USPS 2022 Holiday Shipping Deadlines

We all blinked, and just like that, it’s that time of the year again! With the weather cooling down and the puffy jackets coming out, USPS hasn’t wasted any time announcing the 2022 holiday shipping deadlines. These dates represent the cutoff days to ship by if you want your package (or mail) to arrive by December 25th. We’ve listed out each cutoff time for every domestic and international USPS service below:

USPS 2022 Holiday Shipping Deadlines

Domestic Services

• USPS Retail Ground service to APO/FPO/DPO destinations (all ZIP Codes): November 6th
• Priority Mail and First-Class Mail to APO/FPO/DPO (all ZIP Codes): December 9th
• USPS Retail Ground/Parcel Select Ground: December 15th
• Priority Mail Express Military service to all APO/FPO/DPO destinations (except ZIP Code 093): December 16th
• First-Class Mail (including greeting cards and postcards): December 17th
• First Class Package: December 17th
• Priority Mail: December 18th
• Priority Mail Express*: December 23rd

Learn more about shipping to military addresses.

Alaska

The following dates apply to mail and packages traveling to/from Alaska and the Continental United States:

• First-Class Mail: December 17th
• Priority Mail: December 17th
• Priority Mail Express: December 21st
• Retail/Parcel Select Ground: December 2nd

Hawaii

The following dates apply to mail and packages traveling to/from Alaska and the mainland (contiguous United States):

• First-Class Mail: December 17th
• Priority Mail: December 17th
• Priority Mail Express: December 21st
• Retail/Parcel Select Ground: N/A

Regarding Priority Mail Express service, please note this disclaimer from USPS:

*Not a guarantee, unless otherwise noted. Dates are for estimated delivery before Dec. 25. Actual delivery date may vary depending on origin, destination, Post Office acceptance date and time, and other conditions. Some restrictions apply. For Priority Mail Express shipments mailed Dec. 22 through Dec. 25, the money-back guarantee applies only if the shipment was not delivered, or delivery was not attempted, within two business days.

Deadlines for Shipping to Military Addresses (APO/FPO/DPO)

The following are the deadlines for shipping to and from military addresses, listed by military zip code.

AE ZIPs 090-092

• First Class Mail (letters and cards): December 9th
• Priority Mail: December 9th
• Priority Mail Express Military Service: December 16th
• Retail/Parcel Select Ground: November 5th

AE ZIP 093

• First Class Mail (letters and cards): December 9th
• Priority Mail: December 9th
• Priority Mail Express Military Service: N/A
• Retail/Parcel Select Ground: November 5th

AE ZIPs 094-099

• First Class Mail (letters and cards): December 9th
• Priority Mail: December 9th
• Priority Mail Express Military Service: December 16th
• Retail/Parcel Select Ground: November 5th

AE ZIP 340

• First Class Mail (letters and cards): December 9th
• Priority Mail: December 9th
• Priority Mail Express Military Service: December 16th
• Retail/Parcel Select Ground: November 5th

AE ZIPs 962-966

• First Class Mail (letters and cards): December 9th
• Priority Mail: December 9th
• Priority Mail Express Military Service: December 16th
• Retail/Parcel Select Ground: November 5th

International Packages

Africa/Central & South America

• First Class Package International: November 29th
• Priority Mail International: November 29th
• Priority Mail Express International: December 6th
• Global Express Guaranteed: December 20th

Asia/Pacific Rim/Australia/New Zealand/Middle East

• First Class Package International: December 6th
• Priority Mail International: December 6th
• Priority Mail Express International: December 13th
• Global Express Guaranteed: December 20th

Canada/Mexico

• First Class Package International: December 6th
• Priority Mail International: December 6th
• Priority Mail Express International: December 13th
• Global Express Guaranteed: December 22nd

Caribbean/Europe

• First Class Package International: December 6th
• Priority Mail International: December 6th
• Priority Mail Express International: December 13th
• Global Express Guaranteed: December 21st

Ship Before the Cutoff Times to Be Safe

In our experience, holiday shipping seasons tend to get crazier every year, with package volume only increasing as online shopping continues to gain footing. All the major shipping carriers always experience a surge in volume around the holidays, and even if you ship by these deadlines, there’s a chance USPS may still not deliver your package on time. So, if you’re shipping with USPS, we suggest shipping your packages before the cutoff dates we listed above if you want to make sure your package arrives on or before December 25th. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry!