Keep in mind that delays are still possible. While the global shipping chain has mostly recovered since the pandemic, it’s still not quite as fast as it was before the pandemic. So it’s a good idea to not wait until December 23 to do your shopping.
Deadlines for Shipping Carriers
This includes the USPS, UPS and FedEx. Remember that the USPS will deliver on Sundays, so you do get an extra day for shipping there. But the longer you wait, across all three carriers, the more you’re going to pay to get it there on time. None of them will deliver on Christmas Day, so these all need to arrive by Christmas Eve, on December 24.
U.S. Postal Service Christmas Shipping Deadlines
Dec. 17 – USPS Retail GroundDec. 17 – First-Class Mail Service (including holiday greeting cards)Dec. 19 – Priority MailDec. 23 – Priority Mail Express Service
Keep in mind that if you are shipping to Alaska or Hawaii, you will want to get your packages out by December 17th for First-Class Mail Service.
UPS Christmas Shipping Deadlines
Dec. 16 – UPS GroundCalculate estimated UPS ground shipping arrival dates using this UPS link (typical Ground delivery takes between one and five business days in the U.S.)Dec. 20 – UPS 3 Day SelectDec. 21 – UPS 2nd Day AirDec. 22 – UPS Next Day Air
FedEx Christmas Shipping Deadlines
Dec. 8 – FedEx Ground EconomyDec. 14 – FedEx Ground and FedEx Home DeliveryDec. 20 – FedEx Express SaverDec. 21 – FedEx 2Day AM and FedEx 2DayDec. 22 – FedEx First Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight and FedEx Standard OvernightDec. 23 – FedEx SameDay City (Standard), FedEx SameDay and FedEx SameDay City (Priority)
Deadlines for retailers
Dec. 15 – Standard ShippingDec. 22 – Two-Day Shipping (Free with Prime)Dec. 23 – One-Day Shipping (In select cities. Free with Prime)Dec. 24 – Same-Day Delivery – 5 p.m. local time – (In select cities. Free with Prime)Dec. 24 – Two-Hour Delivery – cutoff times vary depending on availability – (In select cities. Free and exclusive for Prime Members via Prime Now)
Best Buy
Over at Best Buy, all items say when they ship by or when they will arrive. You can also choose from in-store or curbside pick-up for select items if you wait until the last minute. Which will be ready in about an hour or less, as long as it’s available at that store.
Dec. 20 – Standard Shipping (3-5 business days) – free on orders $35+Dec. 23 – Next Day Shipping on qualifying productsDec. 24 – Same Day Delivery on qualifying products (orders before Noon local time), or pick up in stores.
For store pick-up, dates are a bit different.
Dec. 23 – Orders on Bestbuy.com and select “Fast Store Pickup” and your order will be ready within an hour.Dec. 24 – Order on Bestbuy.com by 5PM local time and select “Fast Store Pickup” and your order will be ready by 6PM.
Dell
Dell offers free standard shipping, however, that cutoff is just a few hours away. There is Expedited Delivery available for a $15 fee, and Express Delivery available for a $25 charge. Those charges are not too bad, since it’s a flat fee, instead of based on what you buy. Which is how it works with most other retailers.
Dec. 15 – Free standard shipping (3 p.m. ET cutoff)Dec. 18 – Expedited Delivery on select items (3 p.m. ET cutoff)Dec. 22 – Express Delivery on select items (3 p.m. ET cutoff)
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club has standard and express shipping available for all of its members, regardless of your membership level. The price of shipping will depend on what you are actually buying. But with the Plus membership, you will get free shipping on most products.
Dec. 17 – Standard shipping (12 p.m. local time cutoff)Dec. 21 – Express shipping (12 p.m. local time cutoff)
Target
Target’s app and drive-up pick-up have made shopping speedier. If you don’t want to pay for shipping on orders under $35 or you need your gift quickly, try Target’s free drive-up pickup. Additionally, RedCard holders can get free two-day shipping on many items.
Dec. 17 – Standard 3-5 business day shipping. Free shipping on orders $35+Dec. 22 – Two-Day Shipping – Free on select items with Target RedCard
Walmart and Walmart+
Orders over $35 ship free on Walmart.com – no membership required. But you can also sign up for a 15-day free Walmart+ free trial and have unlimited items from your local Walmart delivered to your door the same day for free to save you on Christmas Eve. This can be useful for more than last-minute gifts, but also anything you forgot to buy for Christmas Dinner.
Dec. 17 – Standard 3-5 Day ShippingDec. 22 – Two-Day Delivery (2 p.m. local time cutoff)Dec. 21 – Next-Day Delivery (cutoff times vary) – select itemsDec. 23 – Pickup Same Day (4 p.m. local time cutoff) – select itemsDec. 24 – Pickup Same Day (4 p.m. local time cutoff) – select items
