2026 holiday
shipping deadlines
Find the last dates to send packages for Christmas delivery in 2026.
FedEx’s published dates target scheduled arrival by December 24, 2026. Check service availability and the delivery estimate for your shipment before choosing a date.
U.S. domestic package services · 2026
| Service | Last day to ship |
|---|---|
| Ground Economy | Tuesday, December 15 |
| Ground / Home Delivery | December 17–23 Depends on transit time; see below. |
| Express Saver | Monday, December 21 |
| 2Day / 2Day AM | Tuesday, December 22 |
| First, Priority or Standard Overnight | Wednesday, December 23 |
Source: FedEx 2026 holiday chart. Dates are subject to change. These dates do not establish a delivery guarantee or Red Stag order cutoff.
Ground: check the route first
For the listed one- to five-day Ground and Home Delivery routes, FedEx shows these ship-by dates. Confirm transit time using the origin and destination ZIP codes.
Use FedEx’s Ground transit map. Alaska and Hawaii require a separate route check.
UPS has posted its Christmas pickup and delivery schedule for 2026. Its last-day-to-ship chart still shows 2025 dates.
Christmas pickup and delivery · 2026
| Date | Pickup and delivery notes |
|---|---|
| Thursday, December 24 | No Ground pickup. Air and international Air pickup must be prearranged by December 18. Delivery is available for all services. |
| Friday, December 25 | No regular UPS pickup or delivery. UPS Express Critical is a separate exception. |
Check UPS for the delivery date available for your package.
Send mail and packages by these dates for expected delivery before December 25, 2026.
Lower 48 states · 2026
| Service | Last day to ship |
|---|---|
| Ground Advantage | Thursday, December 17 |
| First-Class Mail | Thursday, December 17 |
| Priority Mail | Friday, December 18 |
| Priority Mail Express | Saturday, December 19 |
Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories: Send Ground Advantage packages by December 16. The other service dates are the same as above.
USPS recommends checking its holiday shipping page for military and international dates beginning in mid-October.
DHL eCommerce
DHL shipping information ↗DHL eCommerce uses USPS for final delivery. Use the USPS cutoff dates above as a starting point, but ship earlier to allow time for DHL to hand your packages over to USPS. These are planning guidelines, not confirmed DHL deadlines or a delivery guarantee.
Christmas shipping planning · 2026
| Service | When to ship |
|---|---|
| DHL eCommerce | Ship before the applicable USPS cutoff date. Allow extra time for the handoff from DHL to USPS. |
Before you promise Christmas delivery
Does a ship-by date guarantee arrival?
No. These dates are a guide, not a promise of delivery. Check the delivery date and guarantee offered for your package when you book shipping.
What about international, military or territory addresses?
Confirm them separately. Do not apply a contiguous-U.S. date to those destinations. FedEx’s international chart includes destination-specific dates and warns that customs-clearance time is additional.
Can I use these dates for LTL/FTL or appointment deliveries?
Use a shipment-specific plan for LTL/FTL, white-glove and appointment deliveries. Confirm the carrier schedule and receiving appointment with your Red Stag team before advertising an arrival date.
Source checks: September 21, 2026
Dates can change. Check the carrier’s website for the latest information.
