• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Personal FinanceShipping

These are the holiday shipping deadlines you need to know for your presents to arrive on time

By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 16, 2024, 11:31 AM ET
The shortened holiday season has caught many people off guard this year.
The shortened holiday season has caught many people off guard this year.
  • Holiday shipping deadlines are almost here. Find out when you have to mail your package for delivery by Dec. 24.

Christmas is less than 10 days away—and if you haven’t sent out packages to people on your list, you might want to accelerate your packing plans.

Recommended Video

The shortened holiday season has caught many people off guard this year. While the calendar has been reminding us all that the holidays are, basically, here, our minds have insisted that there’s more time. Sorry cerebrum, you’re wrong this time.

If you’re planning to send gifts or other packages to friends and family, the deadlines are drawing near. And if you’re sending a package to someone in Hawaii or Alaska via one popular method, today’s your last chance to get it there on time.

Here’s what shipping companies are recommending for a delivery before Dec. 24—and note that none of these are guarantees.

UPS shipping deadlines

Ground: Varies. Head to ups.com/ctc to find the date for your package

3 Day Select: Dec. 19

2nd Day Air: Dec. 20

Next Day Air: Dec. 23

USPS shipping deadlines

Contiguous 48 states:

Ground: Dec. 18

First-Class Mail: Dec. 18

Priority Mail: Dec. 19

Priority Mail Express: Dec. 21

Alaska and Hawaii:

Ground: Dec. 16

First-Class Mail: Dec. 18

Priority Mail: Dec. 19

Priority Mail Express: Dec. 20

FedEx shipping deadlines

Home Delivery: Dec. 23 (if you choose the one-day shipping option)

Ground: Dec. 23 (if you choose the one-day shipping option)

Express Saver: Dec. 19

2Day and 2Day AM: Dec. 20

First Overnight, Priority Overnight, Standard Overnight, Extra Hours: Dec. 23

SameDay: Dec. 24

Join us at the Fortune Workplace Innovation Summit May 19–20, 2026, in Atlanta. The next era of workplace innovation is here—and the old playbook is being rewritten. At this exclusive, high-energy event, the world’s most innovative leaders will convene to explore how AI, humanity, and strategy converge to redefine, again, the future of work. Register now.
About the Author
By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Personal Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
North America
'I meant what I said in Davos': Carney says he really is planning a Canada split with the U.S. along with 12 new trade deals
By Rob Gillies and The Associated PressJanuary 28, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Politics
The American taxpayer spent nearly half a billion dollars deploying federal troops to U.S. cities in 2025, CBO finds
By Nick LichtenbergJanuary 28, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
C-Suite
Fortune 500 CEOs are no longer giving employees an A for effort. Now they want proof of impact
By Claire ZillmanJanuary 28, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
C-Suite
Jeff Bezos capped his Amazon salary at $80,000: ‘How could I possibly need more incentive?’
By Sydney LakeJanuary 28, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Investing
Jerome Powell got a direct question about the U.S. ‘losing credibility’ and the soaring price of gold and silver. He punted
By Eva RoytburgJanuary 29, 2026
16 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Thursday, January 29, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJanuary 29, 2026
16 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.


Latest in Personal Finance

Economynational debt
$38 trillion national debt finds Democratic, Republican supermajority as watchdog sees ‘a major problem for America’s economic future’
By Nick LichtenbergJanuary 29, 2026
11 hours ago
Personal FinanceLoans
Personal loan APRs on Jan. 29, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJanuary 29, 2026
15 hours ago
brooks
CommentaryInsurance
John Hancock CEO: We all have a role in driving better health outcomes for Americans
By Brooks TingleJanuary 29, 2026
16 hours ago
Personal Financegold prices
Current price of gold as of January 29, 2026
By Danny BakstJanuary 29, 2026
16 hours ago
Price of silver as of January 29, 2026
Personal Financesilver
Current price of silver as of Thursday, January 29, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJanuary 29, 2026
16 hours ago
Price of Platinum for January 29, 2026
Personal Financemoney management
Current price of platinum as of Thursday, January 29, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJanuary 29, 2026
16 hours ago