ORLANDO, Fla. – Each year, the United States Postal Service directs shippers to its list of recommended send-by dates to ensure delivery is a done deal by Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or otherwise.
Though the dates for some international locations and military mail options have passed, most of USPS’s mail classes and/or products call for shipping before Dec. 20 for the best chance at scoring delivery by Dec. 25, leaving you with a handful of days to hightail it to the nearest post office.
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Look below to see the shipping dates recommended by USPS for delivery before Dec. 25:
Domestic mail
| Domestic mail class/product | Date (excl. Alaska & Hawaii) | Date (Alaska & Hawaii) |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage® Service | Dec. 18 | Dec. 16 |
| First-Class Mail® Service | Dec. 18 | Dec. 18 |
| Priority Mail® Service | Dec. 19 | Dec. 19 |
| Priority Mail Express® Service* | Dec. 21 | Dec. 20 |
*As of Aug. 1, 2023, USPS will no longer process refund requests for guaranteed service on these items. Refund requests for loss will still be processed.
International mail
| Destination | First-Class Package International Service® | Priority Mail International® Service | Priority Mail Express International® Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Dec. 2 | Dec. 2 | Dec. 9 |
| Asia/Pacific Rim | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |
| Australia/New Zealand | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |
| Canada* | N/A* | N/A* | N/A* |
| Caribbean | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |
| Central & South America | Dec. 2 | Dec. 2 | Dec. 9 |
| Europe | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |
| Mexico | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |
| Middle East | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |
*Effective Nov. 29, 2024, international mail service to Canada is temporarily suspended, due to the strike of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. Read more.
Military mail
| Addressed to: | USPS Ground Advantage® Service | First-Class Mail® Service | Priority Mail® Service | Priority Mail Express Military® Service (PMEMS)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs™ 090-092 | Nov. 4 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 093 | Nov. 4 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | N/A |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 094-099 | Nov. 4 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 340 | Nov. 4 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 962-966 | Nov. 4 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |
*PMEMS is available to selected military/diplomatic Post Offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address.
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