Deadlines for Mailing Holiday Greeting Cards, Shipping Gifts
The USPS offers tips and suggestions so cards and holiday packages arrive in time for the holidays.
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Families are spread all over the country — and the world — which means long distance phone calls, holiday cards and gifts sent by mail. But after you've bought cards and wrapped gifts for those folks you won't be seeing, when is the deadline to post them so they will get to their destination in time for the holidays?
Here are a few suggestions and ‘send by’ dates from the U.S. Postal Service to get your gifts delivered on time and in one piece:
- Double-check addresses & write legibly
- Shake boxes to make sure they’re well packed
- Priority Mail is fast for last minute gifts
- Express Mail is even faster
Check Patch's directory for places around town to mail your parcels.
Holiday Dates for Domestic Mail
Calculated for December 25, 2012.
|
Domestic Mail Class/Product |
Dates |
|
First-Class Mail® Service |
Dec. 20 |
|
Priority Mail® Service |
Dec. 21 |
|
Express Mail® Service |
Dec. 22 |
|
Parcel Post® Service |
Dec. 14 |
|
Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) Drop Ship |
Dec. 19 |
|
Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Drop Ship |
Dec. 21 |
Holiday Dates for International Mail
|
Destination |
Global Express Guaranteed® Service |
Express Mail® Service |
Priority Mail® Service |
First-Class Mail® International Service |
|
Africa |
Dec. 19 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 3 |
Dec. 3 |
|
Asia / Pacific Rim |
Dec. 18 |
Dec. 15 |
Dec. 10 |
Dec. 10 |
|
Australia / New Zealand |
Dec. 18 |
Dec. 15 |
Dec. 10 |
Dec. 10 |
|
Canada |
Dec. 20 |
Dec. 17 |
Dec. 13 |
Dec. 10 |
|
Caribbean |
Dec. 19 |
Dec. 15 |
Dec. 13 |
Dec. 10 |
|
Central & South America |
Dec. 19 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 3 |
Dec. 3 |
|
Mexico |
Dec. 20 |
Dec. 15 |
Dec. 10 |
Dec. 10 |
|
Europe |
Dec. 19 |
Dec. 15 |
Dec. 13 |
Dec. 10 |
|
Middle East |
Dec. 19 |
Dec. 15 |
Dec. 13 |
Dec. 10 |
Click here for send-by dates for military mail.
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