2026 holiday shipping deadlines

The drop-off time matters as much as the date. USPS picks up from us at noon and FedEx at 5 PM. Anything that comes in after that leaves the next business day. So a Priority Mail box handed over at 1 PM on Friday, Dec 18 doesn't actually leave until Monday, Dec 21. That's three days past the USPS date.

FedEx Ground doesn't have one date. It depends on how many days the trip takes from here. A box to Philadelphia is a short trip and can go as late as Dec 23. A box to Los Angeles takes about five days and needs to leave by Dec 17. Tell us the ZIP code and we'll look up the carrier's estimated transit time before you pay.

Ground is the cheapest way to ship with either carrier. Miss Dec 17 and USPS moves you to Priority Mail, then Express. At FedEx it's Express Saver, then 2Day, then Overnight. Each step costs more for the same gift.

Box size adds to it. December is when the biggest box in the garage gets used for the smallest present. We'll cut your box down to size or pack it in one of ours.

Wrapping paper tears on conveyor belts and sorting machines, and it can take the shipping label with it. Carriers don't want gift-wrapped boxes used as the outer box. Bring the gift wrapped or unwrapped and we'll pack it in a box made for shipping.

If you want something better than store-bought paper, we print custom wrapping paper here with your photos or your own design. It goes on the gift, inside the box.

USPS recommends Dec 17 for First-Class Mail in the lower 48. Cards need to be in our USPS pickup by noon that day.

Most people don't realize square envelopes cost more to mail than rectangular ones. They can't go through the sorting machines, so USPS adds a surcharge. The same goes for cards with bows, buttons, or anything lumpy. Bring one in and we'll tell you what postage it needs before you stamp the whole stack.

Haven't made your cards yet? We print holiday and photo cards here. Order early enough to leave time for signing and addressing before the 17th.

Carriers don't pick up from us on Saturdays. That matters for USPS Priority Mail Express: USPS lists Saturday, Dec 19 as its recommended last day, but from our counter it needs to be in by Friday, Dec 18 at noon.

FedEx Overnight dropped off by 5 PM on Dec 23 is expected to arrive Dec 24, but that isn't guaranteed during the holiday rush. If it has to be there, ship sooner. We're also closed New Year's Eve, Thursday, Dec 31.

First-Class Mail is Dec 17. Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express are Dec 18 from our counter. These are recommended dates, not guarantees, and packages to these areas can take longer in December. Ask us about FedEx to these areas.

Customs can add days or weeks, and no carrier can promise how long it takes. International packages need to leave well before domestic ones. We ship worldwide with FedEx, USPS, and Meest. Ask us for Meest holiday dates.

Shipping to Mexico? Read our guide to shipping a package to Mexico.

A package shipped on the recommended date usually makes it. Some don't. Once it leaves our counter, we can't control carrier delays. If it has to be there on time, ship a few days early or pick a faster service.