2021 U.S. Holiday Shipping Deadlines
by Jason Stark
As the holidays approach, it’s a good idea to be prepared with the knowledge you’ll need to avoid shipping delays. Part of this includes knowing each carrier’s holiday shipping deadlines for their particular services. This can help with knowing when, and for how long, to run sales promotions so you can get your product in your customer’s hands before the holidays. Even with these deadlines in mind, it may be a good idea to have your cutoff a few days before, just so you don’t fall flat on delivering to your customers.
Here are the 2021 holiday shipping deadlines for USPS, UPS, and FedEx.
USPS
USPS SERVICE | SHIPPING DEADLINE |
|---|---|
Retail Ground | December 15, 2021 |
First Class Mail | December 17, 2021 |
Priority Mail | December 18, 2021 |
Priority Mail Express | December 23, 2021 |
UPS
UPS SERVICE | SHIPPING DEADLINE |
|---|---|
Ground | December 15, 2021 |
3-Day Select | December 21, 2021 |
2-Day Services | December 22, 2021 |
Overnight Services | December 23, 2021 |
Fedex
FEDEX SERVICE | SHIPPING DEADLINE |
|---|---|
SmartPost | December 9, 2021 |
Ground | December 15, 2021 |
Home Delivery | December 15, 2021 |
Express Saver | December 21, 2021 |
2-Day Services | December 22, 2021 |
Overnight Services | December 23, 2021 |
If we see volumes like we did last year, these dates may end up being more loose guidelines, rather than hard deadlines. The best thing you can do to be prepared is to evaluate your carrier diversification. If you are only using the big three (USPS, FedEx, and UPS), it may be time to talk to an EasyPost representative to see how adding regional carriers to your shipping mix can give you the flexibility you’ll need during peak, and beyond.