What are deadlines for 2023 holiday shipping?

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

With holiday celebrations such as Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa around the corner, time is running out to send packages or gifts through the mail to loved ones.

But what exactly are the latest dates one can do so?

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Here’s an outline of deadlines to ship packages so they get to loved ones in time for holiday celebrations, according to the United States Postal Service.


Domestic shipping for lower 48 states

Product/ServiceDate
USPS Ground AdvantageDec. 16
First-Class MailDec. 17
Priority MailDec. 18
Priority Mail ExpressDec. 20

Shipping dates for Alaska and Hawaii

StateFirst-Class MailPriority MailPriority Mail ExpressUSPS Ground Advantage
AlaskaDec. 16Dec. 188Dec. 20Dec. 16
HawaiiDec. 16Dec. 17Dec. 20Dec. 16

Shipping dates for international mail

AreaFirst-Class PackagePriority mailPriority Mail ExpressGlobal Express
AfricaNov. 29Nov. 29Dec. 6Dec. 15
Asia/Pacific RimDec. 6Dec. 6Dec. 13Dec. 15
Australia/New ZealandDec. 6Dec. 6Dec. 13Dec. 15
CanadaDec. 6Dec. 6Dec. 13Dec. 15
CaribbeanDec. 6Dec. 6Dec. 13Dec. 15
Central & South AmericaNov. 29Nov. 29Dec. 6Dec. 15
EuropeDec. 6Dec. 6Dec. 13Dec. 15
MexicoDec. 6Dec. 6Dec. 13Dec. 15
Middle EastDec. 6Dec. 6Dec. 13Dec. 15

Military mail

Addressed toGround AdvantageFirst-Class MailPriority MailPriority Mail Express
APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 090-092Nov. 6Dec. 9Dec. 9Dec. 15
APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 093Nov. 6Dec. 9Dec. 9N/A
APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 094-099Nov. 6Dec. 9Dec. 9Dec. 15
APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 340Nov. 6Dec. 9Dec. 9Dec. 15
APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 962-966Nov. 6Dec. 9Dec. 9Dec. 15

This article was initially published in 2022. It has since been updated for 2023.


About the Author:

Keith is a member of Graham Media Group's Digital Content Team, which produces content for all the company's news websites.

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