What are the Post Office’s Holiday Mail Deadlines?

If you’re planning to send packages containing gifts or cards via the United States Postal Service either domestically or internationally this holiday season, you should pay close attention to the USPS’s deadlines for expected delivery by Dec. 24, which can sneak up fast.

The deadline for many international shipments is Dec. 9, and for some parts of the world it’s as early as Dec. 2 for First-Class Package International Service or Priority Mail International.

For a complete list of international deadlines–which vary by continent/region–visit the USPS’s online Holiday Planner and click on “International Shipping” under “Important Shipping Dates” on the left side of the page.

The following are the domestic mail deadlines for expected delivery by Christmas Eve (expected delivery dates can vary depending on origin, destination, acceptance time and other conditions; the USPS’s Priority Mail Express money-back guarantee is suspended for shipments mailed Dec. 22-25):

• Monday, Dec. 15 – Standard Post
• Saturday, Dec. 20 – First Class Mail & Priority Mail
• Tuesday, Dec. 23 – Priority Mail Express

For more information about holiday shipping deadlines for U.S. mail, visit www.usps.com or visit the Hellertown branch of the United States Postal Service, 660 Delaware Ave., Hellertown. You can also call the Hellertown branch at 610-838-9351, or dial 1-800-ASK-USPS (275-8777) for more information.

Information about how to prepare shipments can also be found online.