By Callie Hinman / www.shipstation.com / September 26th, 2018
For consumers, thinking about the holidays the week after Labor Day can seem a bit nonsensical. But in the world of online retail, holiday planning in the fall is just part and parcel of the industry (pun intended).
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are only about nine weeks away. And if this year is anything like 2017, you can expect online sales to once again have year-over-year double-digit growth.
Want to get your share of the billions of shoppers are projected to spend this holiday season? Then you need to get all of your shipping ducks in a row — now.
Without further ado, here are the holiday shipping deadlines for USPS, FedEx, and UPS:
USPS
USPS HOLIDAY SHIPPING DEADLINES TO THE US
| Service | Shipping Cutoff Date |
| Retail Ground™ | Friday, December 14 |
| First Class Mail® | Thursday, December 20 |
| Priority Mail® | Thursday, December 20 |
| Priority Mail Express® | Saturday, December 22 |
FedEx
FEDEX HOLIDAY SHIPPING DEADLINES TO THE US
| Service | Shipping Cutoff Date |
| SmartPost® Services | Monday, December 10 |
| Ground® | Friday, December 14 |
| Home Delivery® | Monday, December 17 |
| Express Saver® | Wednesday, December 19 |
| 2Day® Services | Thursday, December 20 |
| Overnight® Services | Friday, December 21 |
UPS
UPS HOLIDAY SHIPPING DEADLINES TO THE US
| Service | Shipping Cutoff Date |
| Ground® | Friday, December 14 |
| 3 Day Select® | Tuesday, December 18 |
| 2nd Day Air® Services | Thursday, December 20 |
| Next Day Air® Services | Saturday, December 22 |
If you’re interested in a bit more colorful version of these tables, you’re in luck! Below is the stylish ShipStation 2018 Holiday Shipping Deadlines infographic:
If you use our holiday shipping deadlines infographic to start your holiday prep now, you’ll have plenty of time to calculate your own shipping cut off dates. And once you know your shipping schedule, you can start optimizing your shipping workflow to handle increased order volume. Plus, you’ll have more time to decide on which shipping promotions are best for your business and your customers.
As an added bonus, posting your 2018 shipping deadlines on your homepage can encourage consumers to start thinking about holiday shopping a little early, as well.
Speaking of …
Hey there, shoppers! Feel free to take advantage of our holiday shipping deadlines infographic, too. Because let’s be honest: even consumers need to have a holiday strategy these days.
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