UPS, FedEx, and USPS Reveal Shipping Cutoff Dates Based on Selected Methods
Balsam Hill Founder and CEO Mac Harman joins ‘Varney & Co.’ to discuss how tariffs and supply chain shifts are driving up the cost of Christmas trees and what it means for holiday shoppers.
While Christmas is nearly a week away, there is still time to get packages shipped to arrive on time before the holiday. However, those shipping deadlines are rapidly approaching.
Each year, major package delivery carriers announce the deadlines for shipping packages or mail to ensure they arrive by Christmas Eve. These deadlines vary based on the specific shipping method chosen.
In anticipation of the holiday rush, UPS encouraged shoppers as early as September to shop and ship packages sooner. This proactive approach aims to alleviate the expected surge in package volume during the festive season.
RISING HOLIDAY SCAMS ARE COSTING CONSUMERS. HERE’S HOW TO PROTECT YOUR WALLET
To prepare for this year’s holiday season, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced in November that its largest mail processing facility in Los Angeles has increased its daily processing capacity from 60 million to 88 million packages. This enhancement was made possible by deploying over 600 new package sorters.
A United States Postal Service (USPS) worker delivers packages on Cyber Monday in New York, US, on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Bess Adler/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
USPS reported that the 614 state-of-the-art package sorting machines added over the past five years enable it to handle larger packages more efficiently, preparing for the anticipated surge in holiday package volume.
EMPTY BOXES AND MISSING PARTS: SHOPPERS ARE EXPLOITING RETAIL RETURN POLICIES
UPS
UPS Ground: Check the specific deadline online, as the ship-by date varies by location.
UPS 3 Day Select: The last day to ship for delivery by Christmas is Dec. 19, 2025.
UPS 2nd Day Air: The final shipping day for Christmas delivery is Dec. 22, 2025.
UPS Next Day Air: The last day to ship for Christmas arrival is Dec. 23, 2025.
A UPS delivery person in Manhattan, New York. (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
FedEx
FedEx SameDay: The last day to ship for Christmas is Dec. 24 for same-day delivery options where available.
FedEx First Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight, FedEx Standard Overnight, and Extra Hours: The last day to ship using any of these overnight services is Dec. 23.
AMAZON GIVES SOME CUSTOMERS REFUNDS FOR RETURNS MADE YEARS AGO
FedEx 2Day & FedEx 2Day AM: The final shipping day for FedEx 2Day services is Dec. 22.
FedEx Express Saver: The last day to ship FedEx Express Saver is Dec. 19.
FedEx trucks at a distribution center in San Diego, California. (Kevin Carter)
FedEx Ground/FedEx Home Delivery: Depending on the distance your package must travel, the last day to ship is:
- Five-day transit: The last day is Dec. 19.
- Four-day transit: The last day is Dec. 20.
- Three-day transit: The last day is Dec. 21.
- Two-day transit: The last day is Dec. 22.
- One-day transit: The last day is Dec. 23.
USPS
USPS Ground Advantage: The recommended last day to ship for delivery before Christmas is Dec. 17.
First-Class Mail: The recommended last day to send First-Class Mail is Dec. 17.
Priority Mail: The final recommended day to ship Priority Mail is Dec. 18.
Priority Mail Express: The last recommended day to send Priority Mail Express is Dec. 20.
USPS deadlines for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories:
USPS Ground Advantage: The recommended last day to ship is Dec. 16.
First-Class Mail: The recommended last day to send First-Class Mail is Dec. 17.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Priority Mail: The final recommended day to ship Priority Mail for expected delivery is Dec. 18.
Priority Mail Express: The last recommended day to send Priority Mail Express is Dec. 20.
Balsam Hill Founder and CEO Mac Harman joins ‘Varney & Co.’ to discuss how tariffs and supply chain shifts are driving up the cost of Christmas trees and what it means for holiday shoppers.
While Christmas is nearly a week away, there is still time to get packages shipped to arrive on time before the holiday. However, those shipping deadlines are rapidly approaching.
Each year, major package delivery carriers announce the deadlines for shipping packages or mail to ensure they arrive by Christmas Eve. These deadlines vary based on the specific shipping method chosen.
In anticipation of the holiday rush, UPS encouraged shoppers as early as September to shop and ship packages sooner. This proactive approach aims to alleviate the expected surge in package volume during the festive season.
RISING HOLIDAY SCAMS ARE COSTING CONSUMERS. HERE’S HOW TO PROTECT YOUR WALLET
To prepare for this year’s holiday season, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced in November that its largest mail processing facility in Los Angeles has increased its daily processing capacity from 60 million to 88 million packages. This enhancement was made possible by deploying over 600 new package sorters.
A United States Postal Service (USPS) worker delivers packages on Cyber Monday in New York, US, on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Bess Adler/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
USPS reported that the 614 state-of-the-art package sorting machines added over the past five years enable it to handle larger packages more efficiently, preparing for the anticipated surge in holiday package volume.
EMPTY BOXES AND MISSING PARTS: SHOPPERS ARE EXPLOITING RETAIL RETURN POLICIES
UPS
UPS Ground: Check the specific deadline online, as the ship-by date varies by location.
UPS 3 Day Select: The last day to ship for delivery by Christmas is Dec. 19, 2025.
UPS 2nd Day Air: The final shipping day for Christmas delivery is Dec. 22, 2025.
UPS Next Day Air: The last day to ship for Christmas arrival is Dec. 23, 2025.
A UPS delivery person in Manhattan, New York. (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
FedEx
FedEx SameDay: The last day to ship for Christmas is Dec. 24 for same-day delivery options where available.
FedEx First Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight, FedEx Standard Overnight, and Extra Hours: The last day to ship using any of these overnight services is Dec. 23.
AMAZON GIVES SOME CUSTOMERS REFUNDS FOR RETURNS MADE YEARS AGO
FedEx 2Day & FedEx 2Day AM: The final shipping day for FedEx 2Day services is Dec. 22.
FedEx Express Saver: The last day to ship FedEx Express Saver is Dec. 19.
FedEx trucks at a distribution center in San Diego, California. (Kevin Carter)
FedEx Ground/FedEx Home Delivery: Depending on the distance your package must travel, the last day to ship is:
- Five-day transit: The last day is Dec. 19.
- Four-day transit: The last day is Dec. 20.
- Three-day transit: The last day is Dec. 21.
- Two-day transit: The last day is Dec. 22.
- One-day transit: The last day is Dec. 23.
USPS
USPS Ground Advantage: The recommended last day to ship for delivery before Christmas is Dec. 17.
First-Class Mail: The recommended last day to send First-Class Mail is Dec. 17.
Priority Mail: The final recommended day to ship Priority Mail is Dec. 18.
Priority Mail Express: The last recommended day to send Priority Mail Express is Dec. 20.
USPS deadlines for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories:
USPS Ground Advantage: The recommended last day to ship is Dec. 16.
First-Class Mail: The recommended last day to send First-Class Mail is Dec. 17.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Priority Mail: The final recommended day to ship Priority Mail for expected delivery is Dec. 18.
Priority Mail Express: The last recommended day to send Priority Mail Express is Dec. 20.
