The U.S. Postal Service announced its recommended mailing and shipping deadlines for customers planning to send letters and packages in time for Christmas 2026.
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Postal officials this week said that customers in the contiguous United States to send items by Dec. 17 using USPS Ground Advantage or First-Class Mail service to ensure expected delivery before Dec. 25.
For last-minute shipments within the lower 48 states, the postal service recommends shipping by Dec. 18 for Priority Mail and Dec. 19 for Priority Mail Express.
Deadlines differ for customers sending mail to or from Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories.
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For those locations, the deadline for USPS Ground Advantage service is Dec. 16. Suggested dates for First-Class Mail (Dec. 17), Priority Mail (Dec. 18), and Priority Mail Express (Dec. 19) match those of the contiguous states.
For a complete list of recommended dates for international and military addresses, the postal service directs customers to check its holiday shipping site starting in mid-October.
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Postal officials told customers that they should always plan to ship early during the holiday season to guarantee packages arrive by Christmas Day.
