USPS holiday mailing deadlines and more
Are you one of the millions of shoppers who prefer going online rather than standing in line to buy holiday gifts? The Postal Service has you covered on Cyber Monday and throughout the holidays. Count on us to get your packages to their destination in time for all the seasonal celebrations.
2022 Holiday Shipping Deadlines
Timing is everything, especially when it comes to shipping holiday items. The Postal Service recommends the following mailing and shipping deadlines for expected delivery by Dec. 25 to Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office (APO/FPO/DPO) and certain domestic addresses*:
Dec. 9 — APO/FPO/DPO (all ZIP Codes) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
Dec. 16 — APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) USPS Priority Mail Express Military service
Dec. 17 — USPS Retail Ground service
Dec. 17 — First-Class Mail service (including greeting cards)
Dec. 17 — First-Class Package Service (up to 15.99 ounces)
Dec. 19 — Priority Mail service
Dec. 22 — Priority Mail Express* service
Alaska
Dec. 2 — Alaska to/from Continental U.S. – USPS Retail Ground
Dec. 18 — Alaska to/from Continental U.S. – First-Class Mail and Priority Mail
Dec. 21 — Alaska to/from Continental U.S. – Priority Mail Express
Hawaii
Dec. 17 — Hawaii to/from mainland – First-Class Mail and Priority Mail
Dec. 21 — Hawaii to/from mainland – Priority Mail Express
*
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 if delivery was not attempted, within two business days.
To send packages to loved ones serving in the military or at diplomatic posts abroad, the Postal Service offers a discounted shipping price of $20.95 on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate Box. The price includes a $1.50-per-box discount for mail sent to APO/FPO/DPO destinations worldwide.
To handle this year's holiday surge, the Postal Service is expanding Sunday deliveries in high package volume locations. Mail carriers will also deliver Priority Mail Express packages on Christmas Day for an additional fee in select locations.
As a reminder, there are temporary price increases in place through 12:01 a.m. Central, Jan 22, 2023. The increase affects both retail and business customers for some of our more popular shipping products, including military shipping. International products are unaffected. These temporary rates help keep the Postal Service competitive and are similar to adjustments in past years to help cover extra handling costs to ensure a successful peak season. More information can be found on our website.
The temporary adjustment is part of Delivering for America, the Postal Service's 10-year plan for achieving financial sustainability and service excellence, which calls for appropriate pricing initiatives. Even with the temporary increase, the Postal Service has some of the lowest mail postage rates in the industrialized world and continues to offer great values in shipping.