Shoppers should prepare for unprecedented delivery delays this holiday season - here are the shipping deadlines you need to know
When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
Crystal Cox/Business Insider
- Expected supply chain delays mean you'll want to get a head start on holiday shopping this year.
- Retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart have 2021 pre-Black Friday sales for early shopping.
- If you're looking for other options, consider virtual gifts or picking up online orders in-store.
Finding the perfect gift for everyone in your life is rarely an easy process (thankfully, we have tons of gift guides to help you out).
But the search isn't over once you finally pick something. You need to make sure it actually arrives in time, which will be especially challenging this year, as "out of stock" warnings have tripled since January 2020. A global supply chain crisis has affected everything from ugly Christmas sweaters to cardboard, with no guarantees of improving even as new facilities are being added.
So while Black Friday is traditionally the start of holiday gift shopping, it's advised to start even earlier this year if you want your gifts to arrive on time. Additionally, it'd be good to look at the 2021 shipping deadlines released by FedEx, UPS, and the US Postal Service to make sure you allow enough time to ship your gift.
If time gets away from you, many major retailers offer pick-up in-store options, which let you bypass the holiday shipping delays and grab your gifts as early as the same day you ordered them. You'll just have to make sure you ship your gifts according to the shipping deadlines below.
The other option is to consider e-gifts, such as gift cards your recipients can cash in on a later date or virtual classes, digital books, and audiobook subscriptions they can use right away.
If you want to receive your gifts by Christmas, these are the dates, times, and shipping options you should know:
2021 carrier shipping deadlines
FedEx:
Of the shipping services, FedEx offers the most options for you to get your package delivered, with options even available on Christmas Eve. Note: The deadlines listed below are exclusive to the US.
- FedEx Ground and Home Delivery: December 15
- FedEx Express Saver: December 21
- FedEx 2Day and 2DayAM: December 22
- FedEx 1 Day Freight: December 23
- FedEx Same Day: December 24
UPS:
With the options listed below, you can ship as late as December 23 using UPS. UPS stores are closed on Christmas Day, but you can still look into UPS Express Critical service if you're in dire need.
- UPS Ground: Calculate on the UPS website
- UPS 3 Day Select: December 21
- UPS 2nd Day Air: December 22
- UPS Next Day Air: December 23
US Postal Service:
With USPS, it's as easy as getting shipping supplies online or from your local post office, printing shipping labels, and dropping off your package (or scheduling a pickup).
Post office locations might have varying hours as we get closer to the holidays, so save yourself the hassle and check if your location is open here.
- USPS Retail Ground: December 15
- USPS First-Class Mail: December 17
- USPS Priority Mail: December 18
- USPS Priority Mail Express: December 23
For deadlines for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping, read more here.
DHL:
DHL has yet to release an official calendar of shipping deadlines for 2021, but it's probably safe to assume a cut-off of December 15 for all of its domestic shipping services. Shipping internationally is trickier, but you can get a rate and time quote for your specific shipment here.