To help customers ship domestically and internationally, the USPS revealed send-by dates for expected delivery before Dec. 25
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/USPS-Holiday-and-Shipping-092426-3-2e7197dd0bce40b5a44a84b3e045bb47.jpg "Customers pack a box with holiday gifts before mailing a package at the United States Postal Service (USPS) Gardena Post Office in Gardena, California, on December 12, 2025.")
Credit: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) revealed the recommended mailing and shipping dates for the 2026 holiday season
- The deadlines will help customers send their gifts and cards in time for Christmas festivities or Kwanzaa celebrations
- The cutoff dates differ for USPS Ground Advantage Service, First-Class Mail, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express
Gift-giving season is upon us, and if you’re planning on sending presents to loved ones near and far, the time has come to plan accordingly.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) revealed the recommended mailing and shipping dates for the 2026 holiday season for your presents and cards to arrive in time for your Christmas (Dec. 25) festivities or your Kwanzaa (Dec. 26 through Jan. 1) celebrations.
“Please note that Hanukkah (Dec. 4 through Dec. 12) is earlier this year so please adjust accordingly,” the USPS wrote about shipping deadlines.
When is the last day to mail and ship Christmas gifts via USPS to arrive before Dec. 25?
Credit: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty
For mail and packages being sent within the contiguous U.S. — which includes the 48 states but excludes Alaska and Hawaii — the recommended send-by date for expected delivery before Dec. 25 using USPS Ground Advantage Service and First-Class Mail is Dec. 17.
For Priority Mail in the contiguous U.S., the deadline is Dec. 18, and for Priority Mail Express, the deadline is Dec. 19.
For mail and packages being sent to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories, the deadline to use USPS Ground Advantage Service is Dec. 16. The deadlines for the other three services are Dec. 17 for First-Class Mail, Dec. 18 for Priority Mail and Dec. 19 for Priority Mail Express.
When is the last day to mail and ship international gifts for Christmas via USPS to arrive before Dec. 25?
Credit: Craig T Fruchtman/Getty
For international mail and packages, the USPS has different recommended send-by dates for expected delivery before Dec. 25.
If you’re sending gifts to Africa, Asia/Pacific Rim, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East, the deadlines for First-Class Package International as well as Priority Mail International are both Dec. 9, while Priority Mail Express International is Dec. 16.
The USPS noted, “For a complete list of suggested dates to send packages to military or international addresses, the Postal Service recommends visiting the USPS holiday shipping page beginning mid-October.”
What else is the U.S. Postal Service doing for Christmas?
Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty
USPS Operation Santa is accepting letters — until Dec. 5 — from children and families throughout the continental U.S., Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The program, now in its 114th year, allows people to adopt and respond to these letters — beginning Nov. 16 — to fulfill holiday wishes.
Letters should be addressed to Santa Claus and sent to “Santa’s official workshop address” at 123 Elf Rd., North Pole, 88888.
Credit: USPS
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“For more than 100 years, USPS Operation Santa has given kindhearted people the opportunity to make dreams come true for thousands of children and their families through simple acts of kindness,” said Sheila Holman, vice president of marketing for the USPS.
The USPS also recently released new holiday stamps, including the Winter Wreath stamp, which is a new Global Forever stamp, as well as Christmas Cookies Forever stamps.
