2026 Holiday Shipping Deadlines
Cutoff Dates for December 25
If you’re shipping holiday cards and gifts for Christmas (Dec. 25), Kwanzaa (Dec. 26 - Jan. 1), or other holiday traditions, find the USPS® recommended domestic, international, and military deadlines in these tables. Please note that Hanukkah (Dec. 4 - Dec. 12) is earlier this year so please adjust accordingly.
The earlier you send, the better: Don’t delay, mail and ship today!
- Check recommended shipping dates below.
- Get free shipping supplies online or at your local Post Office™ location.
- Print shipping labels.
- Schedule a free package pickup.
2026 Holiday Shipping Dates for Contiguous U.S. (Lower 48 States)
Recommended send-by dates for expected delivery before December 251
| Domestic Mail Class/Product | Date (excluding Alaska & Hawaii) |
|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage® Service | Thursday, Dec. 17 |
| First-Class Mail® Service | Thursday, Dec. 17 |
| Priority Mail® Service | Friday, Dec. 18 |
| Priority Mail Express® Service | Saturday, Dec. 19 |
2026 Holiday Shipping Dates for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, & U.S. Territories2
Recommended send-by dates for expected delivery before December 251
| USPS Ground Advantage® Service3 | First-Class Mail® Service | Priority Mail® Service | Priority Mail Express® Service4 |
|---|---|---|---|
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
Thursday, Dec. 17 |
Friday, Dec. 18 |
Saturday, Dec. 19 |
1 Actual delivery date may vary and is based on origin, destination, Post Office™ acceptance time, and other conditions.
2 The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires that mailers prepay duties, taxes, and fees, and obtain proof of payment on all articles valued up to $2,500 entering the customs territory of the United States (CTUS) from the following insular possessions and territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Please review the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail (DMM) for details.
3Ground Advantage packages that are shipped to or from offshore ZIP codes (AK, HI, PR, and U.S. Territories) may experience longer transit times and extended Estimated Delivery Dates (EDD). Please review the EDD for these ZIP codes and adjust the induction date as needed.
4As of August 1, 2023, USPS will no longer process refund requests for guaranteed service on these items. Refund requests for loss will still be processed.
2026 Holiday Shipping Dates for International Mail
Recommended send-by dates for expected delivery before December 251
Expand All| Destination | First-Class Package International Service® | Priority Mail International® Service | Priority Mail Express International® Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
| Asia/Pacific Rim | Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
| Australia/New Zealand | Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
| Canada | Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
| Caribbean | Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
| Central & South America | Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
| Europe | Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
| Mexico | Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
| Middle East | Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
2026 Holiday Shipping Dates for Military Mail
Recommended send-by dates for expected delivery before December 251
Expand All| Addressed to | USPS Ground Advantage® Service | First-Class Mail® Service | Priority Mail® Service | Priority Mail Express Military® Service (PMEMS)5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs™ 090-092 | Wednesday, Nov. 4 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 093 | Wednesday, Nov. 4 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
N/A |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 094-099 | Wednesday, Nov. 4 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 340 | Wednesday, Nov. 4 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 962-966 | Wednesday, Nov. 4 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 9 |
Wednesday, Dec. 16 |
5 PMEMS is available to selected military/diplomatic Post Offices™. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO addresses