USPS, UPS holiday shipping deadlines rapidly approaching: The dates you need to know

Emma Stein, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read

Christmas is in just 10 days and it's time for all the last-minute gift shoppers to finally place their orders. If you want your package by Dec. 25, the last day you can use the United States Postal Service retail ground service is today.

Traffic at all USPS locations has been increasing, according to a news release, but this week is expected to be the worst

“Now is the time to mail your holiday greetings and packages to make sure they reach their intended destination in time for holiday gatherings and celebrations,” Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in the release. “This will be the busiest week of mailing and shipping across the nation, but there is a spirit of excitement throughout the organization and our entire team is working around the clock to deliver the holidays for the nation.”

Some of the thousands upon thousands of United States Postal Service packages waiting to be sorted and sent to their final destinations from the USPS distribution center in Allen Park, Michigan on Nov 23, 2021.
Some of the thousands upon thousands of United States Postal Service packages waiting to be sorted and sent to their final destinations from the USPS distribution center in Allen Park, Michigan on Nov 23, 2021.

Some shipping stores have extended holiday hours, while others have more limited ones. You can check stores near you at USPS here, at FedEx here, and at UPS here.

Here are the last days to ship domestically if you want your packages by Christmas day:

U.S. Postal Service

  • 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

FedEx

  • Dec. 15 — Ground, Freight Priority and Freight Direct

  • Dec. 21 — Express Saver and 3Day Freight

  • Dec. 22 — 2Day & 2Day AM and 2Day Freight

  • Dec. 23 — FO, PO, SO, Extra Hours and 1Day Freight

  • Dec. 24 — Same Day

UPS

Check the UPS website for a quote if you're interested in ground shipping

  • Dec. 21 — 3-Day Select

  • Dec. 22 — 2nd Day Air

  • Dec. 23 — Next Day Air

Christmas 2021: Where to see light shows across Michigan

Michigan food gifts 2021: Here's how to send a taste of the Mitten for the holidays

Contact Emma Stein: estein@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: USPS, UPS holiday shipping deadlines: Key dates to know