The U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and UPS have released recommended ship-by dates for gifts to be delivered in time for the December 25 holiday, which lands on a Saturday this year. With supply chain snags slowing deliveries to both retail stores and home doorsteps — and the USPS itself slowing mail delivery as part of a broad cost-cutting plan — retailers were already recommending consumers shop (and ship) early. Here are the dates, according to the shippers' websites.
USPS for Continental U.S.:
December 15: USPS retail ground service
December 17: First-class mail service (including holiday greeting cards)
December 17: First-class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)
December 18: Priority mail service
December 23: Priority mail express service
USPS For Air/Army/Fleet/Diplomatic post office addresses:
November 6: Retail ground service
December 9 :Priority mail and first-class mail
December 16: Priority mail express military service
USPS Alaska and Hawaii:
December 17: Hawaii to/from mainland — priority mail and first-class mail
December 18: Alaska to/from Continental U.S. — first-class and priority mail
December 21: Alaska to/from Continental U.S. and Hawaii to/from mainland — priority mail express
FedEx:
December 9: ground economy
December 15: ground and home delivery
December 21: express saver
December 22: two day and two-day am
December 23: overnight services
December 24: same day
UPS:
Ground shipping, check the website for a quote
December 22: second-day air services
December 23: next-day air services
December 25: no pickup service, UPS holiday
Note: UPS service guarantee still suspended for most services due to COVID-19