TL;DR Holiday Shipping Guide
- Deadlines are everything. USPS, FedEx, and UPS all have hard cutoffs if you want gifts delivered by Dec. 24–25. Miss them, and your presents might not make it under the tree.
- Holiday surcharges hit hard. Extra fees can stack up, especially for large, heavy, or oddly shaped items.
- Big item = big planning. If you’re shipping big stuff, standard deadlines don’t apply. Start now.
- Carrier fees spike for oversized gifts. Some surcharges exceed $540 during peak season.
- Skip the fees with uShip. No added fees for size, weight, or shape. Compare carrier bids and lock in the best rate for your oversized item.
The holiday season is arguably the best time of year, but the magic can quickly turn to stress when you have gifts to ship. To make sure your packages arrive under the tree on time, planning is everything.
Major carriers, such as the USPS, FedEx, and UPS, have specific holiday shipping deadlines for their services. Missing them could mean your thoughtful gift arrives after the festivities are over.
Here is a guide to the key dates you need to know for shipping within the contiguous United States this holiday shipping season, along with the increase in fees you’ll encounter. While we have compiled the latest information, it is always a good idea to confirm dates directly with your chosen carrier.
United States Postal Service (USPS) Deadlines
The USPS is a popular choice for many holiday shippers. For expected delivery by December 25th, aim to ship by these dates:
- USPS Ground Advantage: December 17
- First-Class Mail: December 17
- Priority Mail: December 18
- Priority Mail Express: December 20
FedEx Deadlines
FedEx offers a wide range of services to get your packages delivered on time. Here are their holiday shipping deadlines for delivery by December 24th:
- FedEx Ground/Home Delivery: December 16
- FedEx Express Saver: December 19
- FedEx 2Day: December 22
- FedEx Overnight (First, Priority, Standard): December 23
- FedEx SameDay: December 24
UPS Deadlines
UPS is another option for your holiday shipping needs. Keep these dates in mind for delivery before Christmas Day:
- UPS Ground: Check the UPS website for a specific quote, as this varies by destination.
- UPS 3 Day Select: December 20
- UPS 2nd Day Air: December 21
- UPS Next Day Air: December 22
Navigating Holiday Surcharges and Fees
Beyond the deadlines, you should also budget for extra costs. During their busiest season, from roughly October through mid-January, most major carriers implement “peak season” or “demand” surcharges. These fees are added to the base shipping rates to manage the high volume of packages and can amount to hundreds of dollars.
These surcharges can apply to all shipments, but they often have a greater impact on non-standard items (you know…the big, heavy, or awkwardly sized stuff). Fees for these packages increase significantly during the holidays. If your gift is bulky or exceeds certain weight and dimension limits, expect to pay a premium. Always review the final cost before you ship so you are not caught by surprise.
Here is a breakdown of some of the peak holiday surcharges for 2025. Note that these fees are subject to change and can vary based on specific package characteristics and shipping volume.
| Surcharge Type | USPS | FedEx | UPS |
| Additional Handling | Varies by package characteristics (e.g., length over 22 or 30 inches) | $10.90 per package | $10.80 per package |
| Large Package / Oversize | $5.50 – $5.75 added for oversized packages | $108.50 per package | $107.00 per package |
| Unauthorized / Over Max | Can be refused or incur a $200 surcharge | $545.00 per package | $540.00 per package |
Shipping something big for the holidays? Choose uShip to get your oversized item delivered in time.
Holiday Shipping: What About Large and Oversized Gifts?
Are you planning to surprise someone with a truly big gift this year, like a piece of furniture, a classic arcade game, a vehicle, or exercise equipment (or anything large/bulky)? If so, the standard deadlines above likely do not apply.
Shipping oversized items involves special considerations. These shipments require more planning and significantly longer lead times than standard packages. You will need to account for freight services, which operate on a different schedule. Don’t wait until the last minute for these items. Start planning your oversized shipments as early as possible to ensure they arrive on schedule.
Avoid the Fees, Headache, and Slipped Disc With uShip
With uShip, you don’t pay extra fees because of the size, weight, or shape of an item. And with the right planning, getting anything anywhere before the holidays is simple. List, review, book.
Done.
With carriers competing to get your shipment, you get the best possible holiday shipping rates all on a timeline that works for you.
It’s free to see what kind of rates you can get from our network of thousands of nationwide carriers. Take a peek!
Anything big. Anywhere. Anytime. Santa can’t even promise that!
