TL;DR: UPS® closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day in 2026. It still delivers all services on Christmas Eve. USPS holiday shipping deadlines run Dec. 17 to Dec. 19. Ship ground orders first. Compare UPS® and USPS rates before each label.
This guide is for anyone shipping gifts or holiday orders. That covers one parcel or thousands of orders a week. Holiday shipping deadlines decide whether packages arrive by Dec. 25.
Volume raises the stakes this year. Adobe projects $275.1 billion in US online holiday sales. That forecast covers Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026.
Below are the official 2026 UPS® and USPS holiday schedules. You’ll also get a ship-by plan and a service guide. Christmas lands on a Friday this year.
Holiday Shipping Deadlines: At a Glance
- UPS® closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
- UPS® delivers all services on Christmas Eve. UPS Ground® doesn’t pick up.
- USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail: Dec. 17 (contiguous US).
- USPS Priority Mail: Dec. 18. Priority Mail Express: Dec. 19.
- USPS international, including Canada: Dec. 9 for most services.
- Post offices close on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Table of Contents
What Are the UPS® Holiday Shipping Deadlines for 2026?
UPS® hasn’t published 2026 ship-by dates by service yet. Its 2026 holiday operations schedule is live. UPS® closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
On Christmas Eve, UPS® delivers for all services. UPS Ground® offers no pickup that day. UPS Ground® delivers in one to five business days.
| Date | UPS® operations |
|---|---|
| Thu, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving) | No pickup or delivery. UPS Express Critical® available. |
| Fri, Nov. 27 | Open for all services. |
| Thu, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) | Deliveries for all services. Air pickup only if prearranged by Dec. 18. No UPS Ground® pickup. |
| Fri, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) | No pickup or delivery. UPS Express Critical® available. |
| Thu, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve) | Restricted Ground pickup and delivery. |
| Fri, Jan. 1, 2027 | No pickup or delivery. |
Source: UPS holiday shipping schedule and 2026 U.S. UPS holiday operations schedule.
Confirm transit time before each holiday shipment. A UPS shipping quote shows the delivery date by service.
Air pickups on Christmas Eve require arranging by Dec. 18. Without that arrangement, no air pickup runs Dec. 24.
New Year’s Eve brings restricted ground pickup and delivery. UPS® runs no pickup or delivery on Jan. 1, 2027.
What Are the USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines for 2026?
USPS has published its 2026 holiday send-by dates. For the contiguous US, Ground Advantage ends Dec. 17. First-Class Mail also ends Dec. 17.
Priority Mail ends Dec. 18. Priority Mail Express ends Saturday, Dec. 19. USPS announced these dates on Sept. 22, 2026.
| USPS service | Contiguous US | Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, territories | APO/FPO/DPO |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | Thu, Dec. 17 | Wed, Dec. 16 | Wed, Nov. 4 |
| First-Class Mail | Thu, Dec. 17 | Thu, Dec. 17 | Wed, Dec. 9 |
| Priority Mail | Fri, Dec. 18 | Fri, Dec. 18 | Wed, Dec. 9 |
| Priority Mail Express | Sat, Dec. 19 | Sat, Dec. 19 | Wed, Dec. 16 (Military) |
Source: USPS 2026 holiday shipping dates. Dates target delivery by Dec. 25.
Celebrating Hanukkah? It runs Dec. 4 to Dec. 12 this year. USPS advises shipping those gifts earlier.
Shipping to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico? Ground Advantage can take longer there. Check the estimated delivery date first.
Military mail runs much earlier. APO/FPO/DPO Ground Advantage closes Wednesday, Nov. 4. Priority Mail Express Military closes Dec. 16.
International cutoffs come early too. Priority Mail International ends Dec. 9 for every region. That includes shipments to Canada.
First-Class Package International also ends Dec. 9. Priority Mail Express International ends Dec. 16.
Post offices close on Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, and Christmas Day. Both are 2026 federal holidays. Christmas Eve is a regular USPS service day.
How Do You Plan a Holiday Ship-By Calendar?
Start from the earliest cutoff in your carrier mix. Then subtract a buffer day for handling and pickup. Mark carrier closure days on the same calendar.
Post your store’s last order date one day before. Customers see a clear date, and you keep margin.
- List every service you offer at checkout.
- Find each service’s 2026 cutoff in the tables above.
- Set your order cutoff one business day earlier.
- Block Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
- Schedule pickups or drop-offs before each carrier closure.
