With the holiday season quickly approaching, it’s important to plan ahead to ensure your cards and gifts arrive on time. For deliveries within the contiguous U.S. (the lower 48 states), the United States Postal Service (USPS) recommends sending items by the following dates for arrival before December 25: USPS Ground Advantage® and First-Class Mail® by December 17, Priority Mail® by December 18, and Priority Mail Express® by December 20.
If you’re sending holiday packages to military addresses (APO, FPO, DPO), the deadlines are earlier to account for shipping distances. For most AE ZIPs (090–092, 094–099, 340, 962–966), USPS Ground Advantage® items should be mailed by November 4, First-Class Mail® and Priority Mail® by December 9, and Priority Mail Express Military® by December 16. For AE ZIP 093, Priority Mail Express is not available, but other services follow the same schedule.
These recommended dates cover deliveries for Christmas, Hanukkah (Dec. 14–22), Kwanzaa (Dec. 26–Jan. 1), and other holiday traditions. USPS encourages mailing and shipping as early as possible to avoid delays. You can get free shipping supplies at your local Post Office™, print shipping labels online, and even schedule a free package pickup to make sending gifts easier this holiday season.
