx Holiday Deadlines
- FedEx Ground: Dec. 14
- FedEx Saver: Dec. 20
- FedEx 2Day and 2Day AM: Dec. 21
- First Overnight and Priority Overnight: Dec. 22
- SameDay: Dec. 23
Important Notes About FedEx Shipping
You cannot get overnight delivery from FedEx this year because Christmas falls on a Sunday. Also, because of the Sunday holiday date, overnight service deadlines are one day earlier this year. If you are in a crunch, you must ship FedEx SameDay on December 23 to get the package by Christmas.
Full list of shipping deadlines for holiday packages via FedEx
UPS Holiday Deadlines
- UPS Ground: Check the website - http://ups.com/ctc - for deadlines
- UPS 3-Day Select: Dec. 20
- UPS 2nd Day Air: Dec. 21
- UPS Next Day Air: Dec. 22
Important Notes About UPS Shipping
Like FedEx, UPS shipping deadlines are about a day earlier when compared to last year. If shipping UPS, you will need to send your last packages by December 22 to ensure they arrive by December 25.
Full list of recommended last days to ship for December 24 delivery via UPS
Shipping Deadlines for Hanukkah & Kwanzaa in 2022
Hanukkah
This year, Hanukkah starts on December 18 and ends on December 26, which makes it an exact week ahead of Christmas. So, you can either subtract a week from the deadlines above or plan around when you would like your package to arrive.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa this year starts on December 26 (which is a federal holiday). So, if you want your package to be delivered in time for Kwanzaa, you can use the shipping deadlines above.
Remember: Nothing Is Guarantee
The deadlines in this blog are the carriers' recommendations and do not account for storms and other challenges that might arise during this major shipping month. By shipping out earlier, you can avoid any potential mishaps.
A Tip to Help You This Season
Adding a buffer when you share these deadlines with your customers can help eliminate unneeded headaches and stress during this season. By adding a buffer, you can ensure that the packages promised will arrive on time for your customers.
To capitalize on sales after your shipping deadlines, promote digital gift cards to your email lists and web visitors so you can still help last-minute shoppers find the perfect gift in time for the holiday.
