You Must Mail Your Packages By This Date If You Want Them To Arrive By Christmas

The USPS has released expected delivery dates for the month of December.

learn more about Emily Rella

By Emily Rella

Bloomberg | Getty Images

Thanks to supply chain shortages and the reopening of many brick and mortar stores, shopping for the holiday season this year might prove to be more stressful than usual.

Of course part of this stress comes from not knowing if packages will be delivered on time, especially when sending gifts to family and loved ones.

Thankfully, the USPS has released estimated shipping deadlines to assure that packages are delivered on or by holiday dates — but it's looking like you'll need to send your packages earlier than normal.

The following are the dates packages must be mailed by to be delivered by December 25:

  • Dec. 9 — APO/FPO/DPO (all ZIP Codes) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
  • Dec. 15 — USPS Retail Ground service
  • Dec. 16 — APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) USPS Priority Mail Express Military service
  • Dec. 17 — First-Class Mail service (including greeting cards)
  • Dec. 17 — First-Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)
  • Dec. 18 — Priority Mail service
  • Dec. 23 — Priority Mail Express* service

Alaska to/from Continental U.S.

  • Dec. 18 — First-Class Mail
  • Dec. 18 — Priority Mail
  • Dec. 21 — Priority Mail Express

Hawaii to/from mainland

  • Dec. 17 — Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
  • Dec. 21 — Priority Mail Express

The USPS noted that the dates serve as guidelines and expected arrival dates but that they are not guaranteed.

"It's anticipated that between 850 million and 950 million packages will be delivered for the holidays," the organization said in a statement. "The total number of letters, cards and packages processed and delivered is estimated to be more than 12 billion."

The USPS will also be extending Sunday mail services starting November 28 in areas with high package volumes, though Sunday service is already offered in most major cities.

To help with the seasonal rush and demand, USPS will also be leasing an estimated 7.5 million square feet of space and hiring more than 40,000 seasonal workers.

It's estimated that the week of December 13-18 will be the busiest week of the season for mailing, shipping and deliveries, with mail traffic expected to increase starting the week of December 6.

Emily Rella

Entrepreneur Staff

News Writer

Emily Rella is a news writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

The Dark Side of Pay Transparency — And What to Do If You Find Out You're Being Underpaid
Thinking of a Career Change? Here Are 4 Steps You Can Take to Get There.
A Founder Who Bootstrapped Her Jewelry Business With Just $1,000 Now Sees 7-Figure Revenue Because She Knew Something About Her Customers Nobody Else Did
Everything You Need to Know About Franchise Law
Real Estate

4 Essentials for Selecting the Perfect Business Real Estate

Marketing for retail, restaurant or other site-critical companies should always begin with meticulously chosen sites: Time-tested ways of picking a winner.

Franchise

Everything To Know About Financing Your Franchise

This is it. You're ready to start your franchise journey. Only one thing is left: Finding the money you need.

Starting a Business

90% of Online Businesses Fail in Just 4 Months. You Can Avoid the Same Fate By Using These Strategies.

It's not catastrophizing when we think about potential failure; it's in fact a chance for any business to precisely see any outcome and prepare in advance.

Living

Why Embracing Your Unique Strengths and Talents Will Lead to Success

By identifying and developing one's strengths, aligning with passions, cultivating a growth mindset and positively impacting the world, individuals can unlock their full potential and create a life of abundance, passion and fulfillment.