USPS Holiday Deadlines and 2025 Seasonal Rate Hike — When to Ship to Get Gifts Delivered by Christmas

The United States Postal Service has published its 2025 holiday delivery schedule and recommended ship-by dates to help customers ensure gifts arrive before Christmas. After upgrades to processing equipment and the addition of thousands of seasonal employees, the Postal Service says it is prepared for the busy season.

Key Domestic Deadlines

For mail sent within the contiguous U.S. (the 48 states and Washington, D.C.), the USPS recommends these ship-by dates for delivery by Christmas:

• Dec. 17 — USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail
• Dec. 18 — Priority Mail
• Dec. 20 — Priority Mail Express

Shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories follow the same Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express dates, but the Postal Service advises sending USPS Ground Advantage parcels one day earlier, on Dec. 16, to allow for additional transit time.

International Cut-Offs

International recommended ship-by dates vary by destination. The USPS lists common suggested deadlines such as Dec. 9 and Dec. 16 for regions including Africa, Canada, Europe and Mexico. Shipments to Central and South America may require an earlier cut-off, with Dec. 2 cited for some services. The agency cautions that actual delivery can vary depending on origin, destination, local Post Office acceptance time and other conditions.

Holiday Hours and Deliveries

Post offices will generally be open on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), though hours may vary by location — check your local branch for exact times. Regular mail and Priority Mail Express deliveries will occur on Dec. 24. On Christmas Day (Dec. 25), most post offices will be closed and regular mail delivery will pause; however, Priority Mail Express will continue to make some limited deliveries.

Seasonal Price Adjustment

In August 2025 the USPS announced a temporary price increase for certain package services to cover extra handling costs during the holiday peak. The surcharge took effect on Oct. 5, 2025 and will remain in place through Jan. 18, 2026. Affected services include Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select. The increase varies by service level, weight and zone, ranging from roughly $0.30 to $16.

“This seasonal adjustment will bring prices for the Postal Service’s retail and commercial customers in line with competitive practices,” the Postal Service said, adding that it still offers competitive mailing rates overall.

Practical Tips

• Check the USPS website for detailed international cut-offs by country and for last-minute updates.
• Confirm your local post office hours on Dec. 24 to avoid missed drop-offs.
• Consider Priority Mail Express for last-minute gifts — it has the latest domestic cut-off and may still deliver over the holiday weekend.
• Allow extra transit time for remote destinations (Alaska, Hawaii, territories) and international shipments.

The Postal Service also operates a live holiday counter with real-time updates on the volume of mail and packages being processed during the peak season.