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USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2026: Dec. 17 for Ground Advantage, Dec. 18 for Priority, Dec. 19 for Express

USPS 2026 holiday deadlines for Christmas delivery: Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail by Dec. 17, Priority Mail Dec. 18, Priority Mail Express Dec. 19.

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USPS holiday shipping deadlines 2026: wrapped gift boxes beside calendar cards for Ground Advantage Dec. 17 and Priority Mail Dec. 18
USPS recommends mailing by Thursday, Dec. 17 for Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail, Dec. 18 for Priority Mail and Dec. 19 for Priority Mail Express. Illustration: Fresh Calendars
In this article
  1. USPS holiday shipping deadlines 2026
  2. Military and international mail
  3. Post office closures
  4. Plan backward from the holiday

To get a package delivered by Christmas in the lower 48 states, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) recommends mailing it by Thursday, Dec. 17, 2026 for USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail, by Friday, Dec. 18 for Priority Mail, and by Saturday, Dec. 19 for Priority Mail Express. The agency announced the dates on Sept. 22. They are recommendations for expected delivery by Dec. 25, not guarantees.

USPS holiday shipping deadlines 2026

ServiceLower 48 statesAlaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, territories
USPS Ground AdvantageThursday, Dec. 17Wednesday, Dec. 16
First-Class Mail (cards, letters)Thursday, Dec. 17Thursday, Dec. 17
Priority MailFriday, Dec. 18Friday, Dec. 18
Priority Mail ExpressSaturday, Dec. 19Saturday, Dec. 19

Sending a few days before these dates gives a cushion for weather and heavy volume, the two most common reasons holiday mail runs late.

Military and international mail

Deadlines for packages to service members at military and diplomatic addresses overseas, and for international mail, come earlier, often in November or early December depending on the destination. USPS posts them on its holiday shipping page from mid-October. If you are mailing overseas, check that page first; some destinations need weeks.

Post office closures

Post offices close on federal holidays. The ones that matter for holiday shipping:

DateDayHoliday
Nov. 11WednesdayVeterans Day
Nov. 26ThursdayThanksgiving Day
Dec. 25FridayChristmas Day
Jan. 1, 2027FridayNew Year’s Day

Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24, is not a federal holiday, but retail hours vary by branch. Our Veterans Day story lists what else is closed on Nov. 11.

Plan backward from the holiday

If you are sendingAim to ship by
Hanukkah gifts (first night Dec. 4)Late November
Advent calendars for Dec. 1The week before Thanksgiving
Christmas gifts by Ground AdvantageDec. 14-17
Last-minute giftsDec. 19 by Priority Mail Express

Advent calendars are a common early send because the first door opens on Tuesday, Dec. 1; our advent calendar 2026 guide has the dates and free printables. Black Friday is Nov. 27 and Cyber Monday Nov. 30, so online orders placed then usually have time to arrive (see when Black Friday falls).

Shopping in person instead? Our list of Costco’s 2026 holiday closures shows the days its warehouses are shut. To keep track of every deadline, print a December 2026 calendar; Christmas Day falls on a Friday this year.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the last day to ship USPS for Christmas 2026?

Saturday, Dec. 19, 2026, using Priority Mail Express, for delivery in the lower 48 states. Priority Mail should be sent by Friday, Dec. 18, and Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail by Thursday, Dec. 17.

Are the USPS holiday dates guaranteed?

No. USPS describes them as recommended send-by dates for expected delivery by Dec. 25. Priority Mail Express has its own money-back guarantee terms, which USPS lists separately.

What are the deadlines for Alaska and Hawaii?

USPS recommends Ground Advantage by Dec. 16, First-Class Mail by Dec. 17, Priority Mail by Dec. 18 and Priority Mail Express by Dec. 19 for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories.

Is the post office open on Christmas Eve 2026?

Post office hours on Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24, are set locally, so check your branch. Post offices are closed on Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25, and New Year's Day, Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, both federal holidays.

When should I mail packages for Hanukkah 2026?

Earlier than for Christmas. Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, so packages meant for the first night should be mailed by late November.

Sources

  1. 2026 Holiday Shipping Deadlines (U.S. Postal Service)
  2. USPS announces recommended 2026 holiday mailing, shipping deadlines (WFSB, 2026-09-23)
  3. Federal Holidays (U.S. Office of Personnel Management)