U.S. Postal Service updates on last day to ship 2024 holiday mail

As the holiday season approaches, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has released its annual shipping deadlines for domestic and international mail to ensure its customers that their packages and cards are delivered on time.

USPS recommends the following shipping dates for estimated delivery before December 25th:

Holiday shipping and 2024 shipping dates for items sent to addresses in the contiguous United States (Lower 48 States):

• USPS Ground Advantage service: December 18th
• First Class Postal Service: December 18th
• Priority Mail service: December 19th
• Priority Mail Express service: December 21st

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Holiday shipping and shipping dates for items sent to Alaska and Hawaii addresses in 2024:

• USPS Ground Advantage service: December 16th
• First Class Postal Service: December 18th
• Priority Mail service: December 19th
• Priority Mail Express service: December 20th

International shipping times

For international mail, the USPS recommends even earlier deadlines due to longer transit times and possible delays in customs processing. Recommended shipping dates for international destinations vary by country and service level.

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USPS encourages customers shipping packages internationally or to military addresses to view the full list of recommended holiday shipping and shipping dates at usps.com/holidayshippingdates.

Tips for successful shipping

To avoid last-minute rushes or potential delays, the USPS recommends that senders:

• Use flat rate boxes: The package does not need to be weighed.
• Print labels online: Save time and avoid post offices.
• Pack carefully: Use appropriate padding and ensure labels are clear.
• Double check the addresses: Make sure all address information is correct to avoid return to sender problems.

For customers still wondering whether their package will arrive on time, USPS recommends choosing Priority Mail Express.

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Ahead of the holidays, which include Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, the USPS announced it would temporarily increase prices for some services. A series of Christmas stamps were also unveiled, including a 17th-century Italian painting of Christ and the Madonna and four others inspired by Mexican folk art.

Additionally, USPS has announced that it will be updating its annual tradition of Operation Santa. As reported by Newsweek Last month, USPS Operation Santa accepts letters addressed to Santa Claus each year from children and their families asking for help fulfilling their Christmas wish lists. These are then reviewed by USPS employees to identify anonymous gift givers, called “adopters,” who fulfill the wishes by purchasing and sending the gifts.”

Post offices have been accepting letters to Santa since September 16th, and adopters can register to purchase a gift starting November 4th.

This year, USPS also announced it would be partnering with Toys R Us for the 2024 holiday season. “By collaborating with Toys R Us, letter users can now easily select and purchase gifts on a specially curated e-commerce site,” said a press release last month.