2016 Holiday Shipping Deadlines

As we rush towards the end of the year with Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the holiday season, we want to make you aware of the final days for shipping to get shipments to customers before Christmas. The last thing you want to do is pay for overnight shipping so your customers get the packages before Christmas morning – or worse, tell them that they’re not going to get it on time.

Last holiday season, we saw a 55% uptick in sales the week before holiday cut off dates as compared to pre-holiday volume. Many ecommerce stores offered promotions and used shipping to drive sales before the busiest season of the year ended.

Holiday cut off dates for domestic shipments

• Dec 2
  • USPS Priority Mail APO/FPO/DPO – ZIP 093 only
• Dec 9
  • USPS Priority Mail APO/FPO/DPO – excl: ZIP 093
• Dec 12
  • FedEx SmartPost
• Dec 15​
  • USPS Retail Ground (otherwise known as Parcel Select)​
• Dec 16
  • USPS First Class Package Services Domestic
  • FedEx Ground
  • FedEx Home Delivery
• Dec 19
  • UPS 3Day Select
• Dec 20
  • FedEx Express Saver
• Dec 21
  • USPS Priority Mail Domestic
  • FedEx 2Day FedEx 2Day AM
  • UPS 2nd Day Air
• Dec 22
  • FedEx Overnight (First, Priority, Standard)
  • UPS Next Day Air
  • UPS 2nd Day Air (marked for Saturday Delivery)
• Dec 23
  • USPS Priority Mail Express Domestic
  • FedEx SameDay City (Standard)
  • UPS Next Day Air (marked for Saturday Delivery)
• Dec 24
  • UPS Worldwide Express
  • UPS Next Day Air
  • UPS 2nd Day Air (marked for Saturday Delivery)
• Dec 25
  • FedEx SameDay
  • FedEx SameDay City (Priority)

For international shipments sent with the USPS

For international shipments, we don’t recommend businesses guaranteeing that shipments will get there before Christmas. With different customs standards and an increase in volume during the holiday season, actual delivery dates are difficult to predict.

Shipping can be utilized as a great tool to drive sales, increase average order value, and decrease your cart abandonment rate. Don’t forget about return shipping, as up to 34% of customers only purchase if they know that they can return items for free. But only 14% of businesses offer free return shipping. Utilize scan-based return labels from Shippo and put them right into the package without having to pay upfront.

We are excited to work with you through this holiday season. Let’s make it the best one yet.

Shippo is a multi-carrier API and web app that helps retailers, marketplaces and platforms connect to a global network of carriers. Businesses use Shippo to get real-time rates, print labels, automate international paperwork, track packages and facilitate returns. Shippo provides the tools to help businesses succeed through shipping.