How Late Can You Order and Still Get It by Christmas?

For Christmas 2025, the latest ship dates were December 23 for UPS Next Day Air and FedEx overnight services for arrival by December 24. Retail shoppers using Same-Day delivery or store pickup could order through December 24. A shipping deadline here means the carrier's recommended last send-by date for expected delivery before December 25.

The dates below cover the contiguous U.S. and lower 48 unless noted. Alaska, Hawaii and longer ground routes needed earlier shipment.

Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 02, 2026.

When did USPS ground mail need to go?

The U.S. Postal Service set December 17, 2025 for USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail in the contiguous U.S. The date was for expected delivery before December 25, as listed in the USPS holiday postal bulletin.

It covered basic letters and light ground parcels. The U.S. Postal Service set December 18, 2025 for Priority Mail and December 20, 2025 for Priority Mail Express in the lower 48.

Alaska, Hawaii and territories faced earlier dates. Senders to distant ZIP codes needed extra days.

How late did UPS and FedEx deliver?

UPS listed December 22, 2025 for UPS 2nd Day Air and December 23, 2025 for UPS Next Day Air. The dates were for delivery by Christmas Eve in the U.S., as shown in the UPS Christmas shipping calendar. Acceptance time at the drop-off point still controlled pickup.

FedEx listed December 22, 2025 for FedEx 2Day and 2Day AM for arrival by December 24. It listed December 23, 2025 for First Overnight, Priority Overnight, Standard Overnight and Extra Hours. Those overnight options were the latest carrier choices in the 2025 packet.

FedEx Ground, Home Delivery and Economy required much earlier shipment. Economy generally needed shipment around December 15. Ground and Home Delivery ranged from December 17 to 20 by transit distance.

Late shoppers had to upgrade service after those dates.

How late did Amazon, Walmart and Target take orders?

Amazon shoppers needed to order by about December 15 for non-Prime standard shipping. Prime standard shipping needed an order by December 22 for December 25 delivery, as reported in the USA Today holiday deadline guide. One-Day and Same-Day eligible items remained available through December 24.

The same USA Today guide reported Walmart accepted next-day delivery orders until 12:30 p.m. local time on December 23. Target accepted standard orders through about December 18 and premium shipping through December 22.

Both retailers offered store pickup or same-day delivery through December 24.

What can delay a holiday package?

All three major carriers closed on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving, with no pickups or deliveries. That pause removed one delivery day from late schedules. A December 24 arrival plan could not rely on a December 25 move.

Published dates were recommendations that could slip with weather, volume and acceptance time, as reported by USA Today in the holiday shipping outlook. The sources advised shipping ground gifts by December 16 to 17. An evening drop-off could miss the day's pickup and shift delivery.

What should late shoppers do?

Ground deadlines passed first, so shoppers after December 17 faced fewer low-cost choices. Express air, faster retail shipping, pickup and same-day delivery filled the gap. Distance mattered more for ground parcels than for overnight envelopes.

Use the option that still fits the calendar. Match the service to the remaining days. Confirm the acceptance time before paying for an upgrade.

An evening drop-off can miss the day's pickup.

• Upgrade to 2-day or overnight service after December 17 to 20.
• Place Prime standard orders by December 22 and check One-Day or Same-Day eligibility through December 24.
• Choose store pickup or same-day delivery through December 24 when the store offers it.
• Drop off early in the day and confirm the acceptance cutoff.