Christmas is still nearly four weeks away. Plenty of time to bake, shop and make plans.
But, if you are mailing cards and gifts, your deadline is now. If those gifts are going overseas, your deadline was last week.
While the U.S. Postal Service can still guarantee delivery by Christmas Eve for domestic items, overseas shipments, especially those going to forward deployed troops, need to be sent asap.
Here are your deadlines:
Shipping to any APO/FPO/DPO/AE zip codes: You will pay domestic prices but the delivery time is longer. And, once the item leaves the post office’s hands and is given to the military for delivery, there is no guarantee when it will arrive
Standard post: Nov. 7
Space available (the least expensive option): Nov 25
Parcel airlift mail: Dec. 3
Priority mail: Dec. 10
First class mail (Christmas cards with stamps and small packages): Dec. 10
Priority mail express military service: Dec. 17
International: Sending gifts to friends you made overseas? You have a little more time though the shipping rates are larger
First class international service (small items): Dec. 1
Priority mail international service (cards): Dec. 1
Priority mail express international service (3 – 5 days): Dec. 8
Global express guaranteed service (1 – 3 days): Dec. 21
Domestic:
Standard post service (2 – 8 days): Dec 15
First class mail (1 – 3 days for smaller items and cards): Dec. 19
Priority mail service (1 – 3 days for larger items): Dec. 21
Priority mail express service (overnight): Dec. 23
Happy Shipping!!