Though Halloween hasn’t even arrived yet the holiday season is quickly approaching, and while many of us are guilty of leaving our shopping and planning to the last minute, the U.S. Postal Service has other plans.
The USPS has officially revealed its recommended mailing and shipping dates for mail and packages for the 2024 holiday season, and if you’re looking to have packages delivered to your friends and loved ones before December 25th you’ll want to bookmark the following dates:
USPS 2024 Holiday Shipping Deadlines:
The actual destination you’re shipping holiday mail and packages to affects the cutoff date you should ship by. Here are all of the recommended shipping dates separated by where you’re shipping to:
Items sent to addresses in the Contiguous United States (lower 48 states):
- December 18: USPS Ground Advantage service
- December 18: First-Class Mail service
- December 19: Priority Mail service
- December 21: Priority Mail Express service
Items sent to addresses in Alaska and Hawaii:
- December 16: USPS Ground Advantage service
- December 18: First-Class Mail service
- December 19: Priority Mail service
- December 20: Priority Mail Express service
Customers sending packages internationally, or to military addresses, are encouraged to check the complete list of recommended holiday mailing and shipping dates online.
Moreover, it’s important to note that the U.S. Postal Service will be closed on the following holidays:
- October 14: Columbus Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
- November 28: Thanksgiving Day
- December 25: Christmas Day
Of course it’s always better to be safe than sorry, and USPS urges customers to plan ahead and ship early during the holiday season; the earlier you send, the better. Beyond the 2024 holiday shipping deadlines, tips on preparing shipments (including packaging guidelines), ordering free shipping supplies, and information on local Post Office location hours can be found on the USPS’ website.