2023 holiday shipping deadlines are closer than you might realize

There’s still time to take advantage of the cheapest option—ground delivery—but you’ll need to do so before the end of the week with two of the biggest shipping services. And if you haven’t got a package out of the door by Dec. 21, forget about it arriving before Christmas.

Hoping to order something online and have it arrive before the 25th? That’s a trickier situation. In some cases, the deadline for free or standard shipping has already passed. And the expedited shipping deadline is a week or less away.  

Here’s a look at the dates you need to know whether you’re sending packages or hoping to receive them.

USPS shipping deadlines

USPS Retail Ground – Dec. 16

First-Class Mail – Dec. 16

Priority Mail – Dec. 20

FedEx shipping deadlines

FedEx Ground (five-day) – Dec. 15

FedEx Express Saver – Dec. 19

FedEx SameDay – Dec. 22

UPS shipping deadlines

UPS 3 Day Select – Dec. 19

UPS 2nd Day Air – Dec. 20

UPS Next Day Air – Dec. 21

Retail shipping deadlines for 2023

Amazon

Standard shipping – varies

Expedited shipping – Dec. 23 for one-day delivery, Dec. 24 for same-day delivery

Barnes & Noble

Standard shipping – Dec. 17 by noon ET

Expedited shipping – Dec. 20 by 11:59 a.m. ET

Best Buy

Standard shipping – Dec. 20 by 10:30 CT

Expedited shipping – Dec. 24 by noon for same-day pickup

Dell

Standard shipping – Dec. 15 by 2:00 p.m. ET

Expedited shipping – Dec. 21 by 2:00 p.m. ET

Home Depot

Standard shipping – Dec. 16

Expedited shipping – Dec. 16

Kohl’s

Standard shipping – Dec. 19 by 1:00 p.m. CT

Expedited shipping – Dec. 20 by 1:00 p.m. CT

Macy’s

Standard shipping – Dec. 21 by 5:00 p.m. ET

Expedited shipping – Dec. 22 by noon ET

Old Navy

Standard shipping – Dec. 15

Expedited shipping – Dec. 22 by 1:00 p.m. ET

Target

Standard shipping – Dec. 22

Expedited shipping – Varies, check website

Walmart

Standard shipping – Dec. 20

Expedited shipping – Dec. 22