The holiday season is in full swing, and as Christmas approaches, many are feeling the pressure to ensure their gifts arrive on time. With only a limited number of shipping days left, the risk of delayed packages looms large this year. Factors such as winter storms, stock shortages, and the challenges of ground shipping could lead to significant slowdowns in deliveries as Christmas Eve draws near.

A recent survey conducted by Badcredit.org revealed that over half of Americans are concerned about potential delays in their holiday shipments. With only 17 shipping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, experts are urging consumers to ship early to avoid last-minute stress.

“In a shorter holiday season, we encourage everyone to ship early and often so you can enjoy the holidays worry-free,” advised Karen Tomaszewski Hill, the U.S. media relations manager at UPS. This sentiment is echoed by retailers, as the National Retail Federation anticipates a holiday spending increase of up to 3.5% from last year, potentially reaching a staggering $989 billion.

To handle this surge in demand, Amazon has announced plans to hire 250,000 additional transportation and warehouse workers to ensure timely deliveries throughout the holiday season.

For those eager to ensure their gifts arrive by December 24, here are the key shipping deadlines to keep in mind for the 2024 holiday season:

UPS Shipping Deadlines

• Ground: Check ups.com/ctc for details
• 3 Day Select: December 19
• 2nd Day Air: December 20
• Next Day Air: December 23

Note that there will be no UPS pickup or delivery service on Christmas Day.

USPS Shipping Deadlines

For deliveries within the contiguous 48 states, the recommended send-by dates for December 25 delivery are:

• Ground: December 18
• First-Class Mail: December 18
• Priority Mail: December 19
• Priority Mail Express: December 21

For shipments to Alaska and Hawaii, the deadlines differ slightly:

• Ground: December 16
• First-Class Mail: December 18
• Priority Mail: December 19
• Priority Mail Express: December 20

USPS underscores that actual delivery dates may vary based on factors such as origin, destination, and post office acceptance times.

FedEx Shipping Deadlines

For those using FedEx, the following deadlines apply for December 24 delivery:

• Home Delivery: December 23 (for one-day shipping)
• Ground: December 23 (for one-day shipping)
• Express Saver: December 19
• 2Day and 2Day AM: December 20 (can be extended to December 21 with an optional Saturday pickup for an additional fee)
• First Overnight, Priority Overnight, Standard Overnight, Extra Hours: December 23
• SameDay: December 24

As the clock ticks down to Christmas, shoppers are encouraged to take note of these shipping deadlines to ensure their holiday gifts arrive in time, keeping the festive spirit alive.

With the potential for delays and an increase in holiday spending, planning ahead is essential for a smooth and joyful holiday experience.