Christmas 2016: Shipping Deadlines to Deliver Gifts by Dec. 24

BAY AREA, CA – If you have cards and gifts to send to far-flung family members this Christmas, here are the dates and deadlines you need to know.

To ensure your gifts arrive by Dec. 24, follow these shipping deadlines announced by the USPS.
Here are the Postal Service deadlines:

• Dec. 15 – Standard Post
• Dec. 20 – First Class Mail
• Dec. 21 – Priority Mail
• Dec. 23 – Priority Mail Express

The USPS website has more information on international and military Christmas 2016 shipping deadlines.
The folks at the post office will try to make shipping gifts easier for you, offering package tracking and free package pickup, so you don’t have to make the trek to the post office and wait on line.

Find nearby USPS offices online.

FedEx

Here are your last days to ship with FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery so your shipments arrive on or before Sunday, Dec. 25:

• Dec. 12: FedEx SmartPost (this option does not provide “day-definite” delivery; usually takes between two to seven business days to ship).
• Dec. 16: FedEx Home Delivery and FedEx Ground
• Dec. 20: FedEx Express Saver
• Dec. 21: FedEx 2 Day and 2 Day A.M.
• Dec. 22: FedEx Standard Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight and FedEx First Overnight
• Dec. 23: FedEx SameDay City (Standard)
• Dec. 25: FedEx SameDay City (Priority) and FedEx SameDay

With FedEx SameDay service and other expedited services, you can ship on Christmas Day. FedEx SameDay is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for most urgent shipments. Visit the FedEx locator to find the closest store near you.

UPS
Here are the last days to ship via UPS's services to make sure your packages arrive by Dec. 25:

• Dec. 19 if you’re using UPS 3 Day Select (delivery on Friday, Dec. 23)
• Dec. 21 if you ship with UPS 2nd Day Air (delivery on Friday, Dec. 23)
• Dec. 22 using UPS Ground (depending on origin/destination); UPS 2nd Day Air (delivery on Friday, Dec. 23)
• Dec. 23 if you use UPS Next Day Air Packages (with Saturday delivery)
• Dec. 24 if you use UPS Express Critical

All UPS 3 Day Select packages shipped on Dec. 19 and 20 will require an additional day in transit. UPS 3 Day Select packages shipped on Dec. 20 will be delivered after Christmas.

Check the UPS holiday schedule PDF. Up-to-date transit time details are available at ups.com/ctc. Find the nearest UPS drop-off location online.

• ALSO SEE: Looking to Give or Volunteer This Holiday Season? There are worthy organizations in need of volunteers and contributions, and fundraisers underway for Bay Area residents struck by tragedies.

-- Deb Belt (Patch Staff) contributed to this report/USPS image