With the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, we’re all asking ourselves the same question: will our orders arrive before Christmas?
Even if you hit the online checkout button at the tippy top of December, it’s still a lingering concern.
Rest assured, we combed through retailer lists galore to illustrate this year’s shipping deadlines to be at the top of your A-game for holiday shopping.
According to the 2022 State of Holiday Shipping in the U.S. report, both UPS and FedEx anticipate package volumes to peak later in December this year, where both UPS and FedEx experienced their highest delay rates — a combined 28% rate between both shipping streams.
So, we’ll say this: get a head start on your last-minute gifts early. This is especially a good idea as Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, which means overnight shipping deadlines aren’t on Dec. 24 for most shipping platforms and retailers.
Ahead, we broke down retailer shipping deadlines to keep in mind; with this comprehensive list, you can keep calm and shop on.
Please note that we can’t ensure packages will be delivered. New York Post Shopping cut out the research for you to report the most critical dates across major retailers and shipping services.
Amazon
| Shipping Type | Deadline to Buy | ETA of Package |
|---|---|---|
| Free Shipping | Dec. 15 | Dec. 23 |
| Prime Two-Day Shipping | Dec. 22 | Dec. 24 |
| Prime One-Day Shipping | Dec. 23 | Dec. 24 |
| Prime Same-Day Delivery | Dec. 24 | Dec. 24 |
| Amazon eGift Card Delivery | Dec. 25 | Dec. 25 |
FedEx
| Shipping Type | Deadline to Ship |
|---|---|
| Ground | Dec. 14 |
| Express Saver | Dec. 20 |
| 2Day and 2Day AM | Dec. 21 |
| First Overnight and Priority Overnight | Dec. 22 |
| SameDay | Dec. 23 |
Note: Keep in mind that because Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, you can’t overnight a FedEx delivery on Christmas Eve. You must use FedEx SameDay on Dec. 23 — at the very latest — to ensure your package arrives by Dec. 25.
USPS
| Shipping Type | Deadline to Ship |
|---|---|
| USPS Retail Ground | Dec. 17 |
| First-Class Mail | Dec. 17 (includes Alaska and Hawaii) |
| Priority Mail | Dec. 19 |
| Priority Mail Express | Dec. 23 |
Note: the USPS holiday shipping deadlines do not include Alaska and Hawaii, except for First-Class Mail. Here are some deadlines, if any, for these two states:
- USPS Retail Ground: Dec. 2 for Alaska, no hard deadline for Hawaii
- Priority Mail: Dec. 17 for Alaska and Hawaii
- Priority Mail Express: Dec. 21 for Alaska and Hawaii
UPS
| Shipping Type | Deadline to Ship |
|---|---|
| Ground | User must check the UPS site; dependent on the region |
| 3-Day Select | Dec. 20 |
| 2nd Day Air | Dec. 21 |
| Next Day Air | Dec. 22 |
Best Buy
| Shipping Type | Deadline to Buy | ETA of Package |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Delivery | Dec. 16 | Dec. 23 |
| Next-Day Delivery | Dec. 22 | Dec. 23 |
Note: Best Buy can guarantee delivery if the item appears to be in stock at your nearest location. Be sure to double-check before placing your order.
Bloomingdale’s
| Shipping Type | Deadline to Buy | ETA of Package |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Delivery | Dec. 16 | Dec. 23 |
| Premium Delivery | Dec. 20 | Dec. 23 |
| Express Delivery | Dec. 25 by noon local time | Dec. 25, by EOD |
JCPenney
| Shipping Type | Deadline to Buy | ETA of Package |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Dec. 16 | Dec. 23 |
| 3-Day Expedited | Dec. 20 | Dec. 23 |
| 2-Day Expedited | Dec. 21 | Dec. 23 |
| 1-Day Expedited | Dec. 22 | Dec. 23 |
Kohl’s
| Shipping Type | Deadline to Buy | ETA of Package |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Delivery | N/A | No longer guaranteed |
| 2-Day Delivery | Dec. 19 by 2 p.m. EST | Dec. 24 |
| 1-Day Delivery | Dec. 20 by 2 p.m. EST | Dec. 24 |
Macy’s
| Shipping Type | Deadline to Buy | ETA of Package |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Delivery | Dec. 16 | Dec. 23 |
| Premium Delivery | Dec. 20 | Dec. 23 |
| Express Delivery | Dec. 21 | Dec. 23 |
| Same-Day Delivery | Dec. 24 before 1 p.m. local time | Dec. 24 before EOD |
Nordstrom
| Shipping Type | Deadline to Buy | ETA of Package |
|---|---|---|
| Free Standard Shipping | Dec. 16 | Dec. 23 |
| Expedited Two-Day Shipping | Dec. 20 | Dec. 23 |
| Expedited Next-Day Shipping | Dec. 21 | Dec. 23 |
Note: Keep in mind that some items at Nordstrom have specific cutoff dates. Be sure to check your online shopping cart before placing your order.
Target
| Shipping Type | Deadline to Buy | ETA of Package |
|---|---|---|
| Free 2-Day Ship | Dec. 21 | Dec. 23 |
| Same-Day Delivery | Dec. 23 by 8 p.m. local time | Dec. 23 by EOD |
Note: Some exclusions may apply depending on your store’s location. We recommend calling them directly if you’re planning to order last minute.
Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more content.