Every year, it’s a good idea to get your holiday shopping done and shipped early. Inevitably though you are at the market on Christmas Eve picking up some last minute essentials. But this year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to get your holiday shopping done early. You definitely don’t want to be stuck in a packed store this Christmas Eve. Shipping packages this year may take longer, as millions of Americans cut back on in-person shopping and in-person gift-giving as the coronavirus spikes across the country.
Some shipping services offer online or low contact methods, so people can avoid crowding into a storefront or post office at this time.
Here is a list of shipping deadlines based on method; go ahead and circle dates on the calendar, set reminders, etc.
United States Postal Service (USPS):
- Ground – Deadline: December 15
- First Class – Deadline: December 18
- Priority Mail – Deadline: December 19
- Priority Mail Express – Deadline: December 23
- FedEx SmartPost – Deadline: December 9 (with some exceptions)
- FedEx Ground – Deadline: December 15
- Home Delivery – Deadline: December 15
- Express Saver – Deadline: December 21
- 2Day Services – Deadline: December 22
- Overnight Services – Deadline: December 23
UPS:
- UPS Ground – Deadline: December 15
- 3 Day Select – Deadline: December 21
- 2nd Day Air Services – Deadline: December 22
- Next Day Air Services – December 23
Amazon (estimates based on last year’s deadlines):
- Standard shipping – Deadline: December 18
- Prime Free 2-day – Deadline: December 21
- Prime Free 1-day – Deadline: December 23
- Prime Same Day – Deadline: December 24
- Prime Now 2-Hour Delivery – Deadline: December 24
