For birthdays, deadlines and everything in between
Christmas has official carrier deadlines, but most deadlines don't: a birthday, Mother's Day, a court filing, a customer who needs it by Friday. This tool works out a ship-by date for any of them from your two ZIP codes.
How we work it out
For each service we take the slow end of its usual delivery time for your route's distance, then count back from your date on that carrier's calendar: USPS delivers Monday through Saturday, UPS and FedEx Monday through Friday, and holidays are skipped. From mid-November to early January we add a day to USPS's everyday services, the same cushion USPS builds into its own holiday dates. For Christmas 2026, we never suggest a date later than the carriers' published deadlines.
Comfortable, tight or too late
Comfortable means you have at least two days to spare. Tight means the ship-by day is today or tomorrow: get it to the carrier before the last pickup, or choose a faster service. Too late means that service isn't likely to make it.
Which service is cheapest?
The headline names the service that's usually cheapest among those that can still make it, for a typical small package at retail prices. Prices depend on weight, size and distance, so compare before you buy.
Holiday season? See the official last day to ship for Christmas 2026. Want to know when something already sent will arrive? Use the arrival date calculator.
Questions people ask
How many days before should I ship a package?
It depends on the service and distance: about 2–5 business days for ground services, 1–3 for Priority Mail and 2-day air, and the next business day for overnight. Add a day in the holiday season. Enter your ZIP codes and date above for exact ship-by dates.
Does Saturday count for shipping deadlines?
For USPS, yes: it delivers and counts Saturdays. UPS and FedEx count Monday through Friday, though they deliver to many homes on Saturdays.
What if every service says too late?
Ask the carrier about same-day or courier options, or plan to send it later with a note. Some regional couriers deliver the same day locally.