Overview
- In the UK, Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed and DPD Gold still guarantee Christmas delivery for items posted by December 23.
- Earlier UK deadlines apply to lower-cost services, including Royal Mail 2nd Class on December 17, 1st Class on December 20, and Tracked 24 on December 22, with some DPD postcode exceptions noted.
- The Post Office says most international posting windows have passed, though a few selected destinations remain possible with certain carriers until about December 15.
- USPS recommends December 17 for Ground Advantage and First-Class, December 18 for Priority Mail, and December 20 for Priority Mail Express, with next week flagged as the busiest of the season.
- FedEx and UPS list last-chance options including UPS Next Day Air on December 23 and FedEx 2Day on December 23, with overnight and same-day FedEx services available through December 24; carriers advise accurate addressing, clear content declarations, secure packaging, and use of tracking or pickup services.