Here are this year’s holiday shipping deadlines for different delivery services.

USPS

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has various shipping deadlines for deliveries within the country and abroad as well as for military deliveries. Some deadlines for international and military mail have already passed.

The USPS advises: “The earlier you send, the better: Don’t delay, mail and ship today.” Customers can also schedule a free package pickup for their delivery at the USPS website.

Below are the USPS’ recommended “send-by dates” for expected delivery before Christmas. The actual delivery date for your package may vary depending on origin, destination, post office acceptance date/time as well as other conditions, such as customs delays, the USPS says.

2021 USPS Shipping Deadlines for U.S. Deliveries (excluding Alaska and Hawaii)

USPS Retail Ground Service: December 15First-Class Mail Service: December 17Priority Mail Service: December 18Priority Mail Express Service: December 23

2021 USPS Shipping Deadlines for Alaska

First-Class Mail Service: December 18Priority Mail Service: December 18Priority Mail Express Service: December 21

Note: The shipping deadline for USPS Retail Ground Service for Alaska was on December 2.

2021 USPS Shipping Deadlines for Hawaii

First-Class Mail Service: December 17Priority Mail Service: December 17Priority Mail Express Service: December 21

Note: The shipping deadline for USPS Retail Ground Service for Hawaii isn’t available.

See the USPS website for full details on shipping deadlines for all international and military mail, which vary by region and military address and range from December 6 to 21.

Special Notes for Some USPS Deliveries

Priority Mail Express Domestic Service: All shipments mailed from December 22 to 25, the money-back guarantee applies only if the shipment wasn’t delivered or delivery wasn’t attempted within two business days, the USPS says. See DMM Section 604. 9. 2 for more information. Global Express Guaranteed Service (GXG): This service is “not a guarantee, unless otherwise noted,” the USPS says. The dates listed on the website for this service are for estimated delivery before December 25. The actual delivery date may differ according to origin, destination, post office acceptance date/time and other conditions, including customs delays but some restrictions apply for GXG. Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMEMS): This service is available to selected military/diplomatic post offices. Check with your local post office to confirm whether this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address, the USPS advises.

See the USPS website for more information.

UPS

Below are UPS’ recommended “last days to ship” for December 24 delivery this year. Shipments to certain destinations may require an earlier shipping date, UPS says. See ups.com/ctc for more information.

2021 UPS Shipping Deadlines for U.S. Domestic Deliveries

UPS Ground shipping: See ups. com/ctc for details. UPS 3 Day Select: December 21UPS 2nd Day Air: December 22UPS Next Day Air: December 23

2021 UPS Shipping Deadlines for Deliveries from U.S. to Canada

UPS Standard (from the 48 contiguous states only, so excludes Alaska and Hawaii): See ups.com/ctc for details.

UPS Worldwide Expedited: December 21UPS Worldwide Express: December 232021 UPS Shipping Deadlines for Deliveries from U. S. to MexicoUPS Standard (from the 48 contiguous states only, so excludes Alaska and Hawaii): See ups. com/ctc for details. UPS Worldwide Expedited: December 21UPS Worldwide Express: December 22

Other International Deliveries

Customers are advised to see ups.com/ctc for the recommended shipping deadlines for deliveries from the U.S. to other destinations abroad.

See the UPS website for more information.

FedEx

Below are FedEx’s dates for “last days to ship” holiday packages this year.

2021 FedEx Shipping Deadlines for U.S. Deliveries

FedEx Ground Economy: December 9FedEx Ground U. S. (including Alaska and Hawaii) : December 15FedEx Home Delivery U. S. (including Alaska and Hawaii): December 15FedEx Freight Economy: December 9FedEx Freight Priority: December 15FedEx Freight Direct: December 15FedEx Same Day: December 24FO, PO, SO, Extra Hours: December 232Day and 2Day AM: December 22FedEx Express Saver: December 21FedEx 1Day Freight: December 23FedEx 2Day Freight: December 22FedEx 3Day Freight: December 21

FedEx says: “December 15 is the last day to ship via FedEx Ground if you have a regular scheduled pickup or you drop off shipments at a staffed FedEx location.”

Transit times normally range from one to five business days within the contiguous U.S. and three to seven business days for FedEx Ground deliveries to and from Alaska and Hawaii, based on the destination ZIP code, FedEx notes.

See the FedEx website for full details on shipping deadlines for deliveries to Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and destinations abroad.