How late can I mail holiday packages in Washington? See 2025 shipping deadlines
Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and other winter holidays are on the way.
That means something else is approaching, too: Holiday shipping deadlines.
If you’re looking to get a card or package delivered to a loved one this month, you’ll want to get in gear soon.
“The holiday season is the busiest time of year” for the U.S. Postal Service, the agency said in a Nov. 28 news release.
As of Friday, Dec. 5, the Postal Service had handled more than 3.7 billion pieces of holiday mail and packages since Nov. 24, according to an online mail counter.
Here’s a look at USPS, UPS and FedEx mailing deadlines in Washington state for the 2025 holiday season:
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What are holiday mail deadlines for US Postal Service?
The U.S. Postal Service said it’s “prepared to deliver this holiday season reliably, quickly and affordably.”
Still, “the earlier you send, the better,” the federal agency on its website. “Don’t delay, mail and ship today.”
If you want to send cards or packages via first-class mail or ground advantage in the lower 48 states, you should hit the post office by Wednesday, Dec. 17, for delivery before Christmas on Dec. 25, the Postal Service said.
Meanwhile, the recommended send-by date for priority mail is Thursday, Dec. 18.
Packages and other mail should be dropped off by Saturday, Dec. 20, if you’re using priority mail express, according to the agency.
The recommended send-by dates for mail and packages bound for Hawaii, Alaska and U.S. territories including Puerto Rico are similar for first-class mail, priority mail and priority mail express.
However, you’ll want to get ground advantage packages bound for those destinations in the mail by Tuesday, Dec. 16.
The dates for international destinations and military installations abroad vary, although they largely range from Tuesday, Dec. 9, to Tuesday, Dec. 16.
How late can I ship holiday packages via UPS?
Like the Postal Service, UPS said the holidays are bustling.
“We do the holiday shipping season better than anyone and are ready to deliver for our customers around the world,” the package delivery company said on its website.
UPS said customers should mark two dates on their calendars:
Monday, Dec. 22, is the last day to send a package in the United States via second-day air for delivery on Wednesday, Dec 24, the company said.
Meanwhile, Tuesday, Dec. 23, is the deadline for domestic next-day air packages for Christmas Eve delivery.
Enter your shipment details online to figure out the send-by date for ground shipping.
If you want to use three-day select for shipping a package in the United States, you should send it off by Friday, Dec. 19, UPS said.
Using FedEx delivery? Know these 2025 dates
FedEx’s send-by dates for delivery by Christmas Eve largely range from Monday, Dec. 15, to Tuesday, Dec. 23, depending on the service and location.
Will mail and packages be delivered on Christmas?
Regular mail won’t be delivered on Christmas Day — Thursday, Dec. 25 — and post offices will shut their doors in observance of the holiday.
UPS and FedEx locations will be closed on Christmas, and most services won’t be available on Thursday, Dec. 25.
This story was originally published December 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "How late can I mail holiday packages in Washington? See 2025 shipping deadlines."
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