WASHINGTON — Christmas might seem pretty far away — but with the busiest shipping days of the year ticking closer, it's a good time to mark your calendar with some major shipping deadlines.
While you're making your list of gifts (and checking it twice), avoiding high last-minute shipping prices will keep your wallet jolly.
The U.S. Postal Service announced this week its 2023 holiday shipping and mailing deadlines. It also shared that it won't be charging any additional surcharges this holiday season, unlike the last few years.
Ground shipping is generally the cheapest option, but you'll need to wrap things up by mid-December. FedEx's last day for ground economy delivery before Christmas is Friday, Dec. 15. For USPS, that deadline is Saturday, Dec. 16. UPS has in the past recommended getting an estimate from its website, which calculates delivery dates for its various services.
Another option is ordering gifts online, sending them directly to the recipient's address. Christmas shipping deadlines vary by retailer, but many will have website banners in December to show when you'll need to order to have it delivered on time. Some online retailers, like Amazon, even offer gift wrapping for various products.
Here are the major deadlines for delivery in time for Monday, Dec. 25.
- USPS Ground Advantage — Saturday, Dec. 16
- First-Class Mail (including greeting cards): Saturday, Dec. 16
- Priority Mail: Monday, Dec. 18
- Priority Mail Express: Wednesday, Dec. 20
- FedEx Ground Economy: Wednesday, Dec. 13
- FedEx Home Delivery, FedEx Ground: Friday, Dec. 15 (Depending on destination, up to Friday, Dec. 22 for 1-day shipping)
- FedEx Express Saver, FedEx 3Day Freight: Tuesday, Dec. 19
- FedEx 2Day: Wednesday, Dec. 20
- FedEx 1Day Freight, FedEx Extra Hours: Thursday, Dec. 21
- FedEx SameDay: Friday, Dec. 22
UPS has yet to share its holiday shipping deadlines for 2023.
Different deadlines will apply if you're mailing packages out of the country or to Alaska or Hawaii, so check the carriers' websites to find that information.
