The holiday shipping season is quickly approaching! Make sure you let your customers know when they need to place their orders or what type of shipping service they need to use to ensure that their holiday cards and packages make it to their recipients by December 25. Below is a complete list of 2015 USPS holiday shipping deadlines.
Domestic Mail Classes Holiday Shipping Schedule
| Domestic Mail Class/Product | Cutoff Date |
|---|---|
| First-Class Mail® | Dec. 19 |
| Priority Mail® | Dec. 21 |
| Priority Mail Express®* | Dec. 23 |
| Standard Post™ | Dec. 15 |
| DNDC Drop Ship™ | Dec. 19 |
| DDU Drop Ship™ | Dec. 22 |
| International Mail | See Below |
| Priority Mail Express Military APO/FPO/DPO | See Below |
*Priority Mail Express postage refund eligibility is adjusted for shipments mailed Dec 22-25
International Mail Holiday Shipping Schedule
| International Mail Addressed To | Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG®)*** | Priority Mail Express International™ (PMEI) | Priority Mail International® (PMI) | First-Class Package International Service™ (FCPIS®) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Dec. 21 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 1 | Dec. 1 |
| Asia/Pacific Rim | Dec. 19 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 8 |
| Australia/New Zealand | Dec. 19 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 8 |
| Canada | Dec. 22 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 11 | Dec. 8 |
| Caribbean | Dec. 21 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 11 | Dec. 8 |
| Central & South America | Dec. 21 | Dec. 11 | Dec. 1 | Dec. 1 |
| Mexico | Dec. 22 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 8 |
| Europe | Dec. 21 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 11 | Dec. 8 |
| Middle East | Dec. 19 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 11 | Dec. 8 |
***GXG Notes 1) Cutoff date does not take into account time needed for customs clearance 2) Should allocate extra transit day(s) for delivery outside major cities.
APO/FPO/DPO Holiday Shipping Schedule
Deadlines for mailing to specific APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Codes vary according to the specific classes of mail. Please also remember that all mail addressed to overseas military/diplomatic Post Offices is subject to certain conditions and restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling.
| Military Mail Addressed To/From | Priority Mail Express Military™ Service (PMEMS) 1 | First-Class Mail® Letters and Cards | Priority Mail® | Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2 | Space Available Mail (SAM) 3 | Standard Post™ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 090-092 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 3 | Nov. 25 | Nov. 7 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIP 093 | N/A | Dec. 3 | Dec. 3 | Dec. 3 | Nov. 25 | Nov. 7 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 094-098 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 3 | Nov. 25 | Nov. 7 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AA ZIP 340 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 3 | Nov. 25 | Nov. 7 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AP ZIPs 962-966 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 3 | Nov. 25 | Nov. 7 |
1 PMEMS: is available to selected military and diplomatic Post Offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address.
2 PAL: is a servie that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for Standard Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight and 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface price of postage for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.
3 SAM: parcels are paid at Standard Post prices with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.
2015 Holiday Season Import Dates*
| Surface | Air | EMS |
|---|---|---|
| LC/AO Dec. 1 | LC/AO Dec. 10 | Dec. 10 |
| CP Dec. 1 | CP Dec. 11 |
*Provides mailing guidelines for foreign postal partner in order to meet December 25 delivery.
December 1 Last day to send parcel post packages via surface transportation
December 1 Last day to send letters, flats and small packages via surface transportation
December 11 Last day to send priority packages via air transportation
December 10 Last day to send letters, flats and small packages via air transportation
December 19 Last day to send Express Mail Service items (any shape)
Mail class by code:
LC = Letters, aerogramme's (USPS no longer offers outbound aerogramme's), cards and letter package
AO = Newspapers, magazines, matter for the blind, printed matter, small package
CP = Packages - parcel post (surface), priority (air)
