Holiday cutoffs apply to everything you send, from a certified court notice to a box of client gifts. Here are the 2026 last-ship dates for USPS, UPS, and FedEx, so you know exactly when to send.
Updated October 28, 2026. Use these dates to plan shipments, allow extra time where possible, and check each carrier’s delivery estimates for the specific origin, destination, and service.
Domestic
| UPS service | Last day to ship |
|---|---|
| UPS® Ground | Check ups.com/ctc for details |
| UPS 3 Day Select® | Dec. 21 |
| UPS 2nd Day Air® | Dec. 22 |
| UPS Next Day Air® | Dec. 23 |
International
| UPS service | U.S. to Canada | U.S. to Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| UPS® Standard (from the 48 contiguous states only) | Check ups.com/ctc for details | Check ups.com/ctc for details |
| UPS Worldwide Expedited® | Dec. 22 | Dec. 21 |
| UPS Worldwide Express® | Dec. 23 | Dec. 22 |
Holiday pickup and delivery
| Date | Pickup | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving) | None | None |
| Dec. 24 | No Ground pickup. Air and international Air only, if prearranged by Dec. 18 | All services |
| Dec. 25 | None | None |
| Dec. 31 | Air and international Air only, if prearranged by Dec. 28 | Air and international Air only |
Domestic
| USPS service | Lower 48 states | Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage® | Dec. 17 | Check estimated delivery date (10+ day service expectation) |
| First-Class Mail® | Dec. 17 | Dec. 17 |
| Priority Mail® | Dec. 18 | Dec. 18 |
| Priority Mail Express® | Dec. 19 | Dec. 19 |
International and Military
| USPS service | Last day to ship |
|---|---|
| First-Class Package International Service® | Dec. 9 |
| Priority Mail International® | Dec. 9 |
| Priority Mail Express International® | Dec. 16 |
| USPS Ground Advantage to military addresses (APO/FPO/DPO) | Nov. 4 |
| First-Class Mail to military addresses (APO/FPO/DPO) | Dec. 9 |
| Priority Mail to military addresses (APO/FPO/DPO) | Dec. 9 |
| Priority Mail Express Military® to military addresses (APO/FPO/DPO) | Dec. 16 |
More details on USPS deadlines
Domestic
| FedEx service | Last day to ship |
|---|---|
| FedEx Ground® Economy | Dec. 15 |
| FedEx Ground® and FedEx Home Delivery®, 5-day transit | Dec. 17 |
| FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery, 4-day transit | Dec. 18 |
| FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery, 3-day transit | Dec. 21 |
| FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery, 2-day transit | Dec. 22 |
| FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery, 1-day transit | Dec. 23 |
| FedEx Express Saver® | Dec. 21 |
| FedEx 2Day® and FedEx 2Day® AM | Dec. 22 |
| FedEx First Overnight®, FedEx Priority Overnight®, FedEx Standard Overnight®, and Extra Hours | Dec. 23 |
| FedEx SameDay® | Dec. 24 |
| FedEx 3Day® Freight | Dec. 21 |
| FedEx 2Day® Freight | Dec. 22 |
| FedEx 1Day® Freight | Dec. 23 |
International
| FedEx service | U.S. to Canada | U.S. to Mexico | U.S. to Puerto Rico |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx® International Next Flight | Dec. 23 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 23 |
| FedEx International First® | Dec. 23 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 23 |
| FedEx International Priority® | Dec. 23 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 23 |
| FedEx International Priority Distribution® | Dec. 22 | N/A | N/A |
| FedEx International Economy® | Dec. 21 | Dec. 21 | Dec. 22 |
| FedEx® International Connect Plus | Dec. 21 | Dec. 21 | N/A |
| FedEx Ground® U.S. to Canada, 7-day transit | Dec. 15 | N/A | N/A |
| FedEx Ground U.S. to Canada, 6-day transit | Dec. 16 | N/A | N/A |
| FedEx Ground U.S. to Canada, 5-day transit | Dec. 17 | N/A | N/A |
| FedEx Ground U.S. to Canada, 4-day transit | Dec. 18 | N/A | N/A |
| FedEx Ground U.S. to Canada, 3-day transit | Dec. 19 | N/A | N/A |
| FedEx Ground U.S. to Canada, 2-day transit | Dec. 22 | N/A | N/A |
| FedEx Ground U.S. to Canada, 1-day transit | Dec. 23 | N/A | N/A |
More details on FedEx deadlines
Carrier cutoffs are the last day to ship, not the day to aim for. Send a few days early when you can, especially for anything time-sensitive or legally required. If proof of delivery matters, add Certified Mail and tracking so you have a record.