- Print labels in batches the evening before pickup.
Carrier cutoffs are delivery targets, not guarantees. So plan around your earliest cutoff, not your latest. That one rule protects the most orders.
Sending a few gifts? The same logic applies. Pick your service, then ship a day early.
High-volume operations face a different squeeze. Pickup slots and label printing become the bottleneck. Stagger order cutoffs by service to spread the load.
Which Service Fits Each Holiday Order?
Match the service to the days left before Dec. 25. Ground services suit orders shipped by mid-December. Priority and air services suit the final week.
Faster services usually cost more during peak. Weigh speed against cost on each order. Compare both before printing.
| Ship date | USPS option (contiguous US) | UPS® option |
|---|---|---|
| By Thu, Dec. 17 | Ground Advantage or First-Class Mail | UPS Ground® (check route transit time) |
| Fri, Dec. 18 | Priority Mail | Air services. Last day to prearrange a Dec. 24 air pickup. |
| Sat, Dec. 19 | Priority Mail Express | Air services. Confirm transit time with a UPS quote. |
| Mon, Dec. 21 to Wed, Dec. 23 | Past USPS recommended dates | Air services. Confirm transit time with a UPS quote. |
| Thu, Dec. 24 | Regular service day | Deliveries only. Air pickup if prearranged by Dec. 18. |
Based on USPS and UPS® 2026 holiday schedules. Check each carrier before shipping.
Peak season can also raise what each label costs. Carriers can add peak surcharges during the holidays.
Packing gifts this year? See our Christmas shipping cost and workflow tips.
What Happens Without a Structured Holiday Workflow?
Most missed cutoffs start with manual steps. Shippers check rates on separate carrier sites. Labels get printed one at a time.
Late orders bring refund requests and chargebacks. Marketplace sellers can also see account metrics slip. A missed Dec. 18 cutoff can’t be undone.
The fix is one place to compare, print and track.
A shipping app can handle comparing and printing for you.
How Can You Compare UPS® and USPS Rates Before You Buy the Label?
Rollo Ship is free shipping software for US and Canadian shippers. It compares UPS® and USPS rates side by side. You pick a service before the label prints.
There’s no subscription. A small per-label fee starts at 5¢. The first 200 label-service fees are waived once per account.
Postage is paid directly to the carrier. Rollo is not a carrier.
Rollo Ship gives you discounted UPS® rates.
Discounts off UPS daily rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice.
Rollo Ship also gives access to discounted USPS rates up to 90% off retail USPS rates on select services.
Want a quick check first? Try the Rollo shipping calculator for US and Canada.
It pulls Rollo Ship rates for your package. Rates vary by weight and can change.
Here’s what two holiday packages cost in the calculator:
- Package 1: 2 lb box, 10×8×4 in, Atlanta (30303) to Miami (33101)
- Package 2: 5 lb box, 12×10×6 in, New York (10001) to Los Angeles (90001)
| Service | Package 1: 2 lb, Atlanta to Miami | Package 2: 5 lb, New York to Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| UPS Ground® | $7.82 | $15.31 |
| UPS 2nd Day Air® | $13.32 | $27.44 |
| UPS Next Day Air® | $44.22 | $71.06 |
| USPS Ground Advantage | $6.03 | $14.27 |
| USPS Priority Mail | $9.56 | $25.86 |
| USPS Priority Mail Express | $45.31 | $93.90 |
The 5 lb box costs $14.27 by Ground Advantage. Priority Mail Express costs $93.90 for the same box. Rates vary by weight and can change.
Rollo Ship’s AI-powered rate selection groups similar orders. It applies the shipper’s shipping rules. It recommends the cheapest qualifying service before the label prints.
Rollo Ship covers USPS, UPS®, FedEx, Canada Post, and Purolator. FedEx and Purolator connect through your own carrier account. No Rollo discount applies to FedEx or Purolator postage.
Shipping from Canada this season? Canada Post and UPS® Canada work in the same app. See how Rollo Ship works in Canada.
Compare services on the UPS® and USPS carrier pages.
Ship your next holiday order with Rollo Ship. It’s free to start, with no subscription.
How Does Holiday Volume Lower Your Label Fees?
Every label you ship earns Rollo Rewards points. You earn 5 points per label. Higher tiers cut the per-label fee from 5¢ to 1¢.
