It’s the most wonderful time of the year?
It will be if your customers receive their orders on time.
The major carriers have published recommended cutoff dates to ship products to ensure delivery ahead of December 25.
Nothing can steal Christmas like a late package. Follow these deadlines to ensure your carriers deliver your customers’ orders on time, and your business delivers joy.
FedEx 2023 Holiday Shipping Deadlines
If FedEx is delivering your holiday packages, use these deadlines to ensure delivery by December 24.
| Service | Deadline |
|---|---|
| FedEx Ground® Economy | Dec 13 |
| FedEx Ground® | Dec 15* |
| FedEx Home® Delivery | Dec 15* |
| FedEx Express Saver® | Dec 19 |
| FedEx Express 3Day® Freight | Dec 19 |
| FedEx Express 2Day® Freight | Dec 20 |
| FedEx Express 1Day® Freight | Dec 21 |
| FedEx SameDay | Dec 22 |
*Deadline for a 5-day shipping option. Delivery times vary based on origin and destination. Deadlines vary accordingly, ranging from 12/15 for 5-day to 12/21 for 1-day.
To see specific delivery times, visit https://www.fedex.com/grd/maps/ShowMapEntry.do
UPS 2023 Holiday Shipping Deadlines
Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, and UPS doesn’t pick up or deliver on Sundays. Because of this, their recommended shipping dates target arrival by December 23, a day earlier than FedEx’s target date. Their deadlines are:
| Service | Deadline |
|---|---|
| UPS® Ground | Use their website’s quote tool for more information |
| UPS 3 Day Select® | Dec 19 |
| UPS 2nd Day Air® | Dec 20 |
| UPS Next Day Air® | Dec 21 |
December 23 is a Saturday, so shipments with each service can be sent a day later than these deadlines if Saturday delivery is stipulated (i.e., a UPS Next Day Air package can be sent on 12/22 instead of 12/21).
USPS 2023 Holiday Shipping Deadlines
The USPS announced in September that they won’t impose peak season surcharges this year, expecting this to be a competitive advantage that helps grow their volume in the holiday season.
Their cutoff dates for a December 25 delivery are as follows:
| Service | Deadline |
|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage™ | Dec 16 |
| USPS First-Class Mail® | Dec 16 |
| USPS Priority Mail® | Dec 18 |
| USPS Priority Mail® Express | Dec 20 |
These deadlines are for shipments to the contiguous U.S. For deadlines for shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, and military Post Offices, review USPS’ full holiday deadline announcement.
Dashing Through Peak Season
In the age of the “Amazon Effect,” two-day delivery is an expectation. Don’t let unrealistic expectations make shipping a Scrooge for your business.
Communicate with your customers through social media, newsletters, or emails, and express the importance of shopping early this year.
On your website’s product pages, provide an estimated delivery date so they know when it will arrive. These are simple but effective ways to ensure you and your customers avoid the holiday blues this shopping season.
Don’t be caught off guard by peak season surcharges.
This year, FedEx and UPS both raised their rebranded “Demand Surcharges,” and large packages being sent to residential addresses are being hit hard. Like Rudolph on Christmas Eve, our Demand Surcharge breakdown can guide you through peak season.
By delivering on-time to customers and knowing what to expect from Demand Surcharges, you can jingle all the way to a profitable Q4!