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Drop off your shipment 24 hours a day, seven days a week at one of the 60,000 UPS dropoff locations across the United States. This includes UPS Stores, UPS Drop Boxes, CVS, Michaels, and Advanced Auto Parts.
You can log into your app and visit your "history" page to view real-time tracking information for every item you send. You can also enter your tracking number on the UPS website to see tracking updates.
No. DHL Express typically does not deliver on Sundays in most regions. However, Sunday delivery may be available in select areas or for time-definite international shipments with specific service upgrades. Check with DHL directly for regional availability.
UPS Worldwide Saver is faster than UPS Worldwide Expedited, offering delivery by the end of the next business day to major business centers, compared to 2-5 business days for Worldwide Expedited. Worldwide Saver provides a more economical alternative to premium express services while maintaining quick delivery.
UPS 2nd Day Air guarantees delivery by the end of the second business day. For time-critical shipments, you can choose UPS 2nd Day Air A.M., which delivers by 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM, or 2:00 PM (depending on destination) on the second business day.
UPS Standard generally delivers within 1 to 5 business days, with residential deliveries typically occurring between 9 AM and 9 PM. The exact delivery time depends on the distance the package travels and the specific destination.
UPS Next Day Air offers guaranteed delivery by 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., or end of day on the next business day, depending on the destination and specific service selected. Deliveries are made Monday through Friday, with Saturday delivery available in select areas for an additional fee.
USPS Priority Mail generally delivers in 2-3 business days. First-Class Mail, while more economical, typically takes 1-5 business days for delivery.
UPS Ground tracking uses a system of scans to update customers on the location and status of their packages as they move through the UPS network. Each package is assigned a unique tracking number, and as it travels, it's scanned at various points, including when it's received, when it's transferred between facilities, and when it's out for delivery.
USPS Ground Advantage delivery time is typically the slowest for domestic shipping services, taking two to five business days depending on the destination.
UPS Ground typically takes 1 to 5 business days for delivery with 90% of UPS® Ground packages being delivered in 3 days or less.
UPS Standard is generally faster than UPS Ground Saver, as it has a typical delivery window of 1-5 business days compared to Ground Saver's 2-7 business days.
UPS Next Day Air is significantly faster than UPS Second Day Air, delivering packages by the next business day, while UPS Second Day Air delivers within two business days. It's the fastest standard overnight service offered by UPS.
UPS Ground Saver is typically slower than UPS Standard, with delivery times ranging from 2-7 business days, whereas UPS Standard generally delivers within 1-5 business days.
UPS 3 Day Select is generally faster than UPS Ground Saver, offering guaranteed delivery within three business days, whereas Ground Saver can take 2-7 business days and has no guaranteed delivery time.
UPS 2nd Day Air is faster than UPS 3 Day Select, offering guaranteed delivery by the end of the second business day, while 3 Day Select provides guaranteed delivery by the end of the third business day.
UPS 3 Day Select guarantees delivery by the end of the third business day after the package is picked up, with deliveries typically occurring Monday through Friday. It's a reliable option for shipments that aren't time-critical but need to arrive within a specific timeframe.
UPS Ground Saver typically delivers packages within 2 to 7 business days across the contiguous United States.
UPS Worldwide Saver guarantees delivery by the end of the business day, one day faster than UPS Worldwide Expedited. This service connects major business centers in over 220 countries and territories with time-definite delivery and customs clearance included.
Packages up to 15.999 ounces are priced in 4-ounce increments, while heavier packages are charged by the pound, rounded up. The further the distance, the higher the cost. Additional fees apply to oversized packages. Easily calculate discounted rates anytime at Stamps.com.
USPS Priority Mail typically takes one to three business days, depending on destination, to deliver. You can easily check for a delivery time estimate on USPS’s Priority Mail Delivery Map.
DHL Express is a premium international shipping service that offers fast, time-definite delivery to over 220 countries and territories. It's designed for urgent packages, with door-to-door tracking, customs support, and express delivery options for businesses and individuals.
