With holiday celebrations such as Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa around the corner, time is running out to send packages or gifts through the mail to loved ones.
But what exactly are the latest dates one can do so?
Here’s an outline of deadlines to ship packages so they get to loved ones in time for holiday celebrations, according to the United States Postal Service.
Domestic shipping for lower 48 states
| Product/Service | Date |
|---|---|
| USPS Retail Ground | Dec. 17 |
| First-Class Mail | Dec. 17 |
| Priority Mail | Dec. 19 |
| Priority Mail Express | Dec. 23 |
Shipping dates for Alaska and Hawaii
| State | First-Class Mail | Priority Mail | Priority Mail Express | USPS Retail Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Dec. 17 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 21 | Dec. 2 |
| Hawaii | Dec. 17 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 21 | N/A |
Shipping dates for international mail
| Area | First-Class Package | Priority mail | Priority Mail Express | Global Express |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Nov. 29 | Nov. 29 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 20 |
| Asia/Pacific Rim | Dec. 6 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 13 | Dec. 20 |
| Australia/New Zealand | Dec. 6 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 13 | Dec. 20 |
| Canada | Dec. 6 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 13 | Dec. 20 |
| Caribbean | Dec. 6 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 13 | Dec. 21 |
| Central & South America | Nov. 29 | Nov. 29 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 20 |
| Europe | Dec. 6 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 13 | Dec. 21 |
| Mexico | Dec. 6 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 13 | Dec. 22 |
| Middle East | Dec. 6 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 13 | Dec. 20 |
Military mail
| Addressed to | Retail Ground | First-Class Mail | Priority Mail | Priority Mail Express |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 090-092 | Nov. 5 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 093 | Nov. 5 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | N/A |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 094-099 | Nov. 5 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 340 | Nov. 5 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 962-966 | Nov. 5 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 |