Holiday shipping: USPS announces recommended Christmas mailing dates

The U.S. Postal Service says it is prepared for the 2026 holiday mailing and shipping season, with expanded package processing capabilities, additional seasonal employees and new delivery vehicles.

USPS reports that improvements made during the past several years have helped the agency handle increasing package volumes while improving delivery times.

During the 2025 holiday season, mail and packages were delivered in an average of 2.5 days, compared with 2.8 days during the previous holiday season.

“The Postal Service performed very well during last year's holiday season, and we are even better prepared this year for the upcoming peak mailing and shipping season,” Postmaster General David Steiner said.

The agency expects mail and package volumes to increase significantly during the final months of the year.

To prepare, USPS has expanded its daily processing capacity with 673 package sorting machines installed over the past six years, including 164 added in 2026.

The agency also plans to hire more than 10,000 seasonal employees nationwide.

New technology is another part of the preparations. An upgraded package tracking system provides faster updates, allowing customers to follow shipments more closely through USPS.com and the Informed Delivery service.

The Postal Service has also deployed more than 45,000 new delivery vehicles nationwide over the past three years, with additional vehicles expected to enter service during the holiday season.

For customers mailing gifts, USPS offers several shipping options, including Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express.

However, some package shipping rates are higher during the holiday season because of temporary peak-season price adjustments.

Holiday mailing deadlines

For packages and mail traveling within the contiguous United States, USPS recommends the following shipping dates for expected delivery before Christmas: Dec. 17: USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail Dec. 18: Priority Mail Dec. 19: Priority Mail Express

These dates are recommendations rather than guaranteed delivery dates. Customers sending packages to Alaska, Hawaii, military addresses or international destinations should check the applicable deadlines.

Residents are encouraged to prepare packages early, verify addresses and allow additional time during the busiest mailing weeks.

Customers can also obtain shipping information, check package tracking, compare mailing options and find local Post Office hours at www.usps.com.