2026 holiday shipping deadlines
By John Brown, Founder & CEO, Be Fulfilled ·
Here are the 2026 holiday ship-by dates for every carrier we use. Two rules make the difference between on time and late:
- Get orders to us 24 hours before the date below. That gives us time to pick, pack and stage every order.
- Set your store's holiday deadline one day earlier than the carrier date. Winter weather often delays packages in late December.
Domestic deadlines
| Ship by | Carrier and service | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, Nov 4 | USPS Ground Advantage | Military mail (APO/FPO/DPO) |
| Wed, Dec 16 | USPS Ground Advantage | Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories |
| Thu, Dec 17 | USPS Ground Advantage | Lower 48 states |
| Thu, Dec 17 | UPS Ground (5-day) | East Coast (NY, FL, PA, GA and nearby) |
| Fri, Dec 18 | UPS Ground (4-day) | Midwest (IL, MI, OH, WI and nearby) |
| Sat, Dec 19 | DHL Domestic Express | Anywhere in the U.S. |
| Mon, Dec 21 | UPS Ground (3-day) | WA, OR, CA, ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX |
| Mon, Dec 21 | UPS 3 Day Select | Anywhere in the U.S. |
| Tue, Dec 22 | UPS Ground (2-day) | ID, NV, CO, WY, MT, AZ, NM |
| Tue, Dec 22 | UPS 2nd Day Air | Anywhere in the U.S. |
| Wed, Dec 23 | UPS Ground (1-day) | Utah, southern Idaho, western Wyoming |
| Wed, Dec 23 | UPS Next Day Air | Anywhere in the U.S. |
International deadlines
| Ship by | Carrier and service | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Dec 15 | DHL Rest of World | Remote areas and Asia-Pacific |
| Dec 15–16 | UPS Worldwide Expedited | Asia |
| Dec 17–18 | UPS Worldwide Expedited | EU and UK |
| Fri, Dec 18 | DHL Economy Select | Europe |
| Dec 18–21 | UPS Worldwide Express or Saver | Asia |
| Sun, Dec 20 | DHL Express Worldwide | Europe, UK and major Asian hubs |
| Mon, Dec 21 | UPS Worldwide Expedited | Mexico |
| Dec 21–22 | UPS Worldwide Express or Saver | EU and UK |
| Tue, Dec 22 | UPS Worldwide Expedited | Canada |
| Tue, Dec 22 | UPS Worldwide Express | Mexico |
| Wed, Dec 23 | UPS Worldwide Express | Canada |
Holiday closures
- Thursday, Dec 24: UPS has no Ground pickups. Ground packages must be at our warehouse by Wednesday, Dec 23. Carriers run shortened hours, so air packages ship early that morning.
- Friday, Dec 25: Carriers and our warehouse are closed. Regular shipping resumes Monday, Dec 28.
- Saturday, Dec 26: Boxing Day in the UK and Europe pauses local deliveries there.
Questions about your holiday orders? Contact your account manager or book a call with our team. For how we choose carriers every day of the year, read how we ship your orders.
John Brown Founder & CEO, Be Fulfilled
Frequently asked questions
When do holiday orders need to reach Be Fulfilled?
At least 24 hours before the carrier ship-by date for the service you're using, so we have time to pick, pack and stage the order.
What is the last day to ship for Christmas 2026?
Wednesday, December 23 for UPS Next Day Air and for UPS Ground within about one day of our Utah warehouse. Orders need to reach us 24 hours before that.
What is the 2026 USPS Ground Advantage holiday deadline?
Thursday, December 17 for the lower 48 states, Wednesday, December 16 for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories, and Wednesday, November 4 for military mail (APO/FPO/DPO).
Is Be Fulfilled open on Christmas?
No. Carriers and our warehouse are closed Friday, December 25. Regular shipping resumes Monday, December 28.
Does UPS pick up Ground packages on Christmas Eve?
No. UPS has no Ground pickups on Thursday, December 24, so Ground packages must be at our warehouse by Wednesday, December 23.