Peak season adds shipments fast. So December volume can move you up a tier. Perks grow with each tier.
| Tier | Points | Shipments | Fee per label | Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newbie | 0–149 | 0+ | 5¢ | None |
| Basic | 150–1,499 | 10+ | 5¢ | None |
| Pro | 1,500–14,999 | 120+ | 3¢ | 1 free label pack per quarter, free scale |
| Expert | 15,000–74,999 | 300+ | 2¢ | 1 free label pack per month, free scale, one-time free USB printer |
| VIP | 75,000+ | 1,500+ | 1¢ | 2 free label packs per month, free scale, one-time free printer (Wireless model available) |
Source: Rollo Rewards, checked Oct. 6, 2026.
Points also come from funding your balance. You earn 1 point per $1 by credit card. ACH bank transfers earn 3 points per $1.
Rollo printers and labels are optional. They’re designed to work with Rollo Ship. Rollo Ship also works with any compatible printer.
Rollo Ship is more than a label app. It handles rate comparison, labels, tracking, and free inventory. Rollo Rewards and the wider Rollo ecosystem connect to it.
Running several stores or a warehouse? Batch label printing handles peak queues. Multi-store order import keeps holiday orders in one place.
Orders from Shopify, eBay, Amazon, or WooCommerce import directly.
Who This Guide Is Not For
This guide covers parcel shipping with USPS and UPS®. It isn’t built for freight pallets or less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments. Same-day local courier needs fall outside it too.
Shippers using only FedEx should check FedEx’s own holiday page.
Ship Before the Cutoffs, Not on Them
Holiday shipping deadlines reward shippers who plan early. Lock your ship-by calendar now, while October is quiet.
Rollo Ship brings rates, labels, tracking and inventory together. Rollo Rewards cuts fees as your volume grows. Rollo Ship is rated 4.8★ on Capterra.
Rollo Ship is used by 500,000+ users across the US and Canada.
Ship your next holiday order with Rollo Ship. It’s free to start, with no subscription.
Fees start at 5¢ per label and drop to 1¢.
Your first 200 label-service fees are waived, once per account. Carrier postage still applies.
Compare Rates Before You Buy the Label
Prefer mobile? Get the Rollo Ship app for iOS and Android.
Beat Every
Holiday
Cutoff
This Year
Compare UPS® and USPS rates in one place. Print labels in batches before each pickup. Rollo Ship is free to start, with no subscription. Fees start at 5¢ per label.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Holiday Shipping Deadlines
📌 Q: What is the last day to ship for Christmas 2026?
💠A: It depends on the carrier and service. USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail close Dec. 17. Priority Mail closes Dec. 18. Priority Mail Express is last, on Saturday, Dec. 19. UPS® hasn’t published 2026 ship-by dates by service. Air pickups on Dec. 24 require arranging by Dec. 18. Check a UPS shipping quote for transit time.
📌 Q: What are the USPS Christmas shipping deadlines?
💠A: USPS published its 2026 send-by dates for Dec. 25 delivery. In the contiguous US, Ground Advantage closes Dec. 17. First-Class Mail also closes Dec. 17. Priority Mail closes Dec. 18. Priority Mail Express closes Dec. 19. International services, including Canada, close Dec. 9 to Dec. 16.
📌 Q: What is the UPS® Christmas shipping deadline?
💠A: UPS® hasn’t published 2026 ship-by dates by service yet. Its 2026 operations schedule is live, though. UPS® is closed on Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, all services deliver. UPS Ground® offers no pickup on Dec. 24. Air pickups that day require arranging by Dec. 18.
📌 Q: Does UPS® Next Day Air® deliver on Christmas Eve?
💠A: Yes. UPS® delivers for all services on Christmas Eve 2026. That includes UPS Next Day Air®. Pickup is the catch. UPS® picks up air packages Dec. 24 only if prearranged. UPS® requires that arrangement by Dec. 18. No pickup or delivery runs on Christmas Day.
📌 Q: Is USPS closed on any holidays in 2026?
💠A: Yes. USPS observes 11 federal holidays each year. In peak season, post offices close Thanksgiving, Nov. 26. They also close on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Christmas Eve is a regular service day. You can still print USPS labels online on holidays.
📌 Q: What’s the difference between ship date and delivery date?
💠A: The ship date is when the carrier gets your package. The delivery date is when it reaches the recipient. Holiday cutoffs are ship-by dates. Transit time sits between the two. A packed box isn’t shipped until the carrier scans it. So schedule pickups before each cutoff.
