2009 Holiday Shipping Cut Off Dates

Want it delivered by December 25? Find shipping and mailing deadlines for your military and international cards and packages here.
Domestic Mail
Domestic Mail Class/Product Cut Off Date
First Class Mail  Dec-21
Priority Mail Dec-21
Express Mail* Dec-23
Parcel Post Dec-16
DBMC Drop Ship Dec-19
DDU Drop Ship Dec-23
International Mail**
Express Mail Military APO/FPO**
* Some Express Mail destinations may have extended service commitments
** See additional information
Military Mail
Military Mail Addressed To Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)1/ First-Class Mail® Letters and Cards Priority Mail® Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2/ Space Available Mail (SAM)3/ Parcel Post®
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092 Dec-18 Dec-11 Dec-11 Dec-4 Nov-28 Nov-13
APO/FPO AE ZIP 093 N/A Dec-4 Dec-4 Dec-1 Nov-21 Nov-13
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098 Dec-18 Dec-11 Dec-11 Dec-4 Nov-28 Nov-13
APO/FPO AA ZIP 340 Dec-18 Dec-11 Dec-11 Dec-4 Nov-28 Nov-13
APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966 Dec-18 Dec-11 Dec-11 Dec-4 Nov-28 Nov-13
1/ EMMS: is available to selected military post offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to your APO/FPO address.

2/ PAL: is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for Parcel Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface rate of postage for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.

3/ SAM: parcels are paid at Parcel Post postage rate of postage with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.
International Mail
International Mail Addressed To Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG)4*** Express Mail® International (EMS)5* Priority Mail® International (PMI)6* First-Class Mail®
Africa Dec-18 Dec-12 Dec-4 Dec-4
Asia/Pacific Rim Dec-18 Dec-17 Dec-11 Dec-11
Australia/New Zealand Dec-18 Dec-17 Dec-11 Dec-11
Canada Dec-22 Dec-18 Dec-14 Dec-11
Caribbean Dec-21 Dec-17 Dec-14 Dec-11
Central & South America Dec-21 Dec-12 Dec-4 Dec-4
Mexico Dec-22 Dec-17 Dec-11 Dec-11
Europe Dec-21 Dec-17 Dec-14 Dec-11
Middle East Dec-18 Dec-17 Dec-14 Dec-11
***GXG Notes: 1) Cutoff date does not take into account time needed for customs clearance. 2) Should allocate extra transit day(s) for delivery outside major cities. 3) Last day to ship to Afghanistan and Iraq is Dec 18.
2009 Holiday Season Import Dates*
SURFACE                    AIR                    EMS
LC/AO CP LC/AO CP
Dec-11 Dec-4 Dec-17 Dec-15 Dec-21
* Provides mailing guidelines for foreign postal partners in order to meet December 25 delivery.

2009 Holiday Season Import Dates
December 4 Last day to send parcel post packages via surface transportation
December 11 Last day to send letters, flats and small packages via surface transportation
December 15 Last day to send parcel post packages via air transportation
December 17 Last day to send letters, flats and small packages via air transportation
December 21 Last day to send Express Mail Service items (any shape)

Mail class by code:
LC = Letters, aerogramme's (USPS no longer offers outbound aerogramme's), cards and letter package
AO = Newspapers, magazines, matter for the blind, printed matter, small package
CP = Priority parcels