Mail deadlines for Christmas: Post office dates to know for mail, packages
The deadline to send letters and packages via the U.S. mail for Christmas delivery is nearing.
Here are the recommended shipping deadlines for expected delivery before Dec. 25:
Continental U.S.
- USPS Ground Advantage 5-day shipping— Dec. 16
- USPS Ground Advantage 4-day shipping – Dec. 18
- USPS Ground Advantage 3-day shipping – Dec. 19
- USPS Ground Advantage 2-day shipping – Dec. 20
- First-Class Mail (including greeting cards) — Dec. 16
- Priority Mail 3-day shipping— Dec. 20
- Priority Mail 2-day shipping — Dec. 21
- Priority Mail Express 2-day shipping – Dec. 20
- Priority Mail Express 1-day shipping – Dec. 21
First class mail
5-day mailing – Dec. 16
4-day mailing – Dec. 18
3-day mailing – Dec. 19
2-day mailing – Dec. 20
Alaska
- USPS Ground Advantage — Dec. 16
- First-Class Mail — Dec. 16
- Priority Mail — Dec. 18
- Priority Mail Express — Dec. 20
Hawaii
- USPS Ground Advantage — Dec. 16
- First-Class Mail — Dec. 16
- Priority Mail — Dec. 16
- Priority Mail Express — Dec. 20
You can go here to see military and international mail deadlines.
Holiday schedule
All branches of the U.S. Post Office will be closed in observance of Christmas (Dec. 25) and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1, 2024). This closure will affect all postal services, including retail services, mail delivery and blue collection boxes.
This year, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve each fall on Sunday, when post offices are already closed. There are currently no plans for limited hours on Saturday, Dec. 23 or Saturday, Dec. 30. Customers are encouraged to check with their local Post Office for hours of operation.
Customers who are unable to mail items before the scheduled collection box pickup times on Dec. 23 and Dec. 30 should use the postal locator at tools.usps.com to find Post Office locations that may be open late.
Post offices will be closed on Monday, Dec. 25 and Monday, Jan. 1. Blue collection boxes won’t be served on those days and there will be no residential or business deliveries, except for Priority Mail Express which is delivered 365 days a year in select locations for an additional fee.
You can go here to see USPS holiday schedules