2023 Holiday Shipping Deadlines Approaching In New York

NEW YORK — Timing is everything, especially when it comes to making sure your holiday packages get where they need to get.

With some planning — and an eye on the calendar — gift recipients will not be disappointed.

But first you have to go shopping, and that is what retailers are eagerly anticipating.

Holiday spending is expected to reach record levels during the last two months of the year, growing between 3 percent and 4 percent over 2022, the National Retail Federation predicted.

Spending is anticipated to be between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion, the federation said.

Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay said that overall household finances remain in good shape and will continue to support the consumer’s ability to spend.

“It is not surprising to see holiday sales growth returning to pre-pandemic levels,” he said.

Online shopping will remain a force, as it was during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online and other non-store sales are expected to increase between 7 percent and 9 percent, with sales between $273.7 billion and $278.8 billion — up from $255.8 billion in 2022.

Here are the deadlines and other information you need to know for shipping via the U.S. Postal Service, UPS and FedEx.

U.S. Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service is offering a new shipping option this year for the holidays: USPS Ground Advantage.

It offers what the USPS describes as “a simple, reliable and affordable way to ship packages” with day-certain delivery of two to five business days based on distance. It ships to all 50 states, U.S. military bases, territories, possessions and Freely Associated States. More information on Ground Advantage can be found here.

Deadlines for USPS are:

Lower 48 states

• USPS Ground Advantage: Dec. 16
• First-class mail (including greeting cards): Dec. 16
• Priority Mail: Dec. 18
• Priority Mail Express: Dec. 20

Alaska

• USPS Ground Advantage: Dec. 16
• First-class mail (including greeting cards): Dec. 16
• Priority Mail: Dec. 18
• Priority Mail Express: Dec. 20

Hawaii

• USPS Ground Advantage: Dec. 16
• First-class mail (including greeting cards): Dec. 16
• Priority Mail: Dec. 16
• Priority Mail Express: Dec. 20

Air/Army Post Office, Fleet Post Office, Diplomatic Post Office

• USPS Ground Advantage: Nov. 6
• First-class mail (including greeting cards): Dec. 9
• Priority Mail: Dec. 9
• Priority Mail Express: Dec. 15 (not available for APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 093)

For international USPS holiday shipping deadlines, go here.

UPS

Deadlines for using UPS center around the fact that the carrier will not be doing any pickup or delivery service Sunday, Dec. 24 and Monday, Dec. 25, other than UPS Express Critical service. There will be normal pickup and delivery for Monday, Dec. 18 through Friday, Dec. 22. Normal Saturday pickup and delivery will happen Dec. 23.

The carrier recommends getting packages on their way using Ground Shipping by Dec. 15, according to Refund Retriever. There is a link on the UPS website for figuring out ground shipping times and costs.

Other deadlines for UPS domestic service are:

• UPS 3 Day Select: Dec. 19
• UPS 2nd Day Air: Dec. 20 (Dec. 21 with Saturday delivery option)
• UPS Next Day Air: Dec. 21 (Dec. 22 with Saturday delivery option)
• Check the UPS website for international shipping deadlines.

FedEx

For FedEx Ground and Home Delivery, it is recommended to get packages to them by Friday, Dec. 15 for five-day shipping.

Other domestic deadlines are:

• FedEx SameDay: Dec. 22
• First Overnight, Priority Overnight, SO, Extra Hours: Dec. 21 (Dec. 22 with Saturday delivery selected)
• 2Day & 2Day AM: Dec. 20
• FedEx Express Saver: Dec. 19

For international deadlines, go to the FedEx website.

For other information, FedEx has a holiday shipping website